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Sake rice developed to be grown in northern Hyogo Prefecture
Parentage is Yamada-Nishiki, but the characteristics are an early maturing variety instead of Gohyakumangoku.
The variety name was written in Roman characters for the first time in Japan with the aim of exporting.
Yamana Sake Brewery's Hyogo Sake 85 is available in sparkling, kijoshu and sherry cask in addition to the regular version.
It is aged in oak barrels and has a pale yellowish color.
The aroma is sweet apple, still close to sake, but it has a concentrated sweetness like raisins and a slightly smoky woody flavor.
The slightly smoky woodiness definitely shows the influence of the sherry casks.
The taste has a stronger dried fruit and oakiness, and is more reminiscent of a sherry cask whiskey with water than sake.
The sweetness and umami that is typical of sake starts to emerge from the mid-part, and the tannin astringency finishes the taste.
Overall, the sake is not very sake-like, but the balance of barrel aging is superb, making it a very drinkable and tasty sake.
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