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HoriHori
全て家飲み 開栓した日のみ記録します

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273

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UbusunaKoeigikuHanaabi

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Fusano Kankiku
34(15.81%)
Senkin
27(12.56%)
Koeigiku
25(11.63%)
大嶺
11(5.12%)
Ubusuna
11(5.12%)

Sake Map

The origins of the sake you've drunk are colored on the map.
Chiba
34(12.45%)
Tochigi
28(10.26%)
Niigata
28(10.26%)
Saga
26(9.52%)
Nagano
23(8.42%)

Timeline

HoriHori
Koeigikuメリー・クレッセント
Koeigiku ShuzoSaga
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26
Hori
We received a Merry Crescent from Koei Chrysanthemum. This is my favorite Koei Kiku Christmas label. It's a new product released for the first time this year. The label depicts Santa Claus riding in a sleigh with a bottle of sake. My stockpile has grown so large that I am chronically late in drinking seasonal sake, but I try to be on time for these events. This Merry Crescent was opened 17 days after purchase, which is unusually early for me. I was scared to open the bottle because of the warning tag, so the bottle did not pop, but I could feel the gas pressure in the bottle. When poured into a glass, a pleasant bubbly foam appeared. The taste has juicy apple nuances. It has a good degree of ooziness and a rich flavor. Although not as sparkling as a sparkling wine, it has a slightly carbonated gasiness, making it easy to pair with Western-style meals such as carpaccio and roast beef. This is a perfect bottle for a Christmas party.
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ジェイ&ノビィ
Good morning, Hori 😃. Timely Hori Chrysanthemum's new 🎄‼️ I haven't bought it because I thought it might be too sweet 😅. I haven't bought it 😅I guess it's not that sweet? Looks delicious 😋.
Japanese>English
HoriHori
Hanaabi純米大吟醸 吟風 直汲み純米大吟醸原酒生酒無濾過
Nan'yo JozoSaitama
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27
Hori
We had a Junmai Daiginjo Ginpu from Hanahayo. It was the first time for me to drink directly from the bottle. It has a gorgeous aroma typical of Junmai Daiginjos. It has a freshness that makes your tongue chatter, and the taste is fruity and juicy, sweet and sour like a pineapple, which is unique to Hanaoyokyu. The aroma on the nose is refreshing, and the sweetness is crisp and sharp, with a clear outline. This is a directly pumped Kahayo Yaki that is released only a few times a year. The usual deliciousness was combined with pitchy freshness to create a taste that I liked even more.
Japanese>English
HoriHori
Senkin雪だるまにごり酒
せんきんTochigi
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36
Hori
We received a snowman from Senkori. It is a winter staple in our house. Winter cannot start without drinking this. When you twist the cork, you can feel the bubbles rising. It is not as strong as last year's gushing bubbles, but it has a slightly carbonated level of gas. When you drink it, it tastes like a snowball, just like a snowball always tastes. Once again, I felt that the 10-month-old Snowball I received the other day was a waste, and at the same time, I realized that I should drink it as soon as possible. I had it with gratin that day, and the creamy gratin went well with the silky texture of the snowball. The contrast between the hot gratin and the cold, sizzling snowman was pleasant, and I was stuck in an endless loop. I have another bottle of this in my collection, but I think I'll drink it over the winter instead of storing it for a long time.
Japanese>English
HoriHori
Shinshu Kirei純米酒 ひとごこち純米
Okazaki ShuzoNagano
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33
Hori
We received Hitogokochi, a junmai sake from Shinshu Kamerei. This was the first Junmai-shu of my favorite Shinshu Kamerei. I was looking forward to seeing what it would be like, but it turned out to be a true Shinshu Kamerei. It is a matter of course, but I had the impression that it was different from the junmai ginjos and junmai daiginjos that I have had in the past. Rather, it has a stronger Shinshu Kamerei-like flavor, and I even like this one better. The clear mouthfeel is the same as usual, but the flavor is a little stronger and more satisfying than the usual delicate and thin taste. The rice used for the premium rice is 70% polished rice, so perhaps the flavor of the rice is more pronounced than usual. The price is about three-fourths of the usual junmai ginjo. I would be very happy if I could buy such sake anytime.
