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SakenowaRecord your sake experiences and discover your favorites
HoriHori
全て家飲み 開栓した日のみ記録します

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252

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8

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The origins of the sake you've drunk are colored on the map.

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Kamonishiki荷札酒 黄水仙純米大吟醸
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24
Hori
We received a bottle of Kamo Nishiki's Kafuda-shu Yellow Narcissus. I have not had Kamo Nishiki for about 18 months. When I lived in Niigata 15 years ago, there was no kafuda-shu, and Kamo Nishiki was considered to be the evening drink of my father's generation. Two years ago, when I first became interested in sake, I heard that the young toji of Kamo Nishiki was making a modern sake that was becoming popular, and the first sake I bought and drank was Kafuda-shu Short-stalked Watabune. I remember being shocked at the paradigm shift that had taken place over the past 15 years. Now, for my first kafuda-shu in a long time, I chose Kwangsuisen because I wanted to taste its "character. Personally, I felt that Hwangsuisen was somehow the entry line of the packaged sake. When I drank it, I felt the same sweet and juicy flavor that I also felt in the short stick ferry. Rather than a gentle and refined deliciousness, it gives the impression of being lively, vibrant and fresh. The rich sweetness like tropical fruits and the sharp acidity are right in the middle of the trend. What makes Kafuda-shu different from others is that you can feel the alcohol taste through the nose, a slight spiciness, and a lingering bitterness that is typical of Niigata sake. I wonder if I would have enjoyed it if I had had it back when I thought dry sake was supreme.
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Yamasan純米吟醸 山恵錦 無濾過生原酒純米吟醸原酒生酒無濾過
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28
Hori
We had a bottle of Yamazan's Junmai Ginjo Yamae Nishiki Unfiltered Nama-shu. This is Yamazan's sake, one of my favorite Nagano sake that I continue to enjoy drinking. I had just recently had a bottle of Yamadanishiki unrefined sake, and I couldn't forget how good it tasted, so I opened it again. It has a strong sweetness and umami, like concentrated fruit juice, with a strong bitterness and a freshness that is typical of nama-nishiki sake. While it has a rich flavor, it also has a spicy and refreshing alcohol taste, so you can drink it without it becoming too heavy. The overall flavor is strong, making it the most impactful and most memorable of all the Yamazan sakes we have had so far.
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川鶴KAWATSURU オリーブ 活性にごり生原酒原酒生酒にごり酒発泡
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21
Hori
I received a bottle of Kawatsuru Olive, Akkusei Nigori Nama Sake. It is a winter sake produced in December of last year, but I was lucky enough to find it in July, in the middle of summer, at my favorite liquor store's "Rasuiichi" section. It is characterized by a strong effervescence that takes several minutes to open, and when poured into a glass, it bubbles like a carbonated beverage. When you drink it, it has a soft mouthfeel that is typical of Tosunigori, and the fine microbubbles are pleasant. Perhaps it is because it has been produced for a long time, but it has a stronger sweetness than the ones we have had before. There is no bitterness, spiciness, astringency, or any other elements that can sometimes be perceived as negative, and it is straightforwardly sweet, tart, and easy to drink. It reminds me of carbonated lactic acid beverages such as Skoal and Ambasa. The low alcohol content of 9 degrees Celsius makes it easy to drink, which is another thing that sets it apart from regular sake. As I mentioned when I drank it before, if you are not looking for sake-like characteristics, it is hard to think of another alcoholic beverage that tastes as good as this. It is a sake that is hard to find, so I would be happy if I could come across it again this winter.
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Takachiyoハロウィンラベル feat.さかずきん
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27
Hori
I received the Halloween label of Takachiyo feat. sakazukin. This is our first Takachiyo. We opened a bottle of seasonal sake, which is rare in our house. Usually we drink them in the order of purchase, so it has taken 3-4 months to open the bottle, but for this one, less than a month has passed. I don't mind drinking seasonal sake such as spring and summer sake if there is a delay, but I don't want to be late for events such as Risshun and Halloween. I have been interested in Takachiyo's Halloween label since last year because of its cute label, but I had been holding off on purchasing it due to capacity issues in my refrigerator. However, when I heard that the label would be discontinued this year, I rushed out to buy it. It was like buying a bottle of wine on the spot, but it tasted great. It has a sweet, fruity, mellow flavor, like sweet pear juice. I had heard that Takachiyo was delicious, but it exceeded my imagination. It seems a shame that this is the last time it will be sold, but if the other Takachiyos are as good as this one, it is a great harvest for me. Of course, I have also bought a bottle of the light nigori, so I hope to enjoy it this month.
