Hana-no-Mai Yuuga Honjozo Nama-Shu
September 15, 2024
Had this for dinner on a trip. The aroma and taste were both moderate and did not interfere with the meal.
Ichinenfudo TABIBITO601 Junmai Ginjo Unfiltered Nama Sake
August 31, 2024
Asahiya Sake Shop
3080 yen
This is a new release from Aichi Horaisen's other brand Ichinenfudo. Tasted and purchased a silver one with No. 6 yeast instead of the same yeast as the empty one. Impactful citrus and creamy aroma. The mouthfeel starts with a soft sweetness, followed by a sourness that spreads. The full flavor is followed by a lingering aftertaste. There is a little bit of a tangy taste.
Hououmida Junmai Daiginjo Asahimai 40 Araoshi Merger Kasumi Hon Nama
August 31, 2024
Asahiya Sake Shop
3520 yen
From the opening of the mouth, the aroma of apples and strawberries wafts through the air, starting with a light acidity that spreads sweet and sour throughout the palate. You can feel the brand's character straight away. It is full-bodied but has a good sharpness, and the glass is quickly emptied. I had no idea that Asahi rice, which we usually eat, could be used to make such a gorgeous sake. The same good impression as last year.
Fukuda Fukkai Bangaishu
August 11, 2024
Asahiya Sake Shop
2970 yen
Fukkai was rebranded by Fukuda in Nagasaki. I had previously tried Fukuda Bangaishu and gave it 3 stars, so I wasn't really attracted to it, but I was again attracted to a sake made with rice outside the same range, so I bought it. When I poured it into the chirori, it started bubbling and had a nice aroma like sweet candy. Unlike the image of the aroma, the sour-sweet flavor was subdued and the carbonation added a drier feel. The taste has a hint of Japanese pear, and while it is sharp, it does not have much richness or umami.
Kawatsuru Daiginjo
August 16, 2024
Purchased on a trip to Kinpira. Tried Kawatsuru, a local sake with a strong image of Sanuki Kuraudai. Both the aroma and taste were mild, and I wanted a little more fullness.
Kinryo Junmai Ginjo
August 16, 2024
Purchased on a trip to Kinpira. Toured the brewery and saw the magnificent camphor tree; this was my third visit to Kinpira, but I may have visited every time.
The aroma was moderate, but the sweetness and acidity were just right, and despite being a regular sake, it was better than I expected.
Tokugawa Ieyasu Daiginjo
August 14, 2024
This is a local brand from a brewery that brews Futaoto.
This is a local brand from the brewery that produces Ni-Hare. Elegant sweetness and acidity. Although it had been kept in the refrigerator, we were disappointed to taste a little bit of hiney aroma, but we enjoyed it with pleasant conversation.
Kawatsuru Sanuki Kuradei
August 17, 2024
Sanuki Kuraudei was served as an after-dinner drink at the hotel during a trip to Konpira.
It has a nigori aroma and a sweet and sour taste like a lactic acid drink. The light 6% alcohol content makes the glass go down a treat.
Etsukaijin Junmai Ginjo Blue Bottle
August 17, 2024
Trip to Kinpira with my parents. At dinner at the hotel, there was a blue bottle of a local summer sake from Etsukaijin, so we had it.
It has a surprisingly fruity aroma and a full-bodied flavor that is typical of the brand. We enjoyed it with a luxurious snack.
Fudo Junmai Ginjo Hanging Shibori-Non-filtered Nama-shu
August 11, 2024
Asahiya Sake Shop
3080 yen
The first sip has a sourness like plum wine with a sweet, candy-like, viscous aroma and mouthfeel, with a taste of sourness and alcohol. On the second day, the aroma becomes more fruity and the balance between acidity and sweetness improves, but as the temperature rises, the viscosity returns and the taste becomes dull.
Toyoko-Junmai Unfiltered Unrefined Genshu P1
July 27, 2024
Asahiya Sake Shop
2420 yen
Hi-ire but lots of bubbles when poured into a chirori. Milky aroma with fine carbonation. Sweetness and sourness are not assertive but well balanced, and the mouthfeel is dry. The aftertaste is rich, but the mouthfeel is hard. After a few days, the flavor opens up and it becomes a multi-player that can be served at any temperature. It is a delicious sake with good cost performance.
Hououmida Junmai Daiginjo Yamadanishiki 40 Araoshi Merger
July 27, 2024
Asahiya Sake Shop
3740 yen
When opening the mouth, perhaps because the sake was closed, the acidity came to the fore and there was a slight sweetness on the tongue, as well as a touch of astringency on the back palate. As it opens, it has a gorgeous aroma of strawberries and lychee. This time, the acidity was more apparent than the sweetness. On the third day, the aroma of apples appeared and the taste became fuller. This is the quintessence of the Araoshi merger, and it is still delicious.