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HoriHori
Sogga pere et filsヌメロ シス[Numéro six] ノーマルロット
Obuse WineryNagano
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31
Hori
I received a bottle of Numero Sisu from Sogapeur et Fis. This sake is produced by the winery only during the winter months. It is made entirely from Miyamanishiki grown in Nagano Prefecture and brewed in the classic ikamatake style. They also make sake using yeasts No. 1 to No. 5, which are not even kept by the Japan Brewers Association. The sake we received this time was produced in March 2024. I was lucky enough to be able to purchase both the Domaine Ikeda lot and the normal lot, the latter of which I was able to purchase. The manufacturer's quality guarantee expires at the end of May. Even though it is stored below freezing, it has been 9 months since purchase and 6 months since the expiration date. Perhaps this in-house storage was a good thing, because at the time of tasting it tasted fresh at best, or green and hard depending on how you look at it, but it seemed to have lost some of its angularity, softened, and gained a fruitier feel. Perhaps it is a preconceived notion, but while there are apple-like nuances typical of Nagano sake, you can also enjoy the fresh acidity of a white wine. According to the label on the back, after the quality assurance period, it "may become a SAKE with a super-geeky aroma and taste." But personally, I was lucky because it changed in the direction I liked. I guess it is about time for it to start appearing again this year. I hope I will be able to encounter it somewhere.
Japanese>English
HoriHori
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33
Hori
We had a bottle of Jyushidai Nakadori Chogoku. On a Sunday, we toasted with a good sake. I thought the name "beyond the highest level" was a very exaggerated name for a sake, but when I drank it, I realized that it was indeed a Cho-Kyoku. Rather than an instantaneous deliciousness, it has a flavor that gradually permeates the body, which is typical of Jyushiyo. There is no hint of alcohol, spiciness, bitterness, or any other negative elements that could be perceived as negative, and it goes down the throat smoothly and peacefully. Even a slight lick is enough to fill the mouth with happiness, and one can immerse oneself in a long, luscious aftertaste. It makes you think that the legendary nectar may be this kind of liquid. Perhaps it even surpasses such a liquid. It was an overwhelmingly beautiful sake that lived up to its name of "superlative.
Japanese>English
HoriHori
大嶺3粒 冬のおとずれにごり酒
大嶺酒造Yamaguchi
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28
Hori
We have received a copy of "Daimine's Winter's Tidings". It is a little late, but now winter has arrived at our house. This nigori sake is juicy and full of flavor, like squeezed grated apples. It is slightly carbonated with fine bubbles popping and has a crisp and refreshing mineral taste. Although it has 14% alcohol content, you don't feel any alcohol, and it is a slightly dangerous sake that can be drunk without hesitation. I remember that I enjoyed it last year, but this year I think it tastes even better. I have only had the Summer Otosore and Winter Otosore recently, so I will have to try the other Oomine sakes.
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HoriHori
Kachikoma純米吟醸純米吟醸
Kiyoto ShuzojoToyama
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32
Hori
We had a bottle of Kachikoma Junmai Ginjo. It has been a year since I have had Kachikoma. I thought it was a brand that was hard to buy, but I didn't expect to find it at a liquor store in my neighborhood. It was dark under the lamp. It has a fruity aroma and a sweet taste, yet it is clean and refreshing. It also has a sharpness that makes it easy to pair with meals, and the aftertaste is mild. It is not a flashy type of sake as it looks, but rather an all-around all-purpose sake. Since two bottles in a row were junmai ginjos, I would like to try honjikomi and hiragana "Kachikoma" in the future if I have the chance.
