Milan HauserShanghai is under strict lockdown and it is hard to purchase sake. Today I got lucky to find this gem deep in my fridge.
Aroma is mild. Flavor is light. There is really nothing special about the flavor and that is alright with me. It has slightly sweet and nutty flavor. And it feels strong too!
It is great for what it is. I cannot complain. I am happy.
Wish you all happy weekend!
Kent LeungHope the covid situation will get better very soon.
Milan HauserThank you. There are signs that it might get better soon.
Milan HauserType: junmai genshu, rice: Akitakada, Hiroshima Hattanso, polishing rate: 70%, Hiroshima yeast, alc.: 13%
This is a different kind of beast. The aroma was like junmai sake, full of rice koji. I didn't smell any fruit so I was very surprised by sharp acidity, like citrus fruit. The acidity is so strong it feels almost like white wine. But there is depth to it at room temperature. It is made with white koji.
This sake is refreshing and with body. It's interesting and well made but too sour for me.
Milan HauserHappy weekend, my friends!
Type: junmai, rice: Yamada Nishiki, polishing rate: 55%, yeast: Shizuoka yeast, alc.: 15%
I learned that this sake has been around for 30 years.
Aroma is charming. Flowers, bananas. Flavor is rich and complex. Sweetness comes first, then savoriness and dry lingering finish. It's clean, silky and thick.
I find this sake very delicious, although the flavor is sort of too sweet for my taste.
This drink makes me happy while being in lock-down.
Milan HauserType: junmai, rice: Yamada Nishiki, polishing rate: 60%, alc.: 13%
Dio Abita means "where god lives" and the name points to Mt. Miwa in famous Nara prefecture where the brewery is located. It is an impressive name and this sake deserves it.
Aroma is charming and strong. It smells of ripe fruit like bananas and muscat. Flavor is juicy, somewhat sweet and with gentle acidity that brings balance. It is light and refreshing but surprisingly full bodied. It is a low-alcohol genshu which is lovely.
Milan HauserType: daiginjo, polishing rate: 50%, SMV: 0, acidity: 1.3, alcohol: 15.5%
This sake is made in Beijing, China.
Aroma is bananas and apricot. Taste is dry. I had it with sushi. It paired nicely.
Milan HauserType: junmai ginjo namachozo, polishing rate: 60%, SMV: +1, acidity: 1.4, alcohol: 14.5%
I bought it because I liked the idea of having sake in paper packaging.
When poured it's clear and colorless. Aroma is not too strong, I could get rice, grain and a hint of bananas. Taste is refreshing, not too dry and not too sweet, somewhat savory like bread.
I tried the first glass with ham and cheese sandwich and it felt good. I had problems finishing the second glass without food.
Milan HauserRice: Yamada Nishiki, polishing rate: 50%, alc.: 14.5%
Well, this is a little bit different from what I've drunk so far.
I don't find the aroma fruity. I think it's lactic acid and flower blossoms. Maybe just a tiny hint of grapes.
Flavor is mostly sweet but not overly sweet. Very gentle acidity and significant umami. The flavor of Yamada Nishiki is spreading. Bitterness of the alcohol comes in the end. But the finish is short and refreshing.
It's very well done, it's different and it's tasty.
Miki@Milan Hauser . Hello, I think Omine has a very good balance of sweetness and acidity. And
Mikithis liquor goes well with fish carpaccio and mascarpone cheese,I think.
Milan Hauser@Miki Hello and thank you for the recommendation. I will try it next time.
Milan HauserI bought this daiginjo for Lunar New Year celebration and expected fragrant fruity sake. How wrong I was!
Type: junmai daiginjo, polishing rate: 45%, alc.: 16%
Aroma is mild and full of rice. I could smell alcohol strongly after opening the bottle. Smell of alcohol is gone on the second day. Flavor is dry and earthy. Not fruity at all. Sweetness of rice and dryness of alcohol. It is thick, oily and viscous.
This is not a fragrant daiginjo as I expected. It is ricy and dry.
Happy New Year!
Kent LeungHappy New Year, and most importantly, Good Health. Cheers
Milan Hauser@Kent Leung Thank you. Good health and prosperity to you too!
Milan HauserType: honjozo, nigori, rice: Kagawa rice, polishing rate: 70%, SMV: -7, acidity: 5, alc.: 6%
This sake seems to be very popular so I wanted to try it. It is tasty and easy to drink because of low alcohol content and fruity flavor.
Aroma is apple, citrus fruit and yogurt. Mouthfeel is velvety and milky. Flavor is sour. Notes of green apples and yogurt, no burn from alcohol. Tastes like Yacult or apple or pineapple flavored yougurt drink.
I read that it uses 3 times more koji to make this sake.
Milan HauserType: standard sake, rice: domestic rice, SMV: +5, acidity: 1.4, alc.: 14%
Ordered Gekkeikan namazake with today's lunch. It's a versatile refreshing sake. It does not taste as lively as other namazake I had before, so it is easy to pair it with food.