Kudokibe Junmai Daiginjo Namaizume Ise Nishiki
July 1, 2024
Kagataya Sake Shop
4325 yen
This is the first sake rice Ise-Nishiki. As the name suggests, this sake rice is used by a brewery in Mie Prefecture, but it is served in a Yamagata Kudokidokute junmai daiginjo. The fruity, apple-like aroma spreads as the temperature rises. The mouthfeel is soft, with the acidity leading the way, followed by a gentle sweetness. Slight bitterness is followed by a lingering sweetness and richness. As the temperature drops, the sake tightens up and becomes smoother and more pleasant to drink. In retrospect, this was the first jun-dai in a long time, and it was an impeccably delicious sake.
Ise-Nishiki: A maternal grandparent of Yamada-Nishiki, Ise-Nishiki was discontinued in the 1960s, but was revived in Mie Prefecture in 1991.
Jikin Junmai Ginjo Omachi Hiiri
June 8, 2024
Kagataya Sake Shop
4180 yen
Good aroma of sweet and sour apple and pineapple. The mouthfeel is soft and softly sweet. As it is swallowed down, the sourness comes out, followed by a slight bitterness. It is a tasty sake with acidity, sweetness, and bitterness at every step. As the temperature drops, the acidity and sweetness can be felt directly on the palate, giving the impression of the royal road to good sake. The lingering aftertaste is long and very tasty.
Motomine Tsuru: Small Forest Oorigarami Nama Sake
July 5, 2024
The second drink at the oyster bar on our anniversary was Kihotsuru from Saga, following Nabeshima.
As one would expect from a brand new to me, the Origarumi Nama Sake has a tangy carbonation and a full-bodied rice flavor. The aftertaste is light and easy to drink.
Nabeshima Special Junmai
July 5, 2024
Cheers to our anniversary at the oyster bar.
I was wondering if Nabeshima tasted like this. The aroma and taste were so light and refreshing that I wondered if Nabeshima tasted like this, and the taste was not enough to pair with oysters.
Tengumai Yamahai Junmai Unfiltered Unrefined Nama-Shu Bespoke Light Nigori
June 8, 2024
Kagataya Sake Shop
3520 yen
The yellowish hue is slightly nigorigo. Aroma of apple and yogurt with a hint of sweet candy. In the mouth, sweetness and richness spread quickly along with sourness and rice flavor. The richness of the back end and the robust body of the sake make it easy to drink again and again. The acidity is too assertive when served cold, so it is better served chilled. When heated, the balance of acidity and sweetness is wonderful. Because of the season, I tend to drink it cold, but it is delicious warmed up.
Northwest Shuzo Prototype Honjozo Nama Sake
June 2, 2024
Isego Honten
2400 yen
Prototype Isego Honten Original, Sairai's Honjozo type. The aroma is slightly yogurt-like, and the sweetness spreads on the palate in addition to the carbonation stimulation. The richness, the sweetness that spreads on the palate, and the alcohol taste are to our liking. Even though it is alky, it has this taste and at this price. It has a stronger flavor than the instrumental Masamune, which we like a lot.
Wakakoma Natsukoma Junmai Unfiltered Nama Sake
June 2, 2024
Isego Honten
2600 yen
This is the first Wakakoma in a long time. I was attracted to it since my recent visit to Oyama and bought it. The aroma is citrusy and acidic, with grain-like aromas of rice and dumplings. The alcohol level is usually low at 14 degrees, but this season it is 15 degrees. The sourness and bitterness spread gradually. The alcohol and sourness remain in the aftertaste, and it finishes dry and sharp. It is a summer sake to be drunk chilled.
Dear Jay & Nobby, Thank you for your comments. Tochigi sake, there are many breweries in the prefecture and it is very deep. We were very impressed with the selection at Yodogawa Sake Shop and would love to revisit.
Hitakami Junmai Ginjyo Bespoke Nakatori Gin no Iroha
May 11, 2024
Kagataya Sake Shop
3150 yen
Gin-no-Iroha" is a new sake rice developed in Miyagi. It has a fresh apple-like aroma, with hints of melon and cream in the alcohol. The mouthfeel has a crisp aftertaste preceded by sourness. As the temperature rises, the aroma opens up, and together with the acidity, it becomes a delicious sake with a full-bodied flavor. It went well with white sashimi.