Japanese>English
HoriHori
Hanamura純米吟醸 雄町純米吟醸
Ryozeki ShuzoAkita
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39
Hori
I had a Junmai Ginjo Omachi from Hanamup. Hanayu is often talked about in relation to Jyushiyo, but having never had Jyushiyo, I could only imagine Jyushiyo while drinking Hanayu. This year, I got my wish and was able to drink Jyushiyo, so I can compare them for the first time. This is just a comparison between this Junmai Ginjo Yumachi and the Jyushiro I have had, but is it as similar as it sounds? I am not sure if they are as similar as I would like to think at this point. If sake is classified into four categories, they are probably in the same category, but if you don't know the relationship between the two, I don't think there are many people who feel they are similar. My impression is that it is a delicate Jyushiyo and a powerful Hanayou. It has a rich sweetness and deep umami. It has a deep and heavy flavor, but it seems to be balanced by the bitterness and sharpness typical of Hanayu in the latter half. The Akita Sake Komachi Nama Sake we had previously was a bit gentler and had a milder aftertaste, so it may have been closer to the atmosphere of Jyushiyo than Yumachi. Even so, I don't think it was at the level of similarity. Even though Jyushidai was involved in the birth of Hanayu, the place, water, and people are different, so I think it would be unnatural for them to be similar. In conclusion, both are delicious.
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HoriHori
Koeigikuヌーン・クレッセントおりがらみ発泡
Koeigiku ShuzoSaga
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24
Hori
We received Noon Crescent from Koei Kiku. This is the last summer sake in stock before December. Noon Crescent was so delicious that we purchased three bottles in total. This is the last bottle. Just as I opened the bottle, the cork popped with a loud pop. The bubbles are so effervescent that it takes a few minutes for the bubbles to subside. When I poured it into a glass, it was sparkling and shiny. It is fresh, fruity, sweet, but light and refreshing. There is plenty of umami in the softness of the light nigori. I think Noon Crescent may be the best hit of the year for me personally.
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ジェイ&ノビィ
Good morning, Hori 😃 This is a perfect place to start the summer sake! We had it too and it's really good 😃‼️ We can see why you bought 3 bottles 🤗.
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Hori
Thanks for your comments, Jay & Nobby 😊. You can enjoy your favorite honored chrysanthemum all year round with Noon in the summer and Snow in the winter 🌙. I see you also got the Christmas label Merry Crescents this year🎄.
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HoriHori
Yamasan純米大吟醸 山恵錦 うすにごり純米大吟醸生酒にごり酒
山三酒造Nagano
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28
Hori
We had a bottle of Yamazan Junmai Daiginjo Yamae-Nishiki 40%-5 Light Nigori. It is juicy, fruity, and delicious, as is typical of Nagano Prefecture sake. It has a freshness that can only be found in nama-shu, and the light nigori has an exquisite balance of full flavor and pleasant bitterness. It is a bottle that you should not drink too much of, as you may encounter it from time to time! Yamazan is not all sweet and fruity, so you can enjoy the bitterness and sharpness of sake while it tastes like a modern sake, and it is a good combination of modern and classic taste. It is a good combination of modern and classic sake. When I first met this pink Yamazan, I gave it up because I didn't have enough space in my refrigerator. Yamazan is still a brand to watch out for.
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HoriHori
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27
Hori
It has been a while since I had a bottle of Shinsei. The last time I drank Flaxcat was last June, so it has been a year and a half since I last had it. It is hard to believe that it is made from rice, as the color of the label suggests, it tastes sweet and sour like plums and cherries. At the same time, the aroma of the wooden vat is clearly noticeable. This fruitiness and transparency in a freshly opened bottle of Shinmasa is hard to find elsewhere. It tastes transparent when it is freshly snow-cold from the refrigerator, but when you raise the temperature by wrapping your hand around the glass, a complex and diverse array of aroma and flavor elements bloom like flowers in a field of grass. It transcends the boundaries of sake and is outstandingly delicious as a beverage. Come to think of it, when you are drinking Niimasa, you may not be tasting it on the scale you usually do when drinking sake. In my current sphere of activity, Shinsei is only available in a tying-up package. It is a higher hurdle than Jyushiyo and Jikin. When will I be able to find which Shinsei next? I will wait without expectation.