Aroma is mild and ricy. Flavor is on the dry side and not juicy. It went pleasantly with sushi.
Milan HauserType: honjozo, polishing rate: 65%, alc.: 15%
I like Tengumai and it never disappoints me. I usually drink their Junmai yamahai but this time let's try their honjozo.
The color is yellowish. Aroma is light and sweet like steamed rice and honey. Texture is silky and light. It is refreshing with light acidity and strong umami, not too dry. There is a depth to this honjozo and I can definitely taste some yamahai tones. I guess it is blended with yamahai sake. The flavor is lighter than junmai.
Milan HauserHappy New Year 2022! Is there anything better to celebrate New year with than sweet noble sake? This is my first time drinking kijoshu.
Type: junmai, rice: Yamada Nishiki, polishing rate: 50%, SMV: -20, acidity: 2.0, yeast: in house yeast, alc.: 17%
Aroma is fruit marmelade, honey, vanilla. Flavor is sweet and sour like ripe mango juice with strong sweetnes of rice. Long finish. Very rich and full-bodied.
Beautiful and noble drink. It is hard to stop sipping it. I will remember this sake.
Milan HauserType: table sake nigori, rice: domestic rice, SMV: -18, acidity: 1.4, alc.: 15%
Color is milky. There is something in the aroma that reminds me of old things like wet books in the attic. Mouthfeel is velvety and creamy. Flavor is surprisingly not too sweet as -18 would suggest. It reminds me of rice porridge mixed with baby powder milk.
Well, not too bad for table sake. It drinks easily. This is 300 ml bottle so I can finish it tonight.
I don't plan to buy this again.
Milan HauserType: junmai, rice: Iwate rice, polishing rate: 60%, alc.: 15%
The aroma is very fruity. Bananas and sweet peach. Flavor is balanced. Not too dry, just a tiny little bit sweet. Fruit like acidity and earthiness. Clean finish and no burn of alcohol.
This sake drinks very easily. I have already drank half of 720 ml bottle. I have a day off tomorrow so I'll keep on drinking tonight. Cheers!
Milan HauserType: junmai, rice: Tsuyuhakaze, polishing rate: 80%, yeast: No.7, alc.: 16%
This is very interesting sake. Deep, fresh, fizzy and lively. Yucho shuzo uses only rice grown in Nara. 807 means 80% polishing rate and yeast no. 7.
Mild aroma of melon, white blossoms and lemon. Fizziness of namazake. Flavor is rich. Sweetness comes first, then lots of umami from low polished rice and vivid acidity. It's juicy. I can feel hints of fruits such as yuzu, grapefruit.
Beautiful drink!
Milan HauserType: junmai, rice polishing rate: 73%, SMV: +5, acidity: 1.5, alc.: 15%
Kikumasamune Taruzake was one of the first sakes I tried. I bought a small bottle today in a convenient store after a hard day at work. I opened the bottle and had a smell. My mood got better. The aroma is warming. It smells like Christmas in a wooden cottage. It's an old-school sake.
Beautiful aroma of wood. Flavor is dry, surprisingly light and refreshing. It is rather savory and full of umami.
I love the aroma of cedar.
Milan HauserType: junmai ginjo, polishing rate: 60%, alc.: 15%
This sake seems to be very popular and I understand why. Everything is perfect about this sake. It is a work of art.
Aroma is pleasant, somewhat fruity, not too strong. Flavor is fruity too. I was surprised by the fruityness. It starts sweet, then acidity comes and ends with refreshing finish. All accompanied by lovely umami.
It has depth and you will never get bored by this drink. The more you drink the better it gets. And I will drink a lot.
Milan HauserType: junmai sparkling, rice: Gin no Sato, polishing rate: 65%, alc.: 6 - 7%, red koji
Today is my birthday so we are drinking sparkling sake.
This sake uses red koji so the color is red. There is a secondary fermentation in the bottle which makes it fizzy. The fizziness is robust, I could clearly see steady chain of bubbles in the glass.
Aroma is rather strong, jogurt and melon. Flavor is sweet and sour, juicy. I can taste strawberries. It is low alcohol sake so the finish is not very dry.
Milan HauserType: junmai, rice: Aiyama, polishing rate: 75%, alc: 17%
Happy Friday! My first hiyaoroshi and my first Shichida. It is not easy to get hiyaoroshi outside of Japan.
This baby kicks you hard with 17% of alcohol.
The beautiful aroma of ripe bananas, brown sugar and alcohol. The taste is deep, round and savoury. Sweetness of low-polished rice and gentle acidity that gives the sake crispness. I could taste sweetness of rice, acidity of fruit, dark mushroomy umami and crispness of alcohol.
LOVELY!
Milan HauserType: honjozo, rice: domestic rice, alc.: 16 - 17%
Today's lunch was sushi and sashimi. Gekkeikan's honjozo is great with sushi. It is rich and strong. Suitable for any food.
Weak aroma. Flavor is full-bodied with great balance between sweetness and umami. Notes of caramel, cocoa and spices.