Logo
SakenowaRecord your sake experiences and discover your favorites
HoriHori
開栓した日のみ記録します。

Registered Date

Check-ins

133

Favorite Brands

9

Sake Map

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

Timeline

Fusano Kankiku電照菊純米大吟醸原酒生酒無濾過
alt 1
alt 2alt 3
36
Hori
I received a bottle of Kangiku's Denshikiku. One of the first brands I became interested in a year ago when I started drinking sake in earnest was Kangiku. At that time, the one that had a particularly good reputation among the Kangiku brands was this Denshogiku, and after a year of waiting for it to arrive, I finally found it. As a side note, my family is a chrysanthemum farmer, and I have been seeing the denshogiku since I was a child, so perhaps my nostalgic feelings helped to strengthen my attachment to it. The long-awaited Densho-Chrysanthemum was delicious, far exceeding the hurdle of my expectations. It had an outstanding freshness and a sweetness and flavor that seemed to be concentrated. It is fruity and sweet as if you bit into the nectar of a ripe apple. In addition, the slightly tender texture makes the taste more dense. Of course, the usual cold chrysanthemum flavor is still present. The great thing again is that the same flavors are not the same no matter which one you drink. On the contrary, I feel that this consistent individuality brings a sense of reliability and security that you can be sure which one you choose, just like the unified design of European cars and Apple products. As a nigori sake lover, I can't wait to see how the ogorigami of this one I bought together with it turns out.
Japanese>English
Jikon特別純米 火入れ特別純米
alt 1
alt 2alt 3
35
Hori
We were able to obtain a bottle of Jikin. It is a bottle of special junmai hi-ire. At my favorite liquor store, I was listening to a conversation between a clerk and a customer who seemed to be from the restaurant business, and after the exchange of "I'm going to stop drinking one bottle of Jigin," the clerk went to the refrigerator. I went to check the refrigerator to see if it was possible, and found several bottles of this Jikin lined up in a row, with a sign indicating that each household was limited to one bottle. I usually don't look carefully at the bottle section, so I had overlooked it, but it seemed that there was a regular line that day. I was a little hesitant because of the large quantity considering our family's consumption and the capacity of the refrigerator, but since ordinary consumers like me don't have that many opportunities to encounter such bottles, I made up my mind and bought it. As soon as I uncorked the bottle, I was immediately hit with a good aroma. The aroma is fruity, like ginjo sake, with a distinctive koji-like sweetness. The mouthfeel is fresh despite being fire-aged. It is a sweet sake, but it also has a sourness that makes it a refreshing drink. The taste is clear and smooth, without any cloying taste. It has a bitter and sharp taste and can be matched with a wide range of meals. It is not a particularly unique flavor, but it has a well balanced taste without any particular part of the flavor being overpowering. This may be the first time I have had such a beautiful tasting sake.
Japanese>English
ジェイ&ノビィ
Good morning, Hori 😃. Congratulations on getting your Jishin ㊗️ 🎉! It's important to feel ‼️ not to miss an encounter 🤗It's a blessing to have the god of balance in a bottle 😚.
Japanese>English
Koeigiku幾望原酒生酒無濾過
alt 1
alt 2alt 3
28
Hori
We opened a bottle of Kouei Kiku's Ikubou. Named for the moon in its nearly full state, this sake is brewed with natural yeast using "Kitashizuku" rice produced in Hokkaido, and is released in the fall after the vat is topped up in April, bottled, and stored in ice temperatures. The term "natural lactobacillus brewing" is an original name given by Mr. Yamamoto, the toji of Koeikiku, who felt uncomfortable treating the two sake breweries with the same goal, i.e., to make sake with natural yeast and Yamahai as two different genres. Ikubou is a stored sake in the fall sake category, but it still retains enough freshness, perhaps because it is an unfiltered, unpasteurized sake that has been stored at ice temperature. The aroma is sweet and fruity. It has a rounded mouthfeel that is typical of stored sake, and the taste has a strong sweetness like ripe peaches with plenty of umami. It has a round and gentle acidity, and the overall taste is sweet and sour. There is a hint of astringency like the aroma of oak barrels, which is one of the characteristics of Koueikiku, so the sweetness is well-defined and does not give the impression of being dry at all. I drank a variety of autumn sake this year, and it was very interesting to see that the definition of autumn sake is broad, with each brewery releasing their own interpretation of autumn sake that makes the most of their individuality. Although the season has already moved on and it is the season for new sake, I am looking forward to enjoying next year's autumn sake again.
