Japan's national drink of sake needs little introduction. But fewer people overseas know the distilled spirit shochu. Made from various ingredients, shochu has recently enjoyed considerable popularity. And to the real shochu aficionado, the search for the perfect shochu is a quest akin to finding the finest single malt whisky.    Southernmost of Japan's four main islands is Kyushu, a place steeped in history and tradition. Within Kyushu, one area that has played a particularly prominent historical role is Fukuoka Prefecture. It is in this prefecture that the former castle town of Kurume is located, a city that continues the age-old custom of catching fish using cormorants in its Chikugo River.    Kurume is also home to Beniotome, which crafts a rather intriguing shochu. Back in the seventeenth century, Beniotome began as a brewer of fine sake, and while it still produces sake, albeit under a different name, Beniotome puts its stamp on around 20 kinds of shochu. Many different ingredients go into making the remarkable range of shochu in Japan, but Beniotome is unusual in that it creates its shochu using sesame. And those seeking a sophisticated beverage with a delicate flavor and fragrance will certainly find that in a glass of Beniotome shochu. Beniotome Shuzo 732 Tanushimaru, Tanushimaru-cho, Kurume, Fukuoka 839-1233, Japan Tel : 0943-72-3939 Fax : 0943-73-0187