Japanese Distilled Spirits Maker Hamada Syuzou Launches "CHILL GREEN bitter & tropical" Featuring Brand-new Flavor in Botanical "Shochu" Series

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- New Product Combines Pink Grapefruit Note with Rare Galaxy Hop; Company Looking to Further Expand Product Reach in Asian Market in 2025 -

ICHIKIKUSHIKINO, Japan, Feb. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hamada Syuzou Co., Ltd. based in Ichikikushikino City, Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, released an innovative product in its botanical "shochu" (distilled spirits) series, "CHILL GREEN bitter & tropical," on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.

Innovative botanical shochu "CHILL GREEN bitter & tropical":
https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M104785/202502144220/_prw_PI1fl_A74TFCk0.png 

Japan's declining overall alcoholic beverage industry, including "honkaku" (authentic) shochu, has seen a new wave of drinks that emphasize a specific aroma or base ingredient as its main feature. This phenomenon has overturned the traditional image of shochu and has been further developing the market by bringing new ways of enjoying spirits to consumers.

First released in February 2023, the "CHILL GREEN spicy & citrus" version features citrusy, crisp and piquant flavors thanks to "maqaw" spice. Its bottle has garnered praise from outside the traditional circle of buyers, gradually finding its roots in the alcohol market. The brand-new "bitter & tropical" version is the second offering in the series. Thanks to the rare Galaxy aroma hop, this new flavor achieved that classic pink grapefruit sensation with a zesty, tart flavor. Following the success of the initial bottle, the company will continue to spearhead the shochu industry into the next era, broadening the customer base and creating more ways to enjoy the drink.

"CHILL GREEN bitter & tropical" website (English):
https://www.hamadasyuzou.co.jp/en/products/chill-green-hop 

"CHILL GREEN spicy & citrus" website (English):
https://www.hamadasyuzou.co.jp/en/products/chill-green 

Hamada Syuzou's official website (English): https://www.hamadasyuzou.co.jp/en/ 

Spirits' Overview

BASE INGREDIENT

The company's attention was drawn to hops in its search for a botanical ingredient that could help create new original flavors, specifically when combined with barley shochu. Galaxy is a highly rare variety in the world of hops, accounting for just 1% of global production. The aroma creates the sensation of a mixture of passion fruit and crisp citrus, providing a pleasant bitterness. Combining the company's unique production techniques, it has achieved the sweet, citrusy aroma and modest bitterness that suggest pink grapefruit.

Hops (image for illustrative purposes only):
https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M104785/202502144220/_prw_PI2fl_U63EhkT9.jpg 

FLAVOR DESIGN

The essence of "CHILL GREEN bitter & tropical" allows a distinct savoring of its full flavors over the course of drinking. The company recommends starting with a soda water mix, which provides a pleasant pink grapefruit note, followed by the authentic natural flavors of barley shochu. The shochu serves to coat dishes with, and provides at the end, a slight bitterness derived from the Galaxy hop, thus enhancing the dish's originality. For the soda water mix, the company suggests 1:2 for an extra pink grapefruit-ness and experiment with 1:1 to enjoy more of a passion fruit-like rich flavor. As shochu has traditionally been popular as a table drink in Japan, the company will continue this heritage and keep exploring the possibilities that broaden combinations with various dishes.

Visualized flavor spectrum of "CHILL GREEN bitter & tropical":
https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M104785/202502144220/_prw_PI3fl_f3skBrtd.png 

BEHIND THE CRAFT: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/attach/202502144220-O1-P9W3n4o1.pdf 

NAMING & BOTTLE DESIGN

The name CHILL GREEN was coined in a lexical combination of Chill Out as in "to relax" and Green that took inspirations from "botanical" and "natural." These are the ideas and feelings that went into the creation of this series. The bottle design of the company's first release, "CHILL GREEN spicy & citrus" (25%, 720mL), won the Lilly Franky Award (by head judge) at the 20th Glass Bottle Award 2024, where awards are based on the various aspects of glass bottles, such as design, functionality and environmental friendliness. The company is continuing the wine bottle shape for this second flavor.

Hop representation and the key color "organic pink":
https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M104785/202502144220/_prw_PI4fl_vn6IqILc.jpg 

FACTS
NAME: CHILL GREEN bitter & tropical
CATEGORY: Otsurui Shochu
ABV: 25%
VOLUME: 1,800 mL, 720 mL
INGREDIENTS: Barley (Australia, Japan), barley koji (malt), hops
RELEASE DATE: February 18, 2025 (Japan)
Overseas shipments will commence from February.

Image of bottles 1,800 mL and 720 mL:
https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M104785/202502144220/_prw_PI5fl_fBSjRyY4.png 

CONTENT

The company will release a new visual movie that expresses its brand value.
Hamada Syuzou's official YouTube channel (@hamadasyuzou1868)
Movie URL: https://youtu.be/Q87UYk5MWuY 

UPCOMING EVENT INFORMATION
Singapore (March 2 - 3, 2025, Marina Bay Sands)
The company will be exhibiting at BCB Singapore 2025, Stand No. A-08, A-10.

Other plans include showing the product in Mainland China (Shanghai), the Taiwan region, South Korea, and more.

Further information will be updated from time to time.

Hamada Syuzou's official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/hamadaglobal 

Hamada Syuzou will continue its efforts to communicate the appeal of "honkaku" shochu with a broad swath of consumers and strive to realize its vision – "Taking Honkaku Shochu to the Pinnacle of Japanese Alcohol and Beyond."

SOURCE Hamada Syuzou Co., Ltd.