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Yamasan純米吟醸 山田錦 無濾過生原酒純米吟醸原酒生酒無濾過
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31
Hori
We had a bottle of Junmai Ginjo Yamadanishiki Unfiltered Nama-shu from Yamazan. It is one of my favorite brands from Nagano Prefecture these days. Not only do I love the taste, but I also really like the design and coloring of the label. I like sake labels so much that I take pictures of all the sake I have ever purchased and then peel off the labels and file them away, so the label design is important enough to influence my decision to buy or not buy sake. To be honest, there are many times when the taste of the sake I buy is not what I expected, but Yamazan is one of those rare cases where I like both the design and the taste of the sake to the highest level. This Junmai Ginjo Yamadanishiki Unfiltered Unrefined Nama-shu has a sweet, fruity flavor with apple nuances typical of Nagano Prefecture, and the freshness of the sake can be enjoyed only with nama-shu. Not only is it sweet, but it also has a nice crispness due to the alcohol taste that quickly passes through the nose and the bitterness of the aftertaste. We still have a few bottles of Yamazan in stock with different labels, so we will enjoy them one by one.
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27
Hori
We received Kinjaku's Densetsu Yamahai. This is my first Kinjaku. I first learned about Kinjaku this year. I had heard that it was hard to find, so I was hoping to come across it someday, when I found it on the regular shelf at my favorite liquor store. When I tried it, I found it to be as extremely delicious as rumored. Despite its squidgy appearance, it is juicy, sweet and fruity, with a pineapple-like flavor. It is not my intention to mention other brands when commenting on sake, but my first thought was Hana-yoso. It has an atmosphere similar to that of Kangiku, and in short, it is my favorite sake. It is one more brand that I would definitely buy if I see it.
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Senkinかぶとむし スパークリングおりがらみ発泡
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27
Hori
We had a bottle of Sentori Kabutomushi Sparkling. The summer sake series that missed the timing is almost in its last spurt. This is the second year for Mimasu Sake Brewery's original Kabutomushi. Last year, it was a directly pumped ogara-mushi, but this year it has further evolved into a sparkling sake with secondary fermentation in the bottle. It is a bottle that is jam-packed with my "likes. The bottle has a lively effervescence that takes a few minutes to open. When you drink it, it's shrieky, tart, delicious, and ends with a crisp bitter taste. This is truly a lemon squash for adults. It has the nuance of normal Kabutomushi, but it is not just sparkling, it is something completely different. Although this is the first time it has been made, I am amazed at the high degree of perfection without any artificiality. If it is released again next year, it will be a personal hit, with multiple purchases inevitable. It was a bottle that I am glad to have had.
Japanese>English
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25
Hori
We received San-do no Kako Go-no Brewery. San-do is our family's Hall of Fame brand. This is the second bottle of Kako after the Four Farmers Brewery. The regulations of Gononozo are as follows (1) Rice grown in the Kikuchi River basin (2) Nama-hashiroshi brewing (3) Pesticide-free cultivation (4) Fertilizer-free cultivation (5) Wooden vat brewing All of the Sanchi are delicious, but I think this Go-no-Mozo, which is brewed in wooden vats, is the one with the easiest to understand changes in flavor. (The next one I have not experienced yet, but I think it might be the Shichi-no-no-jo sake. The atmosphere of Gononozo is a little different from that of Shichinonozo because it is brewed in wooden vats. The woody nuances unique to wooden vats are added, and the flavor is more complex. Kako is more floral and fruity than Yamadanishiki. Personally, I would be happy if there was a second nonshuu brew of Kako, but it doesn't look like there will be one.
Japanese>English
Shinshu Kirei純米吟醸 ひとごこち 火入れ純米吟醸
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27
Hori
We had a bottle of Junmai Ginjo Hitogokochi from Shinshu Kamerei. The aroma and taste of Shinshu Kamerei are mild, so I was not impressed at first, but after drinking two or three bottles, I gradually realized how wonderful it was. It has a nice mouthfeel and sharpness that goes well with meals. It is fruity, tasteless, delicate, and beautiful. I like this brand so much that I now go directly to the brewery to buy it.
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Koeigikuサンバースト原酒生酒無濾過
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35
Hori
We received a sunburst of Koei Kiku. This is a series of summer sake that we missed the timing for. Koei Kiku is our family's favorite brand. It has a unique flavor not found in other sakes, and it seems to be a brand that divides people into two groups, but I am totally on the side of liking it. Last year, it had a woody, oaky flavor and tasted like a whiskey highball with a squeeze of lemon, but this year, the oaky flavor is less oaky and more citrusy, which is typical of Koei Kiku. According to what I was told, Mr. Toji Yamamoto of Koei Kiku rarely conducts numerical analysis in the sake brewing process. He is a genius who brews sake according to his own senses, so it is probably inevitable that the sake will change every year. In fact, it is through this process that the sake has and will continue to evolve. This year's Sunburst is crisp and clean with a pronounced acidity, yet not too light, with body and a strong umami flavor. It was a straight-up summer saké, so much so that I regretted not drinking it in the summer. Next year, I will drink it as soon as I buy it.
