Tokachi Shima Fukurou Brandy

Shima Fukurou is a Hokkaido liquor brand launched in 2018, and its main product is brandy. This brand is produced by the long-established company "Kokubun Hokkaido" in Hokkaido. They have developed and branded in partnership with companies that have made products using ingredients from Hokkaido. They had already succeeded in many brands such as the "Can Tsuma Series".

The reason for starting this series was that high-quality barrel-aged brandy had been sleeping in the warehouse of the "Ikeda Town Grape and Wine Research Institute", which is famous for Tokachi wine.

"Ikeda Town Grape and Wine Research Institute" is a winery that continues to make wonderful wines every year, through the efforts of grape growers and brewers.

They started making brandy in 1964. Hokkaido is cool and has a large temperature difference. This situation is good for growing grapes which were the best raw material for brandy because of their rich acidity.

At the time of 2018, the brandy market was only 0.1% of the total alcohol market in Hokkaido. Demand for brandy was limited, such as in bars and patisseries. it was unclear whether they would make a profit.

However, Kokubun Hokkaido thought that it may break the market's common sense, "brandy cannot be sold well." and reach customers nationwide who understand the value of this brandy. they thought that this business was worth the gamble. As a result, two brands of brandy were sold.

"Shimano Fukurou Tokachi Brandy 1987, Raw Sake Non-chill Filtered Single Barrel (60 degrees)" is bottled from one barrel without chill-filtration(冷却濾過) and water addition(加水). It has a mellow aroma, a mild taste, and a strong flavor. It was limited to 470 bottles and sold to bars and restaurants.

"Shimano Fukurou Tokachi Brandy Hokkaido Aged 30 Years (40 degrees)" sold only 440 bottles for individuals.

They promoted to the niche brandy market by using the special tagline "It 　slept quietly without being known to the world for over 30 years."
Their promotion was successful, and 910 bottles were sold out to the liquor stores immediately. As a next step, they plan to sell the Aged 35 Years in 2023 and the Aged 40 Years in 2028.