What alcohol can you only buy in Osaka? Top 10 whiskeys, local sake, and local beers

Osaka Prefecture is the most prosperous area in the Kansai region, and is well-known as a tourist destination and a gourmet city. What kind of image do you have of alcohol?
In fact, Osaka has a number of famous alcoholic beverages. Not only local sake unique to Osaka, but also famous whiskey and major beer brands are produced in Osaka, so it can be said that Osaka has a well-developed alcohol culture .
This time, we will be talking about the alcohol situation in Osaka Prefecture. We will also introduce recommended brands, so please use this as a reference when choosing your alcohol.

The alcohol situation in Osaka Prefecture! The famous Yamazaki Whisky Distillery

Osaka's alcoholic beverages have developed alongside its food culture

Osaka is a place that was once known as "the kitchen of the nation." It is a place where food culture is still developing, and alcohol has become popular in Osaka as something to enjoy with meals. The alcohol in Osaka is mainly light and dry, which goes well with food. These refreshing, sharp drinks have long been popular as a drink to have with meals.
The sake made in Osaka also spread as "kudari-zake" along with its food culture . Among Osaka's sake breweries, there are several that continue their ancient history to this day.
Another feature of Osaka is that it produces not only sake, but also a variety of other alcoholic drinks . In recent years, whiskey, craft beer, and spirits such as gin have also been produced, making it easy to find the perfect drink for you, which is unique to Osaka.

Suntory Whisky Yamazaki Distillery is also located here

Osaka Prefecture is home to the world-famous Suntory Yamazaki Distillery. The distillery is located in Shimamoto-cho, Mishima-gun, Osaka Prefecture, and it feels more like it is quietly nestled at the foot of Mount Tennozan on the outskirts of Kyoto than in the center of Osaka.
Construction of the Yamazaki Distillery began in 1923, when Suntory founder Shinjiro Torii chose this site with its abundant water resources. The Yamazaki Distillery is Japan's oldest malt whisky distillery , and it can be said to be the place where the development of whisky culture in Japan began .
Yamazaki malt is characterized by its strong, gorgeous aroma and rich flavor . In addition to being released as single malt Yamazaki, Yamazaki malt is also used as the base liquor for blended whisky such as Hibiki.
Speaking of Yamazaki Distillery, tours are also popular. At Yamazaki Distillery, you can enjoy tasting whiskey at a price close to the retail price, even though it has become difficult to obtain on the market in recent years. You can also purchase limited items that can only be bought at the distillery, so it might be interesting to visit as part of your Osaka sightseeing.

Ranked 2nd in beer production in Japan

Osaka Prefecture is also ranked second among all prefectures in Japan in terms of beer production . There are many craft beer factories in Osaka Prefecture, including Asahi Beer's Suita brewery, Dotonbori Beer, and Kamigata Beer.
In particular, Asahi Beer's Suita Factory is the birthplace of Asahi Beer and has a history of over 120 years . Not only does it have a beer manufacturing facility, but it also has a museum where you can learn about the appeal, history, and production process of Asahi Beer.
The Asahi Beer Museum is scheduled to be renovated in 2022. Like the Yamazaki Distillery, this is also recommended as a tourist attraction for alcohol lovers.

There are plenty of restaurants and bars where you can enjoy alcohol

Osaka is not only a place where alcohol is made, but also a place where you can enjoy alcohol. As the largest urban area in the Kansai region, Osaka has many restaurants and bars where you can enjoy alcohol with your meal.
Osaka has a wealth of entertainment options when it comes to restaurants, and there are some unique restaurants you won't find in other areas. For example, there are brewery pubs that combine breweries and stores, as well as restaurants and bars that serve alcoholic beverages not only from Osaka but from all over the world.

Top 10 alcoholic drinks popular in Osaka

1st place: Suntory Single Malt Yamazaki

• Type of alcohol: Single malt whiskey
• Manufacturer: Suntory
• Alcohol content: 43%
• Price: 700ml 4,950 yen (tax included)

Yamazaki Single Malt is a well-known Japanese whiskey that represents Japan. It is a single malt made at the Yamazaki Distillery, and is known worldwide for its gorgeous aroma and sweet, smooth taste .
In addition to non-aged products, there are also aged bottles such as 12-year, 18-year, and 25-year old products, all of which are so popular that they command premium prices. There are also rare bottles available for a limited time, which are highly popular at auctions and in the buy-back market.

