Located at a latitude of 45° north,
the town of Horonobe is home to an abundance of mizunara oak trees.
Local brewers are using casks made from their unique wood to shatter the walls of convention and start a new wave of brewing.
In the five years since they launched this project, they’ve created an incredible range that uses the characteristics of Horonobe mizunara oak wood to get the best out of their ingredients.
Mizunara Oak Cask Aged Wine 2019
(Hokkaido Wine Co., Ltd.)
Authentic Horonobe Mizunara Oak Cask Rice Shochu
(Tanaka Sake Brewing Co., Ltd.)
Horonobe Mizunara Oak Cask Junmai Sake
(Tanaka Sake Brewing Co., Ltd.)
Horonobe Mizunara Oak Cask Umeshu Plum Liqueur
(Tanaka Sake Brewing Co., Ltd.)
Craft Gin 9148 #1960 HORONOBE106
(Hokkaido Liberty Whiskey Inc.)
In 2016, the town of Horonobe started a big project to develop a Horonobe specialty. The following year, they began test production of casks to create a wine made entirely from Horonobe ingredients and materials.
They worked together with the Hokkaido Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry and Teshio Experimental Forest (Hokkaido University) to source ingredients and carry out production, and in 2018 they made their first three Horonobe wine casks. Pashuport heard about this adventurous new endeavor and covered it in a feature during the first year of the project. In 2019, the team expanded the scope of their cask aging process from wine (Hokkaido Wine Co., Ltd.) to a collaboration on sake, rice shochu and umeshu (plum liqueur) with Tanaka Sake Brewing Co., Ltd. and aged gin developed with Hokkaido Liberty Whiskey Inc. Brewers from around Hokkaido have come together to create drinks that stand out from the crowd.
And these pioneers in Horonobe are just getting started. They’ve started growing grapes suited for winemaking in the northern reaches of Japan, so we might see a Far North Winery in future!
Always pushing forward: Horonobe’s new endeavor
Brewed from a variety of Horonobe nuts and herbs for a botanical bonanza with a local flavor, this gin produced by Hokkaido Liberty Whiskey in Horonobe casks is full of possibilities. New product development is in the pipeline, and the brewers are in their fifth year of a project to grow grapes suited to the conditions of Japan’s northern tip. Their yield is increasing, and there are talks about developing new projects with these grapes. Horonobe’s new endeavor is constantly evolving—blink and you’ll miss their next stage of progress.
Rui Yamata'sの
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Stage 3 of the Local Mizunara Cask Project
Authentic Horonobe Mizunara
Oak Cask Rice Shochu
500ml/¥3,630 (including tax)
The rice, water and cask are all made in Hokkaido.
Enjoy a rich mouthfeel that has earned experts' seal of approval.
Great in highballs.
Alcohol content: 45%
Ingredients: Rice, malted rice (kome-koji)
Rice: 100% Hokkaido-grown rice
Released April 2020
Brewer: Tanaka Sake Brewing Co., Ltd.
Before you know it
this shochu becomes a must-have.
There’s nothing like that distinctive taste that rice gives to shochu.
This is a punchy one, thanks to the sweet taste and strong alcohol that you get from the rice. Mix it with soda for a wonderful, fragrant highball. This shochu goes great with hearty, flavorful meals like nikujaga (Japanese meat and potato stew). I’ll be having some tonight to draw out the great tastes of a homecooked meal.
Head of Publicity Department, Pashuport
Rui Yamata'sの
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Stage 4 of the Local Mizunara Cask Project Mizunara Oak Cask Aged Wine 2019
720ml/¥1,980 (including tax)
Made with grapes from the Tsurunuma area of Urausu Town, this wine is tart without being astringent. The cask adds a tinge to the flavor.
Best at 12-18°C. ※Aged for 6 months.
Alcohol content: 12%
Released September 2020
Brewer: Hokkaido Wine Co., Ltd.
The dignified appearance will catch your eye.
The sharp tartness is unusual for a red wine!
The mellow, mature fragrance and the fruitiness of the grapes give this wine depth without making it too heavy.
It’s best at room temperature or slightly chilled.
It’s great with a meal—enjoy it with sautéed dishes with lots of meat. Duck is a specialty in Horonobe, and the two are a match made in heaven.
Head of Publicity Department, Pashuport
Mama Heidi'sの
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Stage 2 of the Local Mizunara Cask Project
Horonobe Mizunara Oak Cask
Junmai Sake
500ml/¥2,200 (including tax)
This rich junmai sake combines the umami taste of rice that junmai sake is known for and the inimitable smokiness of cask drinks.
