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"I realized that it was more refined and less quirky than I had imagined." That was my impression of the limited edition cake made with Kumamoto shochu that I tried at this store. As of November 2022, in the Osaka Umeda area, six commercial facilities (Hankyu Umeda Main Store, Hanshin Umeda Main Store, Daimaru Umeda Store, Grand Front Osaka, Hankyu Sanban-gai, and Lucua Osaka) are holding a large fair called "Kumamoto Mon x Osaka Umeda Jack" to support the recovery of Kumamoto, which suffered extensive damage from heavy rain in July two years ago. The fair aims to provide and sell menus using Kumamoto-produced ingredients and alcohol. While Kumamoto-related fairs have been held in Umeda before, this is the first time that multiple facilities in the Hankyu Umeda area have come together for a fair. And at this popular coffee shop, "Burnhof," located in Hankyu Sanban-gai, they were offering the fair-exclusive menu. That was the "Kenya AA Karachina" coffee and the "Oak Road Torte" that I ordered together on that day. This torte is an arrangement of a traditional German pastry called Papageno Torte, using shochu called "Oak Road" instead of the commonly used orange-flavored liqueur for fragrance. Oak refers to barrels made from trees in the beech family such as oak and chestnut, and "Oak Road" is a product made by the "Takada Shuzojo" brewery in Kumamoto, where rice shochu is aged in five types of oak barrels and blended in small amounts. When I tasted it, the almond-flavored sponge, meringue, chocolate cream, and what seemed to be "Oak Road" created a refreshing flavor in my mouth. Personally, I have always had the image of shochu having a strong taste, and as someone who is not fond of high-proof alcohol in shochu bonbons, I often find it difficult to appreciate their good fragrance. In that respect, this "Oak Road Torte" had a mild amount of alcohol, allowing me to enjoy a refreshing and high-quality brandy-like aroma. Additionally, I ordered the "Kenya AA Karachina" dark-roasted coffee recommended by the staff this time, and its robust flavor, not overshadowed by the "Oak Road," almond, and chocolate in the cake, paired well. Among the cakes served at this store, this one stood out for its strong alcohol flavor, making it tough for young children or those sensitive to alcohol, but perfect for those who enjoy shochu or brandy. If you live in the Osaka area and are interested in shochu cakes that are not commonly found elsewhere, please visit this store during the event period.