Taoyuan Distillery Introduction
Traveling along Culture Road, it's hard not to be attracted by the giant sake bottle model; this is the largest sake brewery in northern Taiwan – Taoyuan Distillery (renamed from Linkou Distillery in 2014), which has integrated Taipei Distillery, Banqiao Distillery, and Shulin Distillery, making it the most modern distillery currently. The park next to the distillery features art installations of sake jars, with a trail entrance surrounded by grapevines and abundant greenery, creating a leisurely atmosphere for wine tasting. Taoyuan Distillery is the first modern sake brewery in Taiwan and is the only one producing Japanese sake. Inside the distillery, the long history of sake brewing is thoroughly introduced, and visitors can see the most representative product of Taoyuan Distillery – "Yuchuan Sake," with the entire process from rice selection, soaking, to koji fermentation presented in small models. The elegant aroma of sake lees fills the air, making the flavors of the sake even more anticipated. Sake tasting is available on-site, offering a warm and unforgettable experience. The "Sake Bank" within the distillery is a well-known wine cellar, featuring a delicately designed indoor space that creates an enjoyable wine tasting atmosphere. Each jar, labeled with the names of "Daughter's Red" and "Top Scholar's Red," symbolizes wishes for children, filling the room with fragrance and allowing visitors to fully indulge in the warmth of time. The distillery also offers DIY experience courses specifically for groups, with the most popular being the salt koji and sake lees handmade soap-making classes. The process is simple and enjoyable for both children and adults, with natural skincare effects that are particularly loved by female customers. Additionally, there are discussions on the highly popular salt koji production in Japan in recent years, along with creative cocktail mixing to stimulate the taste buds with rich flavors. Visiting the distillery not only provides excellent wine gift boxes as perfect souvenirs, but travelers without wine tasting habits can also purchase related products – such as the "Sake Lees Face Mask," known as the "common man's SK-II," the "Red Yeast Rice Health Pancakes" that create a purchasing frenzy, and the wonderfully flavored "Shaoxing Sausages," ensuring no one leaves empty-handed.
