Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Hatsukame Brewery-Akiagari Honjozo Genshu

Although cheaper than a junmai/sake not blended with pure rice alcohol, the blending of a honjozo is actually no easy matter. And it is even rare to find it in its genshu state, that is blended with pure water to lower the alcohol level!

These days Hatsukame Brewery puts a small red circle called “maru” in memory of a beloved cat of the same name!

Rice: oyama Nishiki + Gohaykumangoku
Rice milled down to 65%
Alcohol: 18~19 degrees
Dryness: + 2.0
Acidity: 1.75
Bottled in September 2014

Clarity: very clear
Color: transparent
Aroma: assertive. Pears, alcohol, green apples
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and fruity attack backed by beautiful acidity.
After a strong alcohol appearance subtly slides onto a sweet and fruity note.
Very elegant for a honjozo.
Complex: pears, green apples.
Varies little with food.

Overall: Would make for a superb aperitif but actually marries beautifully with any food, including meat and heavy izakaya fare.
For lovers of strong but subtle sake!

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