2nd place: Akishika Super Dry Junmai Ginjo Unpasteurized Sake

A super sour sake "Akishika Junmai Ginjo Yamada Nishiki 100% Super Dry Tank Pressed Directly Dried Namasake" (Akishika, Akishika Sake Brewery, Nose Town, Toyono District, Osaka Prefecture). Even I, who loves sour sake, was surprised by the strength of the acidity. This is interesting. For more information, please click here ↓ https://t.co/P2Dacc7MEi #Akishika #Okushika #Nose Town #Sour sakepic.twitter.com/vITMLIGpTQ

— Sake Frog (@sakekaeru) May 4, 2023

• Type of alcohol: Japanese sake (junmai ginjo)
• Manufacturer: Akishika Brewery
• Alcohol content: 18%
• Price: 1800ml 3,740 yen (tax included)

Akishika is a representative sake brewery in Osaka Prefecture. This is a freshly pressed unpasteurized sake that is only shipped once a year to select Akishika stores.
With a sake meter value of +15, this sake is overwhelmingly dry and full of body. It is not just dry, but also has a carbonation that brings the flavor together in a well-balanced way, making it easy to drink.

3rd place: Minoh Beer

• Type of alcohol: Beer
• Manufacturer: Minoh Brewery
• Alcohol content: about 5-6%
• Price: 3,190 yen (tax included) for a set of six 330ml bottles

Minoh Beer is a craft beer from Osaka that was founded in 1996. It has won a gold medal at the world beer competition "World Beer Cup (WBC)", so you can see that their skills are recognized. It is a delicious beer, but it is by no means a special beer. It is deliberately made to be an everyday beer, with a familiar taste and price setting.
The lineup includes the standard Pilsner, Stout, Pale Ale, Weizen, W-IPA, and Monkey IPA, as well as seasonal flavors such as peach and yuzu .

4th place: Goshun Honmaru Honjozo Sake

• Type of alcohol: Japanese sake (honjozo)
• Manufacturer: Goshun Co., Ltd.
• Alcohol content: 16%
• Price: 1800ml 2,478 yen (tax included)

Goshun is a sake from Ikeda City, which once flourished as a sake-producing region of Osaka. While many manufacturers make a wide variety of sake, Goshun is particular about only making ordinary sake, honjozo sake, special jozo sake, and daiginjo sake.
Honjozo sake has a mellow, sweet taste, making it a perfect daily drink that you will never tire of . It is delicious served chilled or warm, and has a classic umami flavor.

5th place: Katanozakura Yamahai Junmai Unfiltered Raw Sake Yamadanishiki

• Type of alcohol: Sake (pure rice sake)
• Manufacturer: Yamano Shuzo
• Alcohol content: 17%
• Price: 1800ml 3,300 yen (tax included)

Katanozakura is a historic brewery founded at the end of the Edo period. The brewery is particular about producing high-alcohol unprocessed sake , which allows you to directly experience the umami flavor of the sake. The Yamadanishiki sake made using the Yamahai method is aged at the brewery before being shipped.
The rich, full-bodied flavor of the aging process is sure to impress any sake lover. Katanozakura's Yamahai-style Junmai Unfiltered Unpasteurized Sake also comes in an Omachi rice version , so it might be interesting to try both.

6th place: Japanese Craft Gin ROKU

• Type of alcohol: Spirits (gin)
• Manufacturer: Suntory
• Alcohol content: 47%
• Price: 700ml 4,400 yen (tax included)

Japanese Craft Gin ROKU is a spirit (gin) made by Suntory. The key point is that it uses Japanese ingredients born from the four seasons of Japan, such as cherry blossoms and cherry leaves in spring, sencha and gyokuro in summer, sansho pepper in autumn, and yuzu in winter .
Its appeal lies in its botanical aroma and smooth taste. It is manufactured at the Suntory Osaka Factory in Minato-ku, Osaka Prefecture.

7th place: Daimon DAIMON 35 Junmai Daiginjo

• Type of alcohol: Japanese sake (pure rice daiginjo sake)
• Manufacturer: Daimon Sake Brewery
• Alcohol content: 18%
• Price: 720ml 5,500 yen (tax included)

Daimon Sake Brewery is a sake brewery located in Katano City, Osaka Prefecture. Founded in 1826, the brewery is well-known for producing high-quality sake using water from Settsu and Ikoma .
DAIMON 35 Junmai Daiginjo is a high-end sake among the Daimon brand. It is made from Yamada Nishiki, the king of sake rice, polished to 35%, and has a full-bodied taste that goes well with Western cuisine. It is also recommended to drink it in a wine glass.

8th place: Amano Sake Monastery Sake

• Type of alcohol: Sake (aged sake)
• Manufacturer: Saijo Limited Partnership Company
• Alcohol content: 15%
• Price: 300ml 11,000 yen (tax included)

Amano Sake is a local sake brand from Okukawachi, Osaka. Amano Sake's Sobo Sake is a sake that is said to have been loved by Toyotomi Hideyoshi , and is a kind of revival sake made by recreating the "Kongo-ji Sobo Sake brewing method" of the Muromachi period.
Unlike modern alcoholic beverages, this amber-colored drink was very sweet and thick, almost like a dessert.