Japanese>English
ジェイ&ノビィ
Hi Hori 😃 Ikumo-san is a training sake 🧘 and I remember drinking it open for a week because it was so good and I wanted to finish it 😚.
Japanese>English
Hori
Thank you for your comments, Jay & Nobby! I am very glad to hear that you enjoyed the drink. That's exactly what I'm trying to do. I have about half a bottle left, so I'm going to practice too 🧘.
Japanese>English
Ubusuna山田錦 二農醸原酒生酒無濾過
alt 1
alt 2alt 3
28
Hori
We received one of our personal Hall of Fame brands, Sansho. Again, this time it was a basic bottle, a Ni-no-no-shiro of Yamada-Nishiki. All the bottles we have had so far are Yamada-Nishiki, and this is the fourth bottle we have had, from Ni-No-No-No-Sai. Ni-no-no-kozo is made from rice grown in the Kikuchi River basin and is "sake yeast" brewed. From the current brewing year, the regulations for this nounosai have been further clarified, and the highest level of nounosai seems to be the "Twelve Nounosai," which even incorporates horse cultivation. The difference from other sake is that the value is not in the rice used or the rice polishing ratio, but in how well the ancient production method is reproduced (≒ how much time and effort is put into it). When the bottle was opened, the gas pressure was strong, but not so strong that it knocked the cork off. When poured into a glass, it bubbles like a carbonated beverage. The mouthfeel is as usual, with a nice crispness and a touch of sizzle. I think this is the best wine every time I drink it. The fruity, sparkling wine-like flavor is the same as usual, but this time it has a white grape-like atmosphere, whereas in the past it had a purple grape nuance like Kyoho grapes. The subtle differences in flavor from one brewing to the next remind me of the fact that sake is an extension of agricultural products. It is a fascinating sake produced by the hand of man and the wonders of nature.
Japanese>English
alt 1
alt 2alt 3
34
Hori
We had a rice and agave flower style. It is the first other brew I have ever had, a so-called craft SAKE. The purchase was made at the 7-Eleven Tsudanuma store, which I had seen on SNS and was interested in. It was a fresh sight to see all the local sake from all over Japan lined up in a multistory open refrigerated case without doors. The Hanafu labels were made to look traditional in style, but upon closer inspection, they were modern in design. Is it just me, or does the large silhouette of a hop berry look like Morizo? When poured into a glass, it has a slightly brownish light nigori color. The aroma has a fruity nuance that is different from the ginjo aroma. It has a sense of anticipation like a tropical fruit you encounter for the first time. There is also a peaty Islay malt-like aroma. The taste is like grapefruit with strong acidity and bitterness. The low milling of the rice gives it a strong rice flavor and sweetness, but the slight gassiness also helps to make it refreshing and light to drink. The aroma, which may be derived from hops, has a refreshing lychee-like flavor, and the aftertaste is clean. Before drinking it, I thought it would be a sake with a slight aroma of hops, but I was wrong. I think I understand why craft SAKE is popular as a unique genre.
Japanese>English
Koshinokagetora名水仕込み 特別純米酒特別純米
alt 1
alt 2alt 3
33
Hori
This is a special junmai sake from Koshino Katora. I fell in love with this brand when I lived in Niigata for work almost 20 years ago. I had never enjoyed drinking Sake before, but I was so excited to live in Niigata that I tried many different kinds of Sake, and this is the one I came across. It was the first sake I ever tasted in my life. My impression at the time was that it was "easy to drink anyway. It tasted clear like water, had a nice sharpness, and was not as hard to drink as other sake, which I think was perfect for me as a beginner. Since I lived in a downtown area, I have good memories of drinking Keitora with various Niigata snacks at night at a neighborhood izakaya (Japanese style bar). I prepared such a Keitora as a regular sake for the year-end and New Year holidays. I usually buy only a four-pack bottle, but this time I bought a one-pack bottle so that I can enjoy it little by little for a long time. We have more opportunities to eat Japanese food during the year-end and New Year holidays, such as sashimi with soy sauce and dishes with soup stock, so I would like to enjoy this sake each time while remembering the night in Niigata.
