Founded in 1717, Aoki Shuzo has a 300 year history of making fine sake, carried on today by the 12th generation descendant of the founder, Takafumi Aoki. The brewery is located in Shiozawa, a section of the famed Uonuma rice growing region said to have the best quality well water of the entire area. They follow traditional methods of only producing sake in the cold winter months, letting the natural cold temperatures guide fermentation.
A classic dry sake inspired by local lore, Yuki Otoko is the yeti of Niigata, said to haunt its mountains and occasionally help travelers through the mountain trails. An excellent intro to classic Niigata sake, dry and clean with a beautifully defined structure. Rice is Miyama Nishiki milled to 60%, water is soft from an underground current originating at Mt. Makihata. -Importer's Notes