Rooster's Beak

Rooster’s Beak shochu is a premium Japanese barley spirit, crafted by a small, family-owned distiller in Kyushu, Japan and imported to New Zealand by Wellington-based public servants and shochu-lovers Ron and Seishi. This craft distillery, Ebisu Shozo, has been producing shochu for more than 130 years. Named for the Chinese proverb, ‘it is better to be the beak of a rooster than the tail of an ox’

, Rooster’s Beak shochu reflects the determination of the master distiller, Mr Kentarou Tanaka, to create the best possible shochu despite his distillery’s small size. New Zealand is currently the only country outside of Japan where Rooster’s Beak is available. Importers and chief shochu-drinkers - Ron Clink and Seishi Gomibuchi

Both Seishi and Ron work in science and innovation policy for the New Zealand government as their day job. Seishi read about Rooster’s Beak a couple of years ago through top cuisine magazines in Japan and approached Ebisu Shozo's master distiller, Mr Tanaka, about importing it. Originally from Japan but a long-time Wellingtonian, Seishi is excited to introduce Rooster’s Beak to his new home country. Seishi raved about Rooster’s Beak to work colleague Ron, who also loved it, and the two decided to go into business together.