Japanese>English
Senkin雪だるまにごり酒
alt 1
alt 2alt 3
32
Hori
December 1st. On this day, with only one month left in this year, I opened a bottle of Snowman. With this bottle, the winter of my sake drinking season has begun. Basically, I always drink sake in the order of purchase, but in order to enjoy the new sake season in real time, I skipped opening about 10 bottles. When I twist the screw cap with a hole in it, bubbles come up as expected. It is not so much that it spills over, but it is lively enough to make you a little impatient. This was not the case with last season's Snowball, so I wonder if this is a change due to the fact that all the yeast has been used as the yeast yeast yeast. First, let's take a sip of the top clear. It has a light taste with a sourness typical of Sengoku. It is not a sharp-angled sourness like Kabutomushi, but a rounded and soft sourness like the body of a snowman. When mixed with lees, complex flavors such as sweetness, umami, and bitterness mingle together, and this is the taste of a snowman. The production process has changed from last season, and I tried to sense the difference, but I could not. Of course, they may not be exactly the same, but the fact that they can be recognized as the same despite the difference in the manufacturing process shows the high level of technical skill. I have already purchased another bottle, but it seems that two bottles are already not enough.
Japanese>English
Fusano KankikuMonochrome純米大吟醸原酒生酒無濾過
alt 1
alt 2alt 3
35
Hori
We received Monochrome from Kangiku. The rice used is Yamashu No. 4. This is the first time I have heard of this rice. It is a crossbreed of Yamada-Nishiki and Kinmon-Nishiki, and is said to be a rice suitable for sake brewing that is as good as Yamada-Nishiki, but has not been able to spread like Yamada-Nishiki due to the difficulty of cultivation. It is a Junmai Daiginjo with 50% polished rice, and the taste is fresh and juicy with the fullness of Kangiku's character. It has a fruity sweetness and a slightly effervescent freshness. The bitterness spreads immediately after and finishes with a hint of astringent nuance characteristic of Kangiku. Yamashu No. 4 is a rice that has few peculiarities and is not overly assertive. The taste is right in the middle of the Occasional series we have been drinking so far. The black-and-white label depicting memories of summer may also express the honest nature of Yamashu No. 4, which can be dyed in any color depending on the brewer.
Japanese>English
Yuki no Mayu (Kamosu Mori)純米吟醸純米吟醸生酒
alt 1
alt 2alt 3
31
Hori
This is a Junmai Ginjo following the Junmai Daiginjo from Kosasumori. This was the third Junmai Daiginjo, but the first Junmai Ginjo. I had bought two bottles to compare them, but they were so good that I accidentally drank up the daiginjo one, so I couldn't compare them side by side. Compared to the taste in my memory, the Junmai Daiginjo has the same fresh fruity sweetness with a hint of nigori lactic acidity, but the Junmai Ginjo tastes like a sizzling sweet dessert, while the Junmai Ginjo has the presence of acidity and is a little more refreshing to drink than the Junmai Daiginjo. Daiginjos are reminiscent of sweet, moist fruits such as peaches and grapes. The Ginjo has the image of refreshing fruits such as pears and lychees. Both are very tasty, but if I had to choose one, I would choose the Junmai Daiginjo. I cannot forget the impact when I first drank it. The name has changed to "Yuki no Mayu," but I have reconfirmed that this is a brand that I would like to continue drinking for a long time to come.
Japanese>English
Yuki no Mayu (Kamosu Mori)純米大吟醸純米大吟醸生酒
alt 1
alt 2alt 3
36
Hori
I received a bottle of Junmai Daiginjo from Sake Forest. This is a bottle that shocked me when I first started enjoying sake. It is still my favorite, so much so that I think it may be my favorite even now. It has been a while since I had it, but it is still delicious. It is slightly cloudy with a hint of gas. It has a sweet and sour taste like fruit and a lactic acidity like yogurt that fills the mouth. The aftertaste is surprisingly bitter and the aftertaste is not too sweet. It was so delicious that I could not stop drinking and almost finished the entire four-pack. I heard that the name has been changed to "Yuki no Mayu" this year, but I was relieved to hear that the contents remain the same. But personally, I am a little sad because I have a strong attachment to the name of the brewery that introduced me to the taste of sake. Is the name change due to the contract with the hotel? The hotel's website still introduces Kakusumori as a limited edition sake, so does this mean that Kakusumori is only available at the hotel and the general distribution is now called Yukinomayu? I would like to stay at the Hotel Kozumori someday, and I would be happy to see the sake from Kozumori again there.
