Iseya Brewery (Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture), is once again up to put a domestic, local twist on classic Amaro, with a new expression using botanicals from Hachijojima.

SCARLET Hachijojima AMARO, is the first in the new series "FRIENDS OF SCARLET" and is made with botanicals sourced from Hachijojima, an island located approximately 300km south of Tokyo. It features angelica, fruit lemons, and native Hachijojima herbs as its main ingredients, and is additive-free and hand-brewed to capture the island's natural aroma and flavor.

The result is a distinct flavor profile: the lushness of angelica, the bright acidity of lemons, and the gentle bitterness of medicinal herbs. Essentially, each bottle captures the very essence - the climate, fragrance, and natural energy - of Hachijojima itself.

"SCARLET Hachijojima Amaro" also marks the debut of the "FRIENDS OF SCARLET" project, which aims to highlight lesser-known plants and local cultures across Japan, with each release centering its focus on the use of a particular region's botanicals.

This project shines a light on Japan's beautiful, lesser-known plants and the communities deeply connected to them. The brewery is intent on transforming these "unknown treasures" into herbal liquor and sharing them with the world.

Each additive-free liquor is hand-brewed by skilled artisans, ensuring that the natural aroma and flavor of these plants are perfectly captured in every bottle. What began on Hachijojima will evolve into a series, highlighting more hidden botanical gems across Japan.

Iseya Brewery, located in Obarajuku, Midori Ward, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, stands out as one of Japan's rare craft breweries specializing in amaro.

Operating from a beautifully renovated, century-old traditional Japanese house, the brewery meticulously handles every step by hand - from selecting botanicals to extraction and bottling, all without additives. Their core philosophy centers on achieving an unparalleled "concentration of aroma, texture, and duration," a quality simply unattainable through mass production.

The Amaro will be released on July 28, 2025, and will be accompanied by a Instagram livestream (@scarlet.iseya). The new release will also be available on their website, or at Folk Art Aki and Yamadaya Liquor Store on Hachijojima.

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team