Shochu-Specific Glass "Désir," Co-developed with a French 2-Star Sommelier, Begins Full-Scale Rollout to Maximize Shochu's Appeal

JTC Corporation (Location: Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture; Representative Director: Noriyuki Tsuji), through its glass OEM and development production business "GLASSBACCA," has fully launched the shochu-specific glass "Désir," designed by top French Champagne sommelier Philippe Jamesse, on Amazon and its own online shop. "Désir" Shochu-Specific Glass. Background of Development: To solve the distortion of vessels remaining conventional while shochu becomes premium. Japanese authentic shochu is now at a major turning point. Long associated with the image of a "cheap, intoxicating mass-market liquor," recent years have seen the rise of "premium shochu" made with meticulous attention to ingredients and aging. With the establishment of a new category at the French competition "Kura Master" and adoption by top overseas bartenders, "SHOCHU" is being re-evaluated globally as a rare distilled spirit that reflects its terroir (the region's climate and soil). However, what about the "vessel" that greatly influences the experience? It is still common to be served in thick rock glasses or tumblers. This makes it difficult to enjoy the elegant and delicate aroma, comparable to "perfume," that brewers have dedicated their lives to creating. As the content evolves into a "world-class luxury liquor," a "world-class vessel" is needed to appreciate it properly. With this in mind, we developed the shochu-specific glass "Désir." "Désir," a translator of aroma born from a sommelier's "desire." Philippe Jamesse, former head sommelier at the starred restaurant "Château Les Crayères" in the Champagne region of France and a world-renowned champagne sommelier. When Mr. Jamesse first tasted authentic Japanese shochu, he was amazed by its delicate aroma and, wanting "a glass to draw out 100% of this potential," he sketched the design for "Désir" (= desire) himself. Philippe Jamesse. A bowl that elevates the "resolution of aroma" to the extreme. The bulging body condenses the aroma, delivering the floral notes derived from the raw ingredients to the nasal passages, which would otherwise escape from a straight glass. Extreme lightness and beauty that even changes your posture. The astonishing lightness of "72g," unique to handmade glasses, and the ultra-thin stem. It is not merely functional but designed so that the gesture of holding it naturally appears elegant, beautifully harmonizing with sophisticated spaces and interiors. The pursuit of "Aji-Pa (Flavor Performance)." To maximize the "Aji-Pa (Flavor Performance)" of liquor by changing the glass. This is the mission of GLASSBACCA. The angled rim of "Désir" directs the liquor to the proper position on the tongue, more vividly portraying the freshness of shochu and its marriage with food. Adopted by the world's top gastronomy. A glass specializing in aroma, recognized by the "magician of aroma." "Désir" has already gained solid recognition in the world's top gastronomic scenes. It has been adopted at "Maison Pic" (Valence main store, three Michelin stars) by three-star French chef Anne-Sophie Pic, known as the "magician of aroma," and at her aroma-themed restaurants "La Dame de Pic" (Paris and Dubai stores), as well as at "L'Ecrin," a restaurant within the "Hôtel de Crillon," a Palace-rated hotel in France. In Japan, its adoption is spreading in places that offer special experiences, such as Michelin-listed restaurants, high-end sushi bars, wine bars, and luxury trains. Professionals who have actually adopted "Désir" have expressed surprise, saying, "I never thought shochu was such a wonderfully aromatic drink," and "Even after finishing the drink, I can spend time just with the aroma." It has also received high praise as a versatile glass suitable for various drinks like champagne, sherry, and cocktails, stating, "This one glass is all you need." It is active not only for shochu but as an all-purpose glass for beverages where aroma is important, such as wine, cocktails, non-alcoholic cocktails, and bottled teas. Saving two industries in crisis simultaneously, GLASSBACCA's mission. The reason GLASSBACCA creates specialized glasses like the "SAKE TASTING GLASS" and the shochu-specific glass "Désir" is not just "to sell a good product." It holds the social significance of saving two of Japan's proud traditional industries from crisis. One is the challenge in the liquor industry where the true value of excellent sake is not fully conveyed because the drinkware is not optimized. The other is the crisis in the glass industry, where the number of glass factories, once about 40 nationwide, has plummeted to just four, and the advanced skills of craftsmen are disappearing. As a fabless OEM company without its own factory, GLASSBACCA aims to solve these two problems. For the issue of vessels not fully conveying the original value of liquor, as glass professionals, we leverage our network with glass manufacturers worldwide, matching the right technology to shape the optimal glass. The best glass thus created enhances the original value of the liquor and creates demand for new OEM glasses. By creating new demand in the market and protecting an environment where craftsmen can continue to exercise their skills, we connect the skills of glass craftsmen to the next generation. This is our contribution to social issues. Future outlook: Crossing the barrier between professionals and general consumers through expansion on Amazon. By fully launching "Désir," previously available to a select group of professionals, on Amazon, we have created an environment where not only general consumers who want to upgrade their home drinking experience but also individual restaurant owners who want to offer special shochu can easily test-introduce it, "starting with just one glass." Just as the "SAKE TASTING GLASS" created a "standard" for evaluating sake, this "Désir" will create a "new culture" for experiencing shochu. GLASSBACCA will continue to update the future of Japanese sake and the glass industry through OEM production of glasses. GLASSBACCA https://glassbacca.com/ Désir General Sales Page (Amazon) https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B09Y5H54CR GLASSBACCA Online Shop https://shop.glassbacca.com/collections/philippe-jamesse/products/desir-by-philippe-jamesse Wholesale/OEM Inquiry Form https://glassbacca.com/contact