Hori
I received a bottle of Daimine's Winter Nocturne.
When I learned of its existence last year, I couldn't find it anywhere, and after waiting a year, I finally found a bottle.
It has a striking label by the same illustrator as the Summer Otosore and looks like something you would buy even if you were not a sake lover if you saw it at a liquor store.
I opened the bottle while it was well chilled, as is the theory with activated nigori sake. When the bottle is uncorked with a nice pop, bubbles start to form inside the bottle.
After slowly turning the bottle upside down to mix the lees, pour it into a glass and you will notice soft bubbles and an indescribable fruity aroma. The mouthfeel is smooth and silky, and at the same time, you can feel the light, slightly carbonated, chili-like stimulation in your mouth. The taste is my favorite sweet nigori sake. It has sweetness, umami, and a lactic acidity that is unique to nigori sake. There is also a graininess that suggests it is made from rice, and the slight bitterness and astringency are the best part of nigori sake.
The clean and refreshing aftertaste common to all Daimine sakes was still present in Winter Otosore.
This refreshing sensation, which seems to originate from the minerals in the brewing water, is unique and once you get hooked on it, it is hard to replace, so it is inevitable that you will be swamped.
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