9th place: Dotonbori Beer

Osaka: Dotonbori Beer 🍺Compare 3 types🍺
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— ♡Kaori♡ (@G9OjfLDPDE8i61E) June 23, 2022

• Type of alcohol: Beer
• Manufacturer: Dotonbori Beer
• Alcohol content: approx. 5-6%
• Price: Approximately 500 yen (tax included)

Dotonbori Beer was created as a craft beer that goes well with Japanese food . It has a malty flavor, but the gentle carbonation makes it refreshing to drink.
The standard lineup includes many beers with Osaka-like place names such as "Osaka Kolsch," "Osaka Alt," "Osaka Porter," "Osaka IPA," and "Dotonbori Horoyoi." You can try them at the official restaurants attached to the brewery.

10th place: Sen no Rikyu Junmaishu

• Type of alcohol: Sake (pure rice sake)
• Manufacturer: Rikyugura
• Alcohol content: 15-16%
• Price: 1800ml 2,420 yen (tax included)

Sen no Rikyu is a sake made in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture. Sakai used to be an area with many sake breweries, and was said to be on a par with Nada and Fushimi. However, although there were many sake breweries up until the Taisho period, sake brewing declined after the Showa period, and all the breweries closed in 1971.
Sen no Rikyu was created by a group of volunteers who came together to revive sake brewing in Sakai. This sake is made with spring water from Mount Kongo and is loved as a "Sakai local sake" with a good balance of umami and acidity.

How to enjoy alcohol in Osaka! Learn about the background of its creation and the snacks that go well with it

Let's try drinking Osaka alcohol while learning about its background and policies

Although there are currently few sake breweries in Osaka, it was once an area where sake brewing flourished. As a result, many of the breweries that continue to make sake today do so with a clear concept and commitment to their craft . You can also enjoy sake with historical names such as Sen no Rikyu.
When enjoying alcohol in Osaka, it may be interesting to take a look at the background and policies behind these drinks. Of course, it's not just local sake, but whiskey, beer, and other drinks are also made with great care, so if you want to become an alcohol connoisseur, be sure to check them out.
If you are visiting Osaka and want to experience the alcohol culture, we recommend visiting sake breweries and museums . Alcohol-related events are also held regularly in the city center, so be sure to check them out.

Choose the right drink for the occasion

Osaka is a place where you can enjoy a wide variety of alcoholic beverages, including sake, whiskey, and beer. Therefore, being able to choose the right drink for the occasion or situation is one of Osaka's unique advantages. In addition to beer and ordinary sake that are easy to drink on a daily basis, there is also high-quality sake that is perfect for celebrations, whiskey that makes a great gift, and stylish cocktails and liqueurs that can be enjoyed in bars and restaurants.
When choosing alcohol, be sure to choose something that matches the occasion and the meal. When choosing alcohol, it's also a good idea to pay attention not only to the taste but also to the bottle design and price.

Enjoy your alcohol with Osaka delicacies such as kushikatsu.

Speaking of Osaka, the food is overwhelmingly popular. Osaka is not only famous for its high-end food, but also for its so-called B-class food such as kushikatsu , takoyaki , and doteyaki . It is recommended to enjoy Osaka alcohol with these Osaka food snacks.
Osaka's light, dry sake and smooth beer go perfectly with not only the Kansai flavors but also the strong flavors of the Kanto region . In general, there are many drinks that are easy to enjoy with meals, so be sure to try them out while enjoying the pairing with your meal.

Osaka alcohol is popular at specialty stores and sells for high prices

Osaka Prefecture's alcohol is not only loved as local sake, but is also well-known nationwide. Osaka also has world-class alcoholic beverages such as Suntory Single Malt Yamazaki.
Alcohol in Osaka is also sold at alcohol buying stores . If you have any unopened alcohol left over that you don't drink, why not consider using a store that offers great deals?
Linkusus, a liquor purchase specialty store, handles many types of liquor, so you can purchase a wide variety of liquor from Osaka at a price that matches the market price. We handle a wide range of products, from high-end Yamazaki to rare local sake, so please feel free to contact us.
Linkus Osaka alcohol purchase here

summary

This time, we explained the alcohol situation in Osaka Prefecture.
Osaka is home to a wide variety of Japanese sake brands, including Akishika, and world-class whiskeys such as Suntory Yamazaki, as well as many up-and-coming new alcoholic beverages, such as craft beer and craft gin ROKU.
Osaka's alcoholic beverages are full of humor and are never boring to drink. They also go well with food, so why not take this opportunity to check them out?