The annual competition of Japanese sake, shochu and awamori brands targeting French consumers started in 2017.
In this year’s competition,the leading French sommeliers evaluated 1,090 brands of Japanese sake and 187 brands of shochu or awamori.
Tamakashiwa Junmai Daiginjo , a sake brewery in Gifu, was selected as the grand prize in the sake category.
And the barley shochu Aokage ,a brewery in Miyazaki, was selected as the grand prize
in the Honkaku Shochu and Awamori category.
The export value of alcoholic beverages in Japan reached a record high for 10 consecutive years.
The value of Japan alcoholic beverages has increased significantly.
The Sommelier chairing the judging committee says,
the popularity of Japan sake is due to the spread of Japanese food and the widespread use of Japan ingredients such as miso and yuzu.
As a Japanese, I am proud of these issues.
However, I myself drink beer and shochu more often than sake.
Maybe I don't know the true value of sake.
If I had regularly drunk a top quality sake like Tamakasiwa, I might come to like sake even more.
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