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HoriHori
Kawanakajima GenbuHarmonic Emotion純米大吟醸
ShusenkuranoNagano
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32
Hori
We received Kawanakajima Genmai Harmonic Emotion. This sake is a junmai daiginjo made from 35% polished Yamadanishiki and 49% polished Miyamanishiki at a ratio of 9:1 and aged at low temperature for 6 months. Until last year, each junmai daiginjo was blended 1:1, but this year the process seems to have changed. The sake, which is slightly amber in color after aging, has a rich, mildly sweet and umami taste with a savory, caramel and nutty mature taste. Although the label "Nama-zake" that existed until last year is no longer displayed on the bottle, we are sure that it is Nama-zake. The sense of maturity suggests that it was at least stored fresh. This is the first time I have had this type of sake, but it is surprisingly delicious. The flavorful taste from the raw aging process gave me a glimpse into the world of sake that I had never experienced before.
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HoriHori
Juyondai大極上諸白 龍の落とし子生詰酒
Takagi ShuzoYamagata
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27
Hori
We received a bottle of Jyushiyo Daijyokujo Morohaku Ryu no Boshiko. After reflecting on the recent snowball, I opened a bottle that has been in storage for a long time. This Ryu no Otsuko was the first Jyushiro I purchased. I got it at a sake shop event, where Jyushiro, Shinmasa, Tobiroki, Sogaper Ephis, etc. were lined up at the storefront, and I successfully drew "2" in a lottery to determine the order of purchase among the nearly 200 people who gathered to buy. I remember my hands shaking with my first bottle of Jyushiyo. Since this bottle holds such fond memories for me, it has been more than half a year since I purchased it in March and have not been able to open it. I was a little anxious because of my experience with the snowball, but the long-awaited Dragon's Bastard was even better than I expected. It looked similar to the Nakadori Kamimorohaku Banshu Yamadanishiki we had previously tasted, with a glossy, shiny, smooth texture. The taste is clean and polished, with a round, fruity sweetness and concentrated umami. It is a beautiful sake that you can't stop drinking, and is truly superb. I cannot say for sure because I do not know the taste immediately after purchase, but since this Jyushidai is a freshly brewed sake, it must have been stored for about six months without any problems. Snowball is a draft sake and has a perforated stopper, so it may have changed at a faster rate.
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ジェイ&ノビィ
Good evening, Hori 😃. You got it by sheer luck 😳I would certainly think twice about opening a big top 🤩 with this appearance 😅I bet it's delicious 🥹.
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Hori
Thanks for your comment, Jay & Nobby! We opened it because it happened to be the 14th of the 14th 1️⃣ 4️⃣ It was so good I wanted to drink it all the time😊.
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HoriHori
Senkin雪だるまにごり酒
せんきんTochigi
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Hori
We had a bottle of Sentori's Snowball. This is the 2024 version, which I bought in January of this year and kept for 10 months. I was not at all interested in comparing the different years side by side, but simply liked it too much to open it because I was too lazy to drink it. As a result, I promised myself that I would drink the Snowball I would buy this year as soon as possible. It is not that it has become something else after 10 months of storage, and there is no doubt that it is a snowball in taste. However, compared to the Snowball in my memory, it lacks aroma, has less umami (deliciousness), and is more alcoholic. I would like to tell myself that I was too lazy to drink it, and if it is a waste, then drink it sooner. I have some other sake that has been stored for a long time, so I will try to drink them as soon as possible.
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ジェイ&ノビィ
Hi Hori 😃 We have had a snowman ⛄️ before, too much of it has hardened 😓This year it will be good to drink it immediately to see the difference 🤗.
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Hori
Thanks for your comment, Jay & Nobby 😊. My snowman also had a hardened ollie, but it shattered and melted after a few minutes due to the power of the bubbles it emitted by itself 🫧. Looking forward to drinking this year's 😊
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HoriHori
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Hori
I received a bottle of Yamadanishiki Rokunoso from Sanchi. It has been a while since I have had it, but it is still delicious. As usual, the gas pressure was so strong that it almost blew the stopper open, and it was slightly carbonated with bubbles when poured into the glass. It has a woody nuance that can only be achieved by wooden vat brewing, just like the Rokunosozo we drank before. Rokunoso is yeast-free, so the flavor impression is slightly different from that of the previous 9 yeast. While the fresh and fruity general flavor remains unchanged, the taste seems to have changed from a clean and clean taste to a more complex and deep taste. It also feels drier than before, perhaps due to the combination of the yeast. To be honest, it is difficult to perceive the difference in flavor with or without pesticides or fertilizers, but I can (and likely will be able to) perceive the difference between the Five Farmer's Brewery (wooden vat brewing), Six Farmer's Brewery (no yeast added), and Seven Farmer's Brewery (weed), which not only taste great, but also satisfy my curiosity.