Japanese>English
Kachikoma純米吟醸純米吟醸
alt 1
alt 2alt 3
32
Hori
I was finally able to have a bottle of Katsuma, which I have been wanting to try someday. A member of my office was going on a trip to Toyama, so I asked him to buy a bottle for me. Three out of four people at my current workplace are sake lovers, and when we travel, we request each other to buy local sake from the destination. Since it was the first bottle, I was interested in the standard Honjikome, but since it was a rare opportunity, I was a bit excited and asked them to buy me a Junmai Ginjo. I have never even seen Kachikoma in Tokyo, but I heard that it was lined up at a special distributor in Toyama. I had imagined a subdued aroma and flavor, but I was not expecting it at the time of the aroma. The fruity ginjo aroma was gorgeous. The taste is sweet and delicious, yet clear and crisp. There is nothing unpleasant about the taste, which is also delicate. It is neither fresh, juicy, and rich nor, on the other hand, strong in aroma but light in taste. I wonder if this type of wine can be described as well-balanced. It does not give the impression of being particularly unique, but it has a presence that is a little different from the sake I have had in the past. It is understandable that there are people who go all the way to Toyama to buy this sake.
Japanese>English
ジェイ&ノビィ
Good morning, Hori 😃. Congratulations to Hatsukachikoma for ㊗️ 🎉! 3/4 of us are Sake lovers, great place to work👍If you travel a lot, you'll have more opportunities to drink local sake from all over the world😄.
Japanese>English
Hori
Thanks for your comments, Jay & Nobby 😊. We are truly blessed to work here 🍶 We can exchange information every day and it doesn't hurt at all to have a business agent on the trip when you think you can buy me a drink 😄.
Japanese>English
Senkin赤とんぼ原酒無濾過
alt 1
alt 2alt 3
32
Hori
Red Dragonfly has finally made its debut at our house. We basically open the bottles in the order they were purchased, so we just can't drink them in a timely manner. By the way, it is always pushed about 2 months. I checked the stock list in the refrigerator and found that this Akatombo was the last fall sake. Akatombo seems to be a so-called "fall-aged" sake that has undergone several months of aging after being fired in the bottle. Like other autumn sake brands, Akatombo has a deep and calm taste and does not have the freshness of Kabutomushi, but it has a sweetness that is brought out in addition to the acidity, and you can taste the sweet and sour taste. Akatombo is going to be a sake brewed with a traditional sake yeast next year, so I would like to remember this taste at the end of the fast brewing process.
Japanese>English
HijiriHizirizm 酒母活性酒原酒生酒
alt 1
alt 2alt 3
34
Hori
I received a bottle of Hizirizm Sake Mother Active Sake from Seishuzo. I had seen it mentioned on social networking sites and was curious to try it. As the reputation suggests, it was a bit tricky to open the bottle. It is very fizzy, so you have to be careful not to spill it. While chilling the bottle in the bottle cooler, I repeatedly opened and closed the bottle, and from the middle of the bottle, I adjusted the opening angle by less than a millimeter to find the point where the speed of the bubbles rising and disappearing reached an equilibrium. It took more than 20 minutes to pour the bubbles into a glass. The aroma was fruity itself. It has a sweet, sour, and refreshing aroma, just like apples. When I drank it, my impression was the same: it was so apple-like that it was a wonder that there was no apple juice in it. It is hard to believe that it is made from rice. The alcohol content is 5 degrees, so you can drink it like a juice. On the other hand, unlike most sake, there is no lingering aftertaste, no change in aftertaste, and no sense of sharpness. It has a very straightforward taste. I was able to rediscover how complex and mysterious the sake I usually drink tastes.
