Kanemasu Shuzo, founded in 1822 in Shibata, Niigata, moved to its present location seeking water from the Kachi River and proximity to premium rice-growing land, principles the brewery has maintained for two centuries. Hatsuhana, named after the famous cherry blossoms along the Kachi River, is brewed by a team of brewers who participate in cultivating the Echigo-Tanrei sake rice themselves, carrying the grain from field to fermentation tank. The brand aims for a food-friendly balance of ginjo fragrance and restrained sweetness that holds up across a range of serving temperatures.
