Taoyuan Distillery Introduction
As you walk along Cultural Road, it’s hard not to be attracted to the gigantic sake bottle model; this is Taoyuan Distillery, the largest producing sake factory in northern Taiwan (renamed from Linkou Distillery in 2014). After consolidating Taipei Distillery, Banqiao Distillery, and Shulin Distillery, it is now the most modern sake factory with the latest equipment. The park next to the distillery features sake barrel installation art, with a path entry surrounded by grapevines and lush trees, creating a leisurely atmosphere perfect for tasting sake. Taoyuan Distillery is the first modernized sake brewing facility in Taiwan and the only one that produces Japanese sake. Inside, you can learn about the long history of sake brewing and see its most representative product – "Yuchuan Sake." The entire brewing process, from rice selection, soaking, to yeast fermentation, is presented in detailed miniature models. The elegant aroma of sake lees wafts through the air, heightening the anticipation for the flavors of the sake. Tasting of sake is available on-site, with a smooth mouthfeel that is hard to forget. The "Sake Bank" in the factory is what many people know as the wine cellar, with an elegantly understated Chinese interior space that creates a pleasant ambiance for tasting and savoring. Each jar labeled “Daughter's Red” and “Top Scholar's Red” symbolizes hopes for offspring, filling the room with fragrance and allowing one to be completely immersed in the aroma of time. The distillery offers DIY experience courses specifically for groups, with the most popular being the handmade salt koji and sake lees soap-making. The process is simple and fun for both children and adults, and the natural skincare effects are particularly loved by female customers. Additionally, there are discussions about making salt koji, which has gained popularity in Japan in recent years, as well as creative cocktail mixing to tantalize the taste buds with rich flavors. Aside from enjoying fine sake gift boxes as excellent souvenirs, visitors who are not used to tasting sake can also purchase related products – such as the "sake lees mask," a "common man's SK-II," the highly sought-after "red yeast rice health biscuits," and the exceptionally flavorful "Shaoxing sausage," ensuring that no one leaves the distillery empty-handed.