Japanese>English
Fusano Kankiku剣愛山 50 -Chronicle- 別誂純米大吟醸原酒生酒無濾過
alt 1
alt 2alt 3
30
Hori
This is a special limited edition of Kangiku Kenaiyama's special order product. While the nationally distributed product is an "unfiltered, once-fired, raw sake," this limited edition is a "Nakadori, unfiltered, raw sake. It is sold exclusively at Yajima Sake Shop and features the Yajima Sake Shop symbol on the neck label. It is rare to have the opportunity to taste the same sake at the same time, so we compared them side by side. First, we tasted blind. We prepared two identical glasses, wrote "Nama" and "Hi" on masking tape and stuck them on the back of the plates, poured equal amounts, and shuffled them around to compare. Of course, the taste and aroma were the same in general, but there were differences at the point of aroma before drinking, and I was able to guess each one with little hesitation. The aroma is a little more floral and sweeter in the raw version. When I drank it, I found the fire-aged one to be somewhat crisp and refreshing, while the raw one tasted more juicy and sweet. However, the raw version also has a crispness that is more transparent than the other Kangiku, so it seems that the crispness felt when drinking the hi-ire version is not only due to the hi-ire process. It was a valuable experience to realize how the flavor changes with or without hi-ire.
Japanese>English
Fusano Kankiku剣愛山 50 -Chronicle-純米大吟醸原酒無濾過
alt 1
alt 2alt 3
31
Hori
A bottle of Kangiku's Occasional Series, Ken Aizan 50, was opened. Aizan, which originated in Hyogo Prefecture, is grown at the foot of Mount Kenzan in Tokushima Prefecture. This Junmai Daiginjo is made from 50% polished rice. The label features a picture of Mt. The taste is fresh and juicy. There was a slight gassy feeling immediately after opening the bottle, and fine bubbles could be seen in the glass. It has a sweet flavor that is typical of Aizan and the fruitiness of Kangiku. However, it is light and has a more refreshing taste than the usual Kangiku, perhaps due to the fire-refining process. The label on the back of the bottle says "clean, clear, and transparent," so it must be exactly what they were aiming for. Actually, I have a non-hiki-irradiated raw version of this sake, so I would like to test it at a later date to see if the refreshing taste is due to the fire-irradiation process or the brewing method.
Japanese>English
Koeigiku月影原酒生酒無濾過
alt 1
alt 2alt 3
39
Hori
We received Koei Kiku's Tsukikage. This sake is made from Kame-no-o and is an unfiltered, unpasteurized sake. Although it is an unfiltered nama sake, the production date is March 2024, half a year before its release. It was bottled and stored in ice temperature without being heated. It is the same as the previous Hakutsuki bottle in that it is an unfiltered, unfiltered, raw sake stored in ice, but I felt that the taste was very different. While Hakutsuki is mellow and smooth, Tsukikage is more assertive and rich in flavor. In addition to the difference in the raw material rice (Hakutsuki → Jinriki, Tsukikage → Kame-no-o), the fact that Tsukikage is brewed with natural lactic acid bacteria may also have an effect. Even stored sake has an attack of freshness, and the woody astringency that is always typical of Koeikiku is still present in the complex and powerful flavor. This consistent "character" gives us a sense of security that no matter what we drink, it will always be a Koei-Kiku. I am beginning to miss the Snow Crescent, which is what made me fall in love with this "character" of Koei Kiku.
Japanese>English
alt 1
alt 2alt 3
41
Hori
We had Hana Yuu from Ryoseki Shuzo. My first Hanayuup was a junmai sake, Rikuwada. I had heard that the Takagi Brewery of Jyushiyo was involved in the creation of Hanayuup, so I had always been interested in this brand. We do not know the details of their involvement, but the official website indicates that Takagi Shuzo introduced Omachi and Rikuwada to us, and that he must have given us some advice on the brewing process. It seems that Takagi Brewery also named the sake "Hanayuup," and the website also expresses their gratitude to Takagi Brewery. Hanamup is said to be scarce in four-pack bottles, so we were lucky to come across it. The taste is rich and sweet. The umami sweetness is strong, but the bitterness and alcohol spiciness give it a nice sharpness. As with the Kawanakajima Genmai from the other day, the high alcohol content is probably the reason why this dark flavor is so well balanced. Although it is bottle-fired and has no gaseous sensation, I can feel the freshness when I drink it, so it seems that they are very particular about the fire-firing process. As someone who has never had a Jyushiyo, I am not sure how much of this sake is similar to Jyushiyo or how much is completely different, but Hana Oup is a very tasty sake. At the same time, it made me want to try Jyushiyo again.