Alcohol content: 17%
Rice: 100% Hokkaido-grown rice
Rice-polishing ratio (%): Undisclosed
Sake meter value (±): Undisclosed
Released September 2019
Brewer: Tanaka Sake Brewing Co., Ltd.
Mmmm, what a luxurious taste!
A full-bodied drink for a sophisticated experience!
The moment it enters your mouth, the rich fragrance of the cask wafts up and creates a sense of luxury.
If you chill it well, you get a refreshing aftertaste. Sip it slowly and enjoy that great aroma and the way the robust taste of the rice lingers.
I tried it with cheese and it was amazing!
I felt very classy.
It’s also good with chocolate and raisins. If you’re looking for sake that’s a little out of the ordinary, look no further!
Head of Publicity Department, Pashuport
Mama Heidi'sの
旨イイ話
Stage 5 of the Local Mizunara Cask Project Horonobe Mizunara Oak Cask Umeshu Plum Liqueur
700ml/¥2,750 (including tax)
Made entirely from the finest plums grown in Shiribeshi, Hokkaido, the "roasted" taste from the cask gives this umeshu (plum liqueur) a luxurious taste that sets it apart from the rest.
Ideal mixed with soda (1 part umeshu, 2 parts soda).
Alcohol content: 15%
Released April 2021
Brewer: Tanaka Sake Brewing Co., Ltd.
As bittersweet as your first love!
I remember it like it was yesterday…I was in middle school and it was spring. One look and I was head over heels…oops! I got a little carried away there! The umeshu, Heidi, the umeshu.
This one has a sophisticated taste. It’s not sweet. It’s bittersweet. If I was in charge, I’d call it My First Love.
This umeshu is aged in a cask made of mizunara oak wood from Horonobe, which gives it a little smokiness and just a hint of bitterness. This is one that will appeal to a refined palate.
And apparently, the plums are all grown in Hokkaido!
This drink takes umeshu in a new direction. I’d better wrap it up now, but today I’ll be enjoying a night in with a glass of this and my graduation photos, reminiscing about my first love.
Head of Publicity Department, Pashuport
Rui Yamata'sの
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Stage 6 of the Local Mizunara Cask Project
Craft Gin 9148
＃1960 HORONOBE106
700ml/¥4,950 (including tax)
This gin is distilled with ingredients from sources such as Glehn's spruce, Horonobe's symbolic tree. It's then aged in a new cask for six months for a taste that is like Horonobe in a glass.
Alcohol content: 45%
Botanicals: Glehn's spruce, Chinese juniper, amur corktree, reindeer horn, Japanese fir, Angelica ursine
Released June 2021
Brewer: Hokkaido Liberty Whiskey Inc.
An upscale drink with an alcohol percentage of 45—just like the latitude of the place it comes from!
The refreshing mouthfeel and the Horonobe botanicals work amazingly. The botanicals in this gin are Glehn’s spruce, Chinese juniper, amur corktree, Japanese fir, Angelica ursina and, amazingly, reindeer horn. I didn’t expect to see that. The shimmering amber color makes this gin unique. I mixed it with soda and enjoyed it with cheese and nuts. It also goes great with coarsely ground sausages if you mix it with ginger ale or Coke.
Head of Publicity Department, Pashuport
Recipes for snacks to enjoy with each drink
Made with Horonobe specialties!
For the full experience, try making these easy snacks from Horonobe specialties to enjoy with these unique drinks from mizunara oak casks!
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If you’re drinking Horonobe Mizunara Oak Cask Junmai Sake…
Reindeer sausage tortillas
These easy tortillas are great for a weekend breakfast or lunch!
Juicy and delicious with a unique flavor, reindeer sausages go great with the colorful ingredients in this recipe. Pop them in tortillas, fold the tortillas like a taco and you’re done! ★You’ll find the tortillas and salsa at major grocery stores!
Ingredients (serves 2)
- 2 reindeer sausages
- 2 tortillas
- Salsa
- 2 lettuce leaves
Instructions
- Fry the sausages in a frying pan.
- Put the lettuce and then the sausages on the tortillas.
- Put some salsa on top and then fold the tortillas.
Extra: Sprinkle cheese or black pepper over the ingredientsGOOD！
Specialty #01
Horonobe reindeer sausages
In Horonobe, the juicy, high-protein meat of reindeer is made into sausages! A great way to enjoy the game meat that is beloved in northern Europe.
