The first vintage of "Hyakuko" is released

The brand being released this time is "Hyakukou," the first flagship vintage sake that has been aged for five years. "Hyakukou" has been sold out for the past few years and has become difficult to obtain, but the brewery felt that the 2020 vintage had great potential for aging. The comments are from the press conference.

Ikoma-san: "Compared to previous Hyakkou, this one had a stronger acidity, so I felt it could be aged for a long time. For that reason, we selected a small amount and aged it at two temperatures: an ice-cold temperature of minus 5 degrees, and a cooler temperature of 5 degrees. After five years, we have created a bottle that retains its clarity while also possessing the deep, complex flavor that can only be achieved through aging."

Dewa Sansan rice was used in the 2020 brewing of Hyakko. The organic cultivation brought out the rice's unique characteristics, making the sake even more suitable for aging.

The current "Hyakukou" uses "Snow Goddess," making it a rare product that can only be enjoyed with this product currently on the market.

Ikoma-san: "The changes in flavor that occur during aging are a kind of gamble. I always get nervous when I have to check the quality of the sake. If I'm not satisfied with the quality, I can't release it to the public. When I tried this Hyakko, I felt truly relieved. It has the strength to pair well with all white fish, as well as red meat. It's good chilled to around 5 degrees, but it can also be enjoyed at around 15 degrees, like red wine."

Expanding the value of sake through collaboration with art

Hyakko's first aged sake has been released with a special label designed by internationally renowned contemporary pop artist Romero Britto.

Romero Britto expresses love, dreams, hope, and happiness through vibrant colors and dynamic compositions, and continues to deliver positive energy to the hearts of many people through his art. His fans include royalty and celebrities from around the world, and his work has been exhibited in galleries and museums in over 120 countries, including the Louvre. He is active worldwide, having served as an official artist for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and as an ambassador for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.

The bottle and outer box are decorated with the artwork "THE GREATEST WAVE," inspired by Katsushika Hokusai's famous woodblock print "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji: The Great Wave Off Kanagawa," further highlighting the special character of "Hyakuko." This was achieved through careful consultation with Romero Britto's side, so as not to diminish the value of the artwork itself.

Even as the number of high-priced sakes increases, the price of 1 million yen per bottle can be seen as a symbolic challenge.

Regarding this point, Ikoma explains, "This price includes the overall value of not only the sake itself, but also the art and the special dinner we are planning for next summer. Sake itself has great potential, but I believe there will come a point when it can no longer be used as an alcoholic beverage. We are working with the hope of realizing the value of sake as something that enriches life through this collaboration."

SAKE HUNDRED's first vintage, "Hyakukou," is a challenge that shows that, like whiskey and wine, sake can also increase in value through aging.

The fusion of long-aged sake and art is sure to breathe new life into sake and create unprecedented value.

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