Japanese>English
夏どぶろっく夏どぶろっくにごり酒
alt 1
alt 2alt 3
30
Hori
This is my third bottle of summer dobrokku this year. I drank it in August and liked it so much that I got two bottles after that, and as a result, I had the luxury of drinking one bottle each in August, September, and October. As a lover of activated nigori sake, I was able to have it play a major role as a bridge to the new sake season, when nigori sake is released from each brewery in November. For me, the significance of Natsu Doburokku is great. The third bottle of Natsu Doburokku was the first ever to be opened. Perhaps the fermentation had advanced due to the long storage period, or perhaps the bubbles had become stronger, and I must have struggled for nearly 10 minutes opening and closing the bottle. When I finally poured it into a glass after it had settled down, I was greeted as usual with a shrieking carbon dioxide gas and an indescribable aroma. The refreshing taste and gasiness go well with meat and fried foods, so although it is a summer sake, it can be enjoyed not only in summer. The sizzling taste is pleasant and easy to drink, so it is easy to drink in large gulps, and the sake runs out quickly. I finished the last bottle in no time at all. Let's meet again next year for sure. Until then, goodbye.
Japanese>English
Kawanakajima Genbu純米吟醸 雄町 無濾過生原酒純米吟醸原酒生酒無濾過
alt 1
alt 2alt 3
34
Hori
I received a bottle of Junmai Ginjo Omachi from Kawanakajima Genmai. I purchased it at a liquor store in Gunma Prefecture where I stopped by on my summer trip home. It is the same place where I bought Sakiyami the other day. I knew that it was a hard-to-find brand, so I couldn't believe my eyes when I found it on the fridge. Including this Omachi, I think there were four or five varieties with different specifications. I don't think there was any kind of restriction on purchase. I was surprised when I drank it. This is delicious. Even if you discount preconceived notions, it is delicious. Sweet and fruity aroma. The moment it enters the mouth, it gives a sharp impression. After that, there is a rich sweetness and umami, perhaps derived from the Omachi grape. At the same time, the contradictory bitterness spreads quickly, and finally, the sharp spiciness of the alcohol finishes it off. After drinking it, I looked at the label on the back and was convinced. I had almost forgotten that 16 degrees of alcohol was like this, as there have been so many low-alcohol sakes recently. I like low alcohol, but I now understand that there is a taste unique to sake that can only be achieved with this alcohol content. Sweet and bitter. It is tasty and spicy. Sharp, clear and clean. It was a supreme bottle that had the best parts of both modern sake and classical sake.
Japanese>English
ジェイ&ノビィ
Good morning, Hori 😃 I'm very thankful for the liquor stores that usually carry Genmai 🤗You're right, there are some tastes that you can't feel unless it's a solid strength 😚.
Japanese>English
Hori
Jay & Nobby, thank you for your comments! I really appreciate it. We don't get there often, but we will definitely stop by on our next trip home 🚙.
Japanese>English
Fusano KankikuOcean 99 橙海 Arrival純米吟醸原酒無濾過
alt 1
alt 2alt 3
31
Hori
Kangiku's Ocean 99 Orange Sea is now available. The subtitle of the Ocean 99 is "Arrival," and it is part of a trilogy along with Ginkai Departure and Kukai Inflight, each of which was designed to resemble an airplane flying over Kujukuri. The unexpected combination of sake and airplanes is probably due to the fact that the toji of Kangiku is a former aircraft mechanic. The final bottle of the Flight Trilogy, Toukai, is also the last in the Ocean 99 series. It is an autumn sake position of Kangiku, and it is an autumn sake that has been aged for one summer after it is pressed and fired during the cold season. When poured into a glass, it has a sweet aroma and a slightly cloudy appearance. It is not cloudy, but rather a slightly cloudy white color. Although it is supposed to be a fire-aged sake, there are slight bubbles, and when you drink it, it has a gaseous and fresh feeling. The atmosphere is quite different from the hiyaoroshi sake we have been drinking recently. The taste has a concentrated flavor, as is typical of autumn sake. Because it is fresh, it is not round and smooth, but it has a more dense sweetness than usual Kangiku, and is as fruity as ripe tropical fruits. We enjoyed this autumn sake full of Kangiku's character.
Japanese>English
1