DEN-EN ENVELHECIDA, a barrel-aged sweet potato shochu produced by Den-en Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Satsumasendai City, Kagoshima Prefecture), has claimed both the Jury Award and Platinum Prize in the barrel-aged category at the 2026 Kura Master International Shochu and Awamori Competition, held in Paris, France. Additionally, DEN-EN Gold Label won a Gold Prize in the same category.
Award Results
- DEN-EN ENVELHECIDA: Barrel-Aged Category — Jury Award and Platinum Prize
- DEN-EN Gold Label: Barrel-Aged Category — Gold Prize
The announcement of the Jury Award can be viewed on YouTube at the following link (announcement begins at 19:45):
About DEN-EN ENVELHECIDA
DEN-EN ENVELHECIDA is an authentic sweet potato shochu distinguished by its amber color and complex, deep aroma, both of which develop through barrel aging. The spirit is aged in barrels for a full three years, resulting in a mellow, refined flavor profile.
At the Jury Award presentation, judges offered the following comments:
"Floral aromas reminiscent of 'white flowers' and 'lychee' — characteristic of the ingredients. Well-balanced on the palate, delivering exactly what the nose promises. The barrel influence is subtle, yet it adds breadth and suppleness to the overall taste. A wonderful shochu."
About DEN-EN Gold Label
DEN-EN Gold Label is Japan's first barrel-aged barley shochu and a long-selling product now celebrating its 40th anniversary. Produced through atmospheric distillation, which preserves the character of the raw ingredients, the spirit is fully barrel-aged and features a sweet aroma of vanilla and caramel along with a crisp, clean finish. At least 50% of the blend consists of spirits aged for three years or more.
About Kura Master
Kura Master is an international competition held in France since 2017, dedicated to Japanese sake, authentic shochu, and awamori. The competition is judged by food and beverage professionals — primarily from France — through blind tasting, with a particular emphasis on food pairing (mariage). The authentic shochu and awamori division was established in 2021, and entries are carefully selected from producers around the world.
Note: At the awards ceremony scheduled for September 30, 2026, the President's Prize — the highest honor — will be selected from among all Jury Award recipients.
