Awamori you'll want to drink in Okinawa: "Chatan Choro" - Unwavering deliciousness cultivated by a long-established brewery founded in 1848. Awamori with unique characteristics that will make you want to compare them

Founded in 1848, Chatan Choro Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. has its roots in Shuri, the center of the Ryukyu Kingdom, and continues to exist in modern-day Chatan Town.

In a factory located in a residential area of Chatan town, awamori is distilled using large equipment, but the labels are still applied by hand. Because it is made by a small number of people, the production and distribution volume are limited, so if you are lucky enough to come across it, you should definitely try this awamori.

This time, we interviewed Mr. Chinen, the factory manager of Chatan Choro Sake Brewery Co., Ltd., about Chatan Choro sake and how to enjoy it.

<Table of Contents>
1. Three main brands – flagship products: aged sake "Chatan Choro" and "Ipponmatsu," and whiskey "Okinawa Ryuko"
2. Winner of the Okinawa Prefectural Governor's Award at the 5 Awamori Tasting Competition: "Chatan Choro 44% ABV 16-Year-Old Awamori"
3. How to enjoy Awamori
4. Where to buy Chatan Elder

Show all table of contents

1. Three main brands – flagship products: aged sake "Chatan Choro" and "Ipponmatsu," and whiskey "Okinawa Ryuko"

Generally, awamori that has been aged for three years or more is called kusu. When you hear that alcohol is aged, you might imagine that it will become "stronger in taste," but with awamori, letting it age slowly causes physical and chemical changes in its components, resulting in a milder, sweeter aroma and making it easier to drink.
"Kitadani Choro," named after the nickname of a renowned monk from Chatan, is a brand of aged sake (with some exceptions).
The main products are "Chatan Choro 13-Year-Old Aged Sake 25% ABV" and "Chatan Choro 13-Year-Old Aged Sake 43% ABV," both of which are highly regarded for their rich sweetness and balanced aroma characteristic of aged sake, as well as their pleasant aftertaste.
While most awamori has an alcohol content of around 30%, the most popular "Chatan Choro 13-Year-Old Awamori 25%" has a lower alcohol content and is relatively easy to drink, making it popular with women and those new to awamori.
"Chatan Choro 13-Year Aged Sake 43%" offers a full enjoyment of the characteristics of aged sake, with a smoother, richer flavor and a deeper sweetness.
It's a favorite among awamori lovers who want to savor it slowly, sipping it carefully.
Apart from aged awamori, awamori that is shipped within three years of distillation is called regular awamori.
"Ipponmatsu" is a regular sake that has been aged for about a year after distillation to allow it to settle. In other words, Ipponmatsu is the younger version of Kitatani Choro.
The image of "Chōrō Kitatani" is strongly associated with aged sake, and it is said that in the past, very few people even knew about Ipponmatsu, which was a more common sake.
As people began to learn that it was originally the same sake, and that they could compare the regular sake with the aged sake, Ipponmatsu's reputation gradually spread.
Then, in 2024, the whiskey "Okinawa Ryuko" was introduced.

"We asked people who don't like highballs to try our new product, a highball made with Okinawa Ryuko whiskey. And they said it was easy to drink."

This whisky, made by blending Scottish spirits with soft water, is characterized by its sweet aroma and crisp finish. Also noteworthy is the whisky launched by a long-established distillery with extensive experience in awamori (Okinawan distilled spirit).

2. Winner of the Okinawa Prefectural Governor's Award at the 5 Awamori Tasting Competition: "Chatan Choro 44% ABV 16-Year-Old Awamori"

While the awamori is being aged and maturing, it undergoes periodic checks called "measurements."
During a measurement, some awamori (Okinawan distilled liquor) accidentally got on my hand. The scent of the awamori on my hand was a distinctive sweet aroma reminiscent of plum wine, so I submitted it to an awamori tasting competition and won the Okinawa Prefectural Governor's Award.
"Chatan Choro 44% ABV 16-Year Aged Sake," which won the Okinawa Prefectural Governor's Award, is sold exclusively at the factory.
In addition to their standard products, they sometimes offer rare, limited-edition items, so if you're interested, be sure to check their website and social media.

3. How to enjoy Awamori

Finally, we asked Mr. Chinen about his favorite way to drink awamori (Okinawan distilled liquor).

"I usually drink Ipponmatsu with soda. I don't like to force my preferences on others, but when it comes to Kitatani Choro, I think drinking it on the rocks or slightly diluted with water is the best way to really taste the 'alcohol'."

4. Where to buy Chatan Elder

Products manufactured by Chatan Choro Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. can be purchased not only at their own factory but also at Fresh Plaza Union Chatan store and Aeon Liquor inside Aeon Mall Okinawa Rycom, as well as through mail order on their website and as a return gift for Chatan Town's hometown tax donation program, so you can enjoy Chatan Choro sake without having to go to Okinawa.