The most familiar Awamori brewery on Ishigaki Island has been loved for over 70 years.
Kefuku Brewery is a long-established awamori brewery located on Ishigaki Island.
The awamori brand “Keifuku” is a familiar awamori that has been loved by the residents of Ishigaki Island for about 70 years. It is also known as the first brewery in the Awamori industry to challenge the “decompression distillation method”. The name “reduced-pressure Awamori Keifuku” is a big-selling brand of Awamori.
In April 2014, Keifuku Brewery moved from Ishigaki City to near Ishigaki Airport. In August of the same year, the factory became open for tours.
It is a spot that can be enjoyed without being affected by Okinawa’s changeable subtropical climate, so it is especially recommended for sightseeing on rainy days.
Point 1: You can learn about the history of Awamori and its production method.
The factory tour is short, about 15 minutes, but employees will explain in detail the history and production process of Awamori. You can also learn more about the distillation methods that Keifuku Brewery has tried, such as the reduced-pressure distillation method.
You can also see the actual rice steamer and storage tanks, and depending on the date and time, if you are lucky, you can also see the actual workings of the brewery.
Since March 2020, factory tours have been offered three times a day from 11:00, 13:30, and 16:00. Many Awamori lovers and even those who do not like Awamori have become interested in and fond of Awamori through these factory tours.
Point 2: After the factory tour, visitors can compare tastes at the tasting corner!
The best part of a brewery factory tour is the tasting. After learning about the actual production process and history of the brewery, the awamori you drink is exceptional.
Almost all types of awamori and liqueurs produced by the Keifuku Brewery are offered for tasting, and you are free to pour and drink them by yourself. This allows visitors to compare the taste of different awamori and liqueurs, something they would not normally be able to do, and many people comment that they have made discoveries, wondering how much difference there is in the taste.
Of course, visitors who are driving cannot drink alcohol, but instead, they can sample healthy beverages such as pure rice vinegar and more vinegar.
PPoint 3: Awamori and souvenirs are only available at the factory
The factory tour also includes a souvenir. A nice bonus of the factory tour is that you can choose from five kinds of secret old sake and liqueur that can only be purchased at the store of the Keifuku Brewery and take them home as souvenirs.
In addition, there are old Awamori sake limited to the brewery that can only be purchased at the factory, Awamori measuring cups that are only available at the factory, and original goods with the Keifuku name (such as goodwill, glasses, and caracara), so many visitors buy these as souvenirs for those who love to drink.
