Asahi : Asahi Shuzo Kikaijima is a flat, triangular island located to the east of Amami-Oshima Island. Japan Air Commuter (JAC) services the world's shortest regular air route (20 minutes flight time) from Amami Airport to Kikai Airport. I could detect the sweet smell of brown sugar in the air when I arrived at the distillery. They were right in the middle of melting the brown sugar, which is of course produced from sugar cane. The sugar cane is planted in summer and grown for one and a half years, then harvested in winter of the following year. Every typhoon attack levels sugar canes to the ground, but they recover and stand up again to grow as if to reach to the sky. Each piece of sugar cane is cut individually and taken to the factory to be squeezed. The juices are then boiled in a large pot before being transferred to another pot to be boiled down and kneaded. The mixture is then put in a box to harden to complete the process. Some brown sugar is brought in from Okinawa, or even as far away as China, but Kitei, the distillery owner and master distiller, does his best to make his shochu with local brown sugar. Asahi (Kokuto-Shochu / 30% alcohol) The sweet aroma of brown sugar is evident. Best with warm rather than hot water. Tastes bitter if consumed with water that is too hot. Minaminoshima no Kifujin - Lady of the Southern Island - (Kokuto-Shochu / 44% alcohol) This kokuto-shochu is made from vapors that are taken at the initial stage of Asahi distillation. Has a distinctively sweet flavor. Alcohol content of 44%. Enjoy the change in taste that occurs as the temperature returns to normal after it is poured into a glass from a bottle that has been chilled in the freezer. The high alcohol content prevents the content from freezing. Kikai Island is also the northernmost extreme of the habitat of the ogomadara butterfly, which, by virtue of its graceful manner of flying, is known as the "Lady of the Southern Island." This shochu was named this way after the image of the butterfly being attracted by the flowery aroma of this kokuto-shochu.