Iwase, Toyama City, is now known as a gourmet town where foodies are attracting attention. Why Iwase? There was a creator called the instigator, Ryuichiro Masuda, the 130th generation owner of Masuda Sake Brewery, a XNUMX-year-old sake brewery known for its ``Masu Izumi.''
This time, we will introduce the charm of the new sake ``Link 8'' that Masuda has challenged, as well as the town of Iwase, which is attracting the attention of foodies.

While preserving the atmosphere of the bustling town during the Meiji period,
A new breath of life brings excitement to the city

Iwase, Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture is located about 15 minutes by bus from Toyama Airport and XNUMX minutes by car from Toyama Station. It is a port town that prospered from the Edo period through Kitamae-bune trade, and the historic townscape lined with shipping wholesalers built in the early Meiji period, which was at its peak, still remains. Kitamae-bune was a ship that sailed through the Sea of ​​Japan, buying and selling goods from present-day Osaka to Hokkaido, and was an economic artery of the sea that greatly contributed to the development of Japanese culture. Iwase is an attractive place where new sensibilities and power dwell, making use of buildings that give you a sense of the rich lifestyle of the time.

The man behind this revival of Iwase was Ryuichiro Masuda, the fifth generation owner of Masuda Sake Brewery. He is the brewer of Toyama's representative ginjo sake, ``Majusen,'' and is also known as the ``pioneer of ginjo sake.'' He is also a creator who travels around the world. He has a very friendly and caring personality, and many young chefs and artists have been attracted to Masuda's bold approach to challenges and his creative power, and they are gradually moving to this area. Say. Leaving aside an introduction to their shop and Gallery Foodie, I would like to first introduce Masuda's main business, the revolution in Japanese sake.

A new idea called “Link 8” taken up by Chivas Regal and Masuda Sake Brewery

Has anyone ever thought of aging sake in Scotch whiskey barrels? This innovative collaboration began in 2018 when Masuda met Colin Scott, former master blender of Chivas Regal, at the Strathaira Distillery in Keith, Scotland. Chivas Regal is a symbolic blended Scotch whisky, which started its history in 1801. This time, we have incorporated the spirit of Chivas Regal's DNA, ``Art of Blending,'' into sake making, and the new idea of ​​sake ``Link XNUMX'' was born.

In order to make this collaboration a reality, they will first use Yamadaho, a rare sake rice that goes well with whiskey barrels, to produce unprocessed sake that is fermented with several types of yeast. It also includes a blend of aged sake from Yamadaho. We use several types of Scotch whiskey aging barrels, including unique aging barrels that have been used for over 18 years to mature single malt. They are aged for 10 months and blended to create a special, complex aroma and flavor.
The Link 8,888 bottle also has a very impressive design. Designed by the famous London-based design company NUDE, the number XNUMX in the center of the bottle symbolizes the waves of a Japanese Zen garden and the Celtic knot of old Scottish decorations. Furthermore, the distance from Keith, Scotland to Toyama City, where Masuda Sake Brewery is located, is XNUMX km.
``Link 8'' is made using a unique manufacturing method that combines the cultures and technologies of each country, creating a new worldview that transcends national borders and cultures.

Enjoy to your heart's content the seasonal ingredients of Toyama, a treasure trove of ingredients.

Why is Iwase, home of the Masuda Sake Brewery, which produced this wonderfully flavored ``Link 8'', attracting the attention of foodies? One of the reasons for this is Toyama's topography. The dynamic topography, from the Tateyama Mountain Range in the Northern Alps to Toyama Bay, also known as a natural fish tank, produces a rich variety of ingredients, from seafood to agricultural products. In addition to this environment, it is believed that the gathering of young chefs and artists who support the movement to revitalize old folk houses and revitalize the town of Iwase has led to greater unity. At the center of this is Ryuichiro Masuda of Masuda Sake Brewery.
There are many attractive restaurants lined up here, including ``Cave Yunoki'', Italian restaurant ``Piatto Suzuki Cinque'', brewery ``Kobo Brew Pub'', sushi restaurant ``GEJO'', and soba restaurant ``Kuchiwa''.