Kumejima's Kumesen: Awamori From a Small Island's Spring Water

Kume Island sits about sixty miles west of the Okinawan mainland. It's small, it's remote, and it has very good water.

That last part is the entire reason this distillery exists where it does.

The Water

Kumejima's Kumesen has committed to spring water from the Doi source in the northern part of the island, which has a reputation for quality on an island already known for it.

Awamori is a simple spirit on paper, long-grain rice, black koji, one distillation. There's nothing to hide behind. When the ingredient list is that short, water stops being a background detail and becomes a primary one.

The Name

Kumejima no Kumesen refers to Kume no Sennin, a legendary hermit figure from medieval tales.

The distillery was established in 1949 in Uegusuku, Kumejima Town, and has grown into one of the most recognized awamori brands in Okinawa despite operating from an island of a few thousand people.

What Makes It Different

Most awamori is bottled at 30% or below. Kumesen was made deliberately stronger.

That extra strength is what carries the aroma. The result is described as rich and aromatic with a mellow taste, the mellowness coming from the awamori itself, the richness from not diluting it down to the standard.

It's made with carefully selected southern hard rice, the long-grain style awamori requires.

How to Drink It

Mizuwari is the Okinawan default and works well here, the strength means it can take real dilution without falling apart.

On the rocks in summer. Oyuwari in winter, which opens the aroma up considerably.

Neat if you want to meet it undiluted, but this isn't a bottle that demands it.

Pair It With

Rich, fatty, savory. Pork kakuni, tonsouku, buta kimchi, kuro buta sausage skewers.

Awamori also handles strong seasoning better than most spirits, so it holds up next to spicy edamame and pork kimchi.

Try It at Juraku

Kumejima's Kumesen is on the awamori list at Izakaya Juraku, Lower East Side, alongside our Zuisen, Chuko and Seifuku bottles. Ask for a comparison if you want to understand how much islands differ.