The sweet aroma was just a hint of sweetness. The sweetness in the mouth is well perceived, with a hint of sake-like quality, and a nice sharpness. It is very delicious.
This one was served at a restaurant in Utsunomiya!
It was a restaurant with a lot of Iwate sake!
I remember it was clear and tasty, but a bit fuzzy😅.
I believe we had a very dry sake at the second restaurant after this, but I don't have any photos and my memory is a bit fuzzy, so no check-in at Sake-no-wa... sweating...
Next is Asakai's fresh-stored sake.
Well, it is a honjozo.
It's been so long that I forgot what it tasted like, so I ordered it.
We had it at a yakiniku restaurant called "Mororokaku" in front of Morioka Station.
At first, I took a sip... 😓.
Well, it tasted astringent or something, and it didn't go down smoothly.
I wondered how it would taste with grilled meat. So I grilled some meat and tried drinking it, but it just didn't go well with it.
I can't say whether it would have been better to have it heated up.
Well, I guess it's just like they put it there because it's a local sake?
I gave up and switched to a highball. 😅
By the way, we were told that reservations are not available during Golden Week, so we waited in line for an hour.
My second son, who was coming back from Tokyo, arrived at Morioka station at 9:00 a.m., so the only place open was a yakiniku restaurant if we wanted to give him a good meal.
The only two restaurants in front of the station were Mororokaku and Pyonpyonsha, so we had to be prepared to wait in line.
At Seiroukaku, the rule is that if the waiter calls you and you don't answer, you have to cancel immediately! So we were glad that we could get in earlier than expected.
However, we were able to get in at 8:30, so we had to wait in line for a while for "Yaki-Yasai (grilled vegetables)" (smiles).
Slightly fruity and refreshing, with a hint of sake kick coming in at the end.
The sharpness may be a little strong.
For sake drinkers, it might be easier to drink with this level of sharpness.
"Super dry" "rich style"
Tasted slightly chilled. Nose is very light. Flavor is forward and tart. Sharp notes of cherry and plum. Texture is very dry, almost astringent, and very clean. Leaves a crisp dryness on the mouth.
Ideally not a drink I'd enjoy by itself but definitely one for food.
Alcohol content: 15
Ginga
Rice polishing ratio: 50
Winner of the Gold Prize in the Premium Daiginjo category at the Wineglass Delicious Sake Awards 2025.
At a sake meeting in Tokyo.
The fruity and mellow aroma stands up very well as shown in the chart on the back label.
Although I did not drink it in a wine glass, the taste is smooth and refreshingly sweet, with a clean and refreshing aftertaste.
If I have a chance to drink it again, I would like to drink it in a wine glass.
☀️
I went to CRAFT SAKE WEEK 2025🤗
Black labels are cool 😎.
I heard that black koji is common in Awamori.
But this one is made with one suitable for sake. Furthermore, they are not selling this one yet 😳.
Which means it will be coming out in the future 😆.
It is sweet and sour, but the acidity is sharp.
The cut is excellent.
The sweetness is rather hardworking, so you can enjoy it as a stand-alone sake.
On the other hand, if it is a food sake, it may fall apart.
It is fully enjoyable with a sweet and sour apple or apricot flavor.
It has a strong flavor that doesn't go as far as a liqueur, and it is a refreshing and fresh sake that goes down your throat 🍶.
I am looking forward to drinking this sake from now on 🤗.
Asakai
Asakai Junmai Sake Yellow Label
Sake brewery in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture.
Junmai-shu with 55% polished rice.
Full aroma and soft rice flavor,
Gentle taste with a rounded aftertaste.
#Nihon-shu
I bought it at a sake brewery when I visited Morioka. I opened it after drinking some of it. I didn't smell much, but when I drank it, it was quite sweet. In spite of that, the aftertaste is refreshing and delicious.