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Fusano KankikuOcean 99 星海 -Starlight sea-純米大吟醸原酒生酒無濾過
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34
Hori
We received a bottle of Kangiku Ocean 99 Starlight sea. This year's trilogy of summer sake from Kangiku is now complete. Unlike Kukai and Aomi, which expressed the freshness of the summer sky and sea, it has a richness like the humid air of the seaside at night, and the taste is gorgeous, sweet, and juicy like tropical fruits. The clean, clean taste typical of Junmai Daiginjyo spreads out beautifully like a star-filled sky. It is my favorite of the trilogy. The blue sky of the shining sun The blue sky of the shining sun turns into a sky full of twinkling stars The gentle roar of the sea and the distant hustle and bustle The clinging sea breeze envelops your burning heart and body The sake in the glass is sweet and fresh like a tropical fruit making the sense of loss as summer fades away. Today is not over yet Gazing at this sea of stars
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Ibi特別純米酒15号特別純米
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31
Hori
We received a special Junmai 15, a spring sake from Imi. This is the last of the Ebi in stock. 15 means strawberry, and combined with the pink label, the bottle design is as pretty as the image of strawberries. The bottle is designed with strawberries in mind, but instead of saying, "This sake tastes like strawberries," it says, "We made this sake while saying, 'Let's make this sake like strawberries! I like that it is understated and says, "I made this sake while talking to the customers. When I actually drank it, I found it to be strawberry-like, with a strong sweetness and refreshing acidity that is typical of Imi. It is also nice that it is a spring sake with an orikarami finish. Personally, I don't like fall sake that much, so I will minimize my purchases during this season and use the time to consume my favorite spring and summer sake. I will make preparations now so that I will not have to give up purchasing sake during the coming new sake season due to the capacity problem of my refrigerator.
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Juyondai中取り上諸白 播州山田錦純米大吟醸
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28
Hori
I have been a sake lover for one year and nine months. I finally arrived at Jyushiyo. I had actually bought it in April, but I decided to open it and drink it on the day I had a good thing happen, so it took longer than I expected. When I opened the bottle and poured it into a glass with nervousness, it had a glossy, shiny, smooth texture. It has a smooth mouthfeel, with a fine, concentrated flavor and sweetness, and you don't feel the 15% alcohol content. There is a slight bitterness on the back palate, and the lingering finish has a faint caramel nuance. Rather than having outstanding characteristics, it has a well-balanced and honorable balance, giving the impression of being in the middle of modern sake. This bottle of Jyushiyo was not resold or purchased by proxy, nor was it sold by lottery or through a tie-break, but was a lucky bottle that I found in a liquor store's refrigerator at a fixed price. I savored it carefully and cherish it while chewing on the happiness of being able to drink Jyushidai at home. My sake drinking journey began with my curiosity to try all the sake I was interested in at home. Jyushiyo was my last stronghold. My wish has now been fulfilled with my 237th bottle, but my sake obsession is far from over!
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ジェイ&ノビィ
Good evening, Hori 😃. It's been a year and nine months 😅Congratulations on your encounter with Jyushiyo ㊗️ 🎉. You may have achieved your original goal, but you still have a long way to go to master the art of sake 🤗lots to drink ‼️
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Kawanakajima Genbu特別純米 山田錦特別純米原酒生酒無濾過
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26
Hori
It has been a while since I had a bottle of Kawanakajima Genmai sake. This is my first special junmai. Immediately after opening the bottle, I sensed a slight, habitual lactic acidity in the top aroma and attack, but it faded on the second day and was gone by the third day. I am not sure if it disappeared or I got used to it. The aroma is discreet and the mouthfeel is gentle and mild. While it has the sweetness and umami that is typical of Genmai, the flavor of the rice, which is unique to Tokujun, is alive and deep enough to be savory. After the umami of the rice reaches its peak, it turns bitter and leaves a gentle aftertaste. At first, I served it cold as usual at about 5°C (41°F), but as the temperature rose to near room temperature, it became mellower and the flavor of the rice seemed to be brought out even more. I don't drink it very often, but it may be a delicious sake when heated. I paired it with a variety of meals over the three days and found it to be a great match with Japanese food, especially with grilled salt-baked Akinatai fish, which was a good match this year. I felt that this sake had a different character from the other ginjo-shu I have had so far, even though they are the same Genmai.