Japanese>English
HoriHori
HanaabiThe premium 備前雄町純米大吟醸原酒生酒無濾過
Nan'yo JozoSaitama
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33
Hori
I had a bottle of The premium Bizen Omachi from Hanahayo. As was the case with the Yamadanishiki Ooragarami, which is also from The Premium, the aroma that spreads the moment the cork is uncorked reveals that this is no ordinary wine. The first sip of this impressive wine made us say, "Yummmm! The liquid is mellow, dense, and luscious. It is difficult to describe this deliciousness in words. This is an extraordinary sake. There are many types of sake, but this is one of the top ones for my taste.
Japanese>English
HoriHori
Shinshu Kirei純米吟醸 金紋錦純米吟醸
Okazaki ShuzoNagano
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30
Hori
We had a bottle of Shinshu Kamerei Junmai Ginjo Kinmon Nishiki. I heard that on the day Hexagon was released (November 1), an unbelievable number of people lined up at the Okazaki Sake Brewery from dawn. It shows the popularity of Shinshu Kamerei. Seeing such posts on SNS made me want to drink a bottle of Shinshu Kamerei, so I took one out of the stock and opened it. As usual, it has an incredibly clear flavor with no clutter, and you can clearly taste the fruity flavor. Compared to the Shinshu Kamerei junmai ginjos we have had, it seemed a bit sweeter, but perhaps it has aged a bit due to storage for about 6 months. We were very lucky to be able to encounter it, as Kinmonniki junmai ginjo is only sold at a very limited number of special dealers outside of the brewery's stores. I guess that means that the Junmai Daiginjo of Kinmonniki is roughly called Kinmai Daiginjo of Kinmai Daiginjo. Since Kinkame is also on standby in the refrigerator, I would like to remember this taste well and compare them. And now that Hexagon has been released, it means that we will start releasing unfiltered nama sake again this year. Let's hope we can come across it at the right time.
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HoriHori
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Hori
We received a bottle of Fukkai Yamadanishiki Hi-iri. As you can see, the bottle is signed. When I went to my usual liquor store to buy sake, I found the brewer, Mr. Fukuda, talking with the store owner. I recognized him immediately because I had seen him on video. I approached him in between conversations and asked for his autograph, which he gladly accepted. I was impressed by his honest atmosphere and his friendly and courteous manner, just as I had seen in the video. This is the second time I have had Fukkai sake. The last time was a Yamadanishiki sake. It had a glossy texture when poured into a glass. The label on the back says it has a slightly fizzy taste, but I felt it was rather soft and smooth on the palate. The taste was clear and free of any impurities, and the bitterness and alcoholiness that I had felt in the previous nama-shu was subdued, allowing me to enjoy the sweetness and umami that is typical of Yamada-Nishiki more straightforwardly. This was the first time for me to meet the brewers, and I feel that sake tastes even better when you get to know the people behind it. I would like to continue to follow Fukkai in the future.
Japanese>English
HoriHori
Takachiyoハロウィンラベル feat. サラパンダおりがらみ
Takachiyo ShuzoNiigata
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Hori
We received a Halloween label from Takachiyo. This Halloween label is a counterpart to the Sumi Sake Sakazukin-chan that I received the other day, and this one is orikara-mi. It has only been a month since I bought it, which is unusual for me, but it was going to be the last bottle I would open this month, so I opened it much earlier to make it in time for Halloween. I had a physical yesterday, and for the first time I took it during the afternoon hours and didn't get my appetite back until the evening, so I didn't drink any alcohol. I had also taken two days off from drinking before that, so this was my third day of sake in the middle of the day. Sake after a long time tasted sinkingly good. While Sumi-shu's Sazukin-chan had a fresh sweetness with a hint of pear, Sarapanda had a deep flavor unique to orikarami, with a sour pineapple-like taste and a slight bitterness that gave the impression of grapefruit. Toward the end of the year, they usually release a Christmas label, so we are looking forward to that as well.
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