Enoki Shuzo, founded in 1899 on the small island of Kurahashi in Hiroshima's Kure City, holds a singular place in sake history as the first modern brewery in Japan to successfully produce kijoshu, a style brewed by substituting sake for water during fermentation, a milestone achieved in 1974. Hanahato is the brewery's flagship brand, best known for its aged kijoshu, which matures for eight years in stainless steel tanks and develops notes of cocoa, raisins, and nuts. The Hanahato Kijoshu 8-Year Aged won both the Gold Medal and the Trophy at the International Wine Challenge 2014, taking the top honor in the koshu division.