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Hanaabi純米大吟醸 雄町 おりがらみ純米大吟醸原酒生酒無濾過おりがらみ
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27
Hori
I received a Junmai Daiginjo Omachi ORIGARUMI from Hanahayo. It is an orikarami version of the Junmai Daiginjo Omachi we had about two months ago. As soon as the bottle was opened, the gorgeous aroma spread all over the table. The strength of this aroma is typical of Hana-yoku. Poured into a glass, it looks lightly cloudy, like a slightly diluted Pocari Sweat. The pineapple-like taste of the strong sweetness and acidity, combined with the full flavor of the light nigori, makes it even more delicious than the Sumi-shu of two months ago. The aroma and taste are so strong that you can feel the intense flavor just by taking a small sip, and the aroma that passes through your nose is so intense that it seems to envelop your whole body. It also has a high cost performance aspect that can be enjoyed even if you drink it in small doses. It is definitely one of the best sake I have ever had. I hope to be able to buy it again next season and savor it little by little.
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Soshun夏のブーリュにごり酒
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28
Hori
We had an early spring summer boulleu. It looks like wine, but it is sake. Our summer sake is finally in its last spurt. We had a bottle of summer bourroux last year, and it is a bottle with a hearty flavor that sets it apart from other refreshing summer sakes. It has a full-bodied, light-bodied taste with a strong sweetness and umami, and I personally feel that it is a taste that I prefer to drink in early fall rather than mid-summer. Therefore, I have been holding off on opening it until this time of year when the weather cools down a bit. I am also interested in other sake from the same Hayakawa brewery, such as Hayaharu and Tamitsu, so I would like to try them when I have more room in my refrigerator.
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Fusano KankikuOcean 99 青海 -Summer sea-原酒生酒無濾過
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27
Hori
We received a bottle of Kangiku Ocean 99 Aomi. This is the second bottle in the Kangiku Summer Sake Trilogy. The sky blue label is reminiscent of the blue summer sky. It has the usual fresh, fruity, sweet, delicious, juicy, and refreshing taste of summer sake, which is unique to Sangiku. I think too much of Kujukuri and a summer scene of Kujukuri beach, which I have never been to, comes to my mind. It has been a long time since I have tasted Kangiku, but it is still delicious.
Japanese>English
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30
Hori
It has been a long time since we have had a hibi. This bottle is made from Aizan produced by Tojo Sadamori. We bought fresh sashimi at Kadokami Gyorui, so we chose it as a refreshing sake that goes well with fish. It has a clear and clean taste and goes well with white sashimi as intended. It has a light taste with 11% alcohol by volume, but it has a definite umami flavor and I did not feel that it was lacking. As was the case with the Akitsu Yamadanishiki we had previously, the great thing about Nichinichi is that even at a low alcohol content, it is very satisfying.
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Koeigikuヌーン・クレッセント原酒生酒無濾過にごり酒
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33
Hori
I received a bottle of Noon Crescent from Kouei Kiku. It was one of the two additional bottles I bought in a hurry because it was so good when I drank it two months ago. The first bottle had quite a bit of gas pressure, but this second bottle was even more intense. The pressure was so strong that even if I had held the stopper with my thumb, it would have pushed it up, and if I had not held it down, it would have inevitably hit the ceiling. It had a citrusy, fruity flavor typical of Kouei Kiku with a lactic acidity and a light nigoromi (slight nigoromi), and a sparkling-like shwashiness. It was so good that I drank too much and had a hangover the next day. Three bottles might not have been enough.
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ジェイ&ノビィ
Good morning, Hori 😃. We finally got our hands on a bottle and were able to have it last month: ‼️ It was really a very tasty bottle 😋.
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Hori
Thanks for your comment, Jay & Nobby 😊. I'm glad you were able to get your hands on it! I love this line of drinks and it was outstanding 🌟.
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Sharaku夏吟 うすにごり純米吟醸にごり酒
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31
Hori
I got a bottle of Collage's Summer Gin Light Nigori. It's autumn by the calendar, but summer sake is still in season. It's a very popular summer sake in our house. Nigori sake has a strong image of winter, but even in summer, there are nigori sake from various breweries, and as a nigori sake lover, I am very happy. Including light nigori and orikarami, I just bought a lot of nigori summer sake, such as Kuraku Natsugin light nigori, Koeigiku Noon Crescent, Natsu Doburokku, Hayaharu Summer Boulud, Gokotsuru Activated Nigori Sake, Sengoku Kabutomushi Sparkling, etc.... The Natsu-Gin Light Nigori has a hard-edged Collage-like character, but the lactic acidity and full flavor of the nigori sake masks it well, giving it a gentle impression overall. The spiciness in the latter half and the refreshing sharpness of the alcohol that quickly passes through the nose are typical of summer sake. We still have a few bottles of summer sake left in stock, and since the hot weather is likely to continue, we will be able to enjoy it for a while.
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