If you’re drinking Horonobe Mizunara Oak Cask Umeshu Plum Liqueur…
Canned reindeer meat (Yamatoni) with spring onion and wild wasabi
| The hearty helping of spring onions and the punchy, refreshing wild wasabi perfectly complement the mild yet distinctive taste of the reindeer meat. The canned reindeer meat has seasons such as bamboo shoots and shirataki noodles that go wonderfully with this drink. You’ll want to savor each bite! |
Ingredients (serves 4)
- 1 can Horonobe Canned Reindeer Meat (Yamatoni)
- 3-4 spring onions
- Wild wasabi
Instructions
- Finely chop the spring onions (place them together and chop into 2-3mm slices from the ends). Put them on plates
- Place the Horonobe Canned Reindeer Meat (Yamatoni) on top of the spring onions
- Grate some wild wasabi as a garnish.
Extra: Add some sesame oil.
Specialty #02
Horonobe Canned Reindeer Meat (Yamatoni)
Meat from reindeer raised in Horonobe is prepared with yamatoni sauce and seasonings for this delicious canned product.
Each 110g can contains 70g of reindeer meat. Great with meals and the perfect snack to enjoy with one of Horonobe’s amazing local drinks.
If you’re drinking Mizunara Oak Cask Aged Wine 2019…
Sarobetsu duck and potato galettes with balsamic sauce
With just the right saltiness, Sarobetsu duck ham pairs beautifully with balsamic sauce! Add a galette and you’ve got the perfect snack to enjoy with a good glass of wine.
Ingredients (serves 3-4)
- 1/2 Sarobetsu duck ham
- 2 potatoes
- Salt, flour, oil (or butter)
- Parsley, black pepper, balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- 1. To make the galettes, finely chop the potatoes, sprinkle with salt and add some flour as a binder.
- Put the oil or butter in a frying pan and fry both sides of the galettes on a low heat.
- Put the galettes on plates.
- Slice the ham and place it on the galettes.
- Add parsley, black pepper and balsamic vinegar to taste.
※Extra: sear the ham in a frying pan before placing it on the galettes.
※Cut the galettes while serving them to make them easier to eat.
Specialty #03
Sarobetsu duck ham
Sarobetsu ducks are raised on specially designed chemical-free feed.
If you’re drinking Authentic Horonobe Mizunara Oak Cask Rice Shochu…
Romanovsky Genghis Khan (Mongolian barbecue) and sautéed garlic shoots
Great for building stamina or as a pick-me-up when you’re tired!
The aroma of the garlic shoots and spicy red chili will make your mouth water. This dish is perfect with a glass of rice shochu, and it couldn’t be easier to make!
Ingredients (serves 4)
- 1 pack Horonobe Romanovsky Genghis Khan meat
- 5 garlic shoots
- 1 red chili
- Oil
Instructions
- Put the oil and chili in the frying pan and fry until the oil takes on the aroma of the chili.
- Add the garlic shoots and sauté.
- Move the garlic shoots to the edge of the pan and fry the meat.
- When the meat is just heated through, sauté it together with the garlic shoots.
Do not overcook—this will make the meat tough.
Specialty #04
Horonobe Romanovsky Genghis Khan (Mongolian barbecue)
Horonobe is the only place in Japan that makes mutton and lamb products from Russian thoroughbred sheep.
If you’re drinking Craft Gin 9148 #1960 HORONOBE106…
Caciocavallo cheese drizzled with Horonobe Amur corktree blossom honey
The melty golden cheese and light, sweet honey topping make this the perfect snack to enjoy with a refreshing glass of craft gin! It looks like something you’d enjoy at an upscale café—great for special days and those moments when you want to treat yourself.
Ingredients (serves 2)
- Horonobe Amur corktree blossom honey
- 1/3 block of caciocavallo cheese
- Black pepper
Instructions
- Cut two slices of cheese about 1.5cm thick.
- Fry the cheese in a skillet until both sides are golden (don’t allow the cheese to melt too much.)
- Drizzle the honey over the cheese.
- Top with black pepper to taste.
Specialty #05
Horonobe Amur corktree blossom honey
Amur corktree blossom honey is extremely rare because it can’t be extracted every year—it depends on the weather. Sweet with just a tinge of tartness, this honey is great for snacks because it’s such a versatile ingredient.
Stores selling Horonobe Mizunara Cask drinks
Store list
- Authentic Horonobe Mizunara Oak Cask Rice Shochu
- Horonobe Mizunara Oak Cask Junmai Sake
- Horonobe Mizunara Oak Cask Umeshu Plum Liqueur
- Ito Shoten, Ltd.
- Konsho Shoten
- Q Mart Horonobe and Toikanbetsu, Saijo Corporation
- Horokaru Promotion and Support Center for Moving to Horonobe
- Mizunara Oak Cask Aged Wine 2019
- Horokaru Promotion and Support Center for Moving to Horonobe
(small stock)
- Craft Gin 9148 #1960 HORONOBE106
- Q Mart Horonobe and Toikanbetsu, Saijo Corporation
- Horokaru Promotion and Support Center for Moving to Horonobe