This is one of my favorite brands, Houraisen's Tobi. It was purchased at Centrair Airport. It is a well-balanced umakuchi type with a deep flavor, just like Houraisen.
It's been a while since I've had Hakkaisan, but this is my first time to try a snow cellar stored sake. It has a well-balanced taste with a mellow flavor that goes down your throat like a mint. It is a perfect sake for this rainy season.
The last sake was a brand I had never had before. It is from a brewery in Nara, but it has a spicy and umami taste with a strong rice flavor, and was perfect for the red ginger tempura we had at an izakaya in Dotonbori.
We had it at a sushi restaurant in Kitashinchi because it was recommended to be clear and dry. It is a nice, sharp drink to finish off a meal of sushi.
The brewery has long been famous for Aizu Homare, but this is a brand product named after the brewery. It has a gorgeous aroma typical of Yamada-Nishiki and a good balance of sourness and bitterness.
This is one of my favorite brands, Kuratsubaki from the Tenmei no Kura ◯ichibi series. It is made from contract rice grown in Aizu Sakashita. It is juicy and sweet with a refreshing acidity.
The sixth and final sake is a Kurobe Dam stored sake that I was strangely attracted to. It is said that this sake was stored for two years at the Kurobe Dam, one of Toyama's most famous tourist attractions. I managed to finish it in 15 minutes.
The fourth cup is a Junmai Daiginjo brewed in 1994. As expected of a Junmai Daiginjo, it is stored in good condition, so it does not seem old at all. The balance between the firm umami of the rice and the acidity is wonderful.
The third cup is Junmai Daiginjo Kotobuki Platinum. Quite simply, this is a delicious sake. We had it after the barrel-aged blended sake, so I think we got even more of the freshness and juicy rice flavor.
During the brewery visit, you will have a 15-minute all-you-can-drink game at the adjacent Saseki, where sake tasting is available. There are many brands that are only available at Saseki, and I think there are very few breweries that have such facilities. The first drink was the Daiginjo Kotobuki Nama Sake, which is also only available here. The fresh and gorgeous rice flavor spreads quickly on the palate and is delicious.