Category Archives: sake

Aomori Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 1) Tamada Brewery-Tamagawa Umakuchi Honjozo

May 19, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

The other day once again thanks to her husband, my good friend Atsuko Kurata offered me this one cup sake from Aomori Prefecture as part of a batch of no less than 8 cups from 6 different Prefectures!
This particular sake brewed by Tamada Brewery has been made famous by its apple symbol!

Alcohol: 15~16 degrees

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: dry. Greens, rice, apples
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry attack.
Apples.
Lingers on the palate only for a short time.
Varies little with food.
The fruity side tends to become stronger after a few sips.
Late appearance of chestnuts, oranges and coffee beans.

Overall: Interestingly enough it odes taste like apples!
Straightforward sake but still quite enjoyable.
For dry sake lovers with a little apple!)!
Pairs well with cheese!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

One Cup sake, Osaka, sake, Sake Brewery

Osaka Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 1) Akishika Brewery-Chiaki Junmai

May 15, 2015 dragonlife 1 Comment

The other day once again thanks to her husband, my good friend Atsuko Kurata offered me this one cup sake from Osaka Prefecture as part of a batch of no less than 8 cups from 6 different Prefectures!
This particular sake brewed by Akishika Brewery has been made famous by its deer (actually both stag and doe) character!

Rice milled down to 70%
Alcohol: 14~15 degrees
Bottled in February 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: Rice, dark chocolate
Body: Fluid
Taste: Dry and fruity attack backed with only a little junmai petillant.
Dark chocolate, coffee beans, almonds, azuki beans.
Lingers for a while on the palate before disappearing with more dry coffee beans.
varies little with food but for a drier note.

Overall: Solid and reliable sake, obviously designed to accompany dfood.
Best drunk with vegetables and pickles.
Beautiful present, too!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka City

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Kanzawagawa Brewery-Shosetsu Ginjo

May 15, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

c
I actually conducted this tasting in my “secret lair” ( not so secret for many of my friends!)!

One of my favorite breweries in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City: Kanzawagawa Brewery!
Shosetu ginjo!

Rice milled down to 50%
Alcohol: 16~17 degrees
Bottled in march 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: dry and fruity. Apples, melon, pineapple.
Body: fluid
Taste: dry and very fruity attack baked up with pleasant alcohol.
Complex.
Plums, apricots, muscat, dry custard.
Lingers for a while on the palate before departing on notes of dry plums, oranges and coffee beans.
Late appearance of dark chocolate.
Varies little with food but for a drier note.

Overall: very elegant and deep sake with lots of character in spite of strong alcohol contents.
Eminently enjoyable on its own but beautifully marries with Japanese food, Japanese pickles in particular.
A sure and reliable value!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Nagano Prefecture, One Cup sake, sake, Sake Brewery

Nagano Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 1) Kikusui Brewery-Saru Kura no Izumi Junmai Ginjo

May 12, 2015 dragonlife 2 Comments

The other day once again thanks to her husband, my good friend Atsuko Kurata offered me this one cup sake from Nagano Prefecture as part of a batch of no less than 8 cups from 6 different Prefectures!
This particular sake brewed by Kikusui Brewery has been made famous by its character doll!

It represents a kind of teddy bear with its head inside an apple bonnet and with a rucksack!

But the name of the sake is a it unrelated as “Saru Kura no Izumi” means “Monkey Brewery Water Spring”!

Rice: nagano sake rice
Rice milled down to 55%
Alcohol: 15 degrees
Bottled in April 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: Strong and fruity: apple compote, faint mandarin oranges
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and fruity attack backed up by some junmai petillant.
More complex than expected.
Apple compote, mandarin oranges, macadamia nuts, custard.
lingers for a little while on palate before departing on an even drier note with hins of greens, melon. Late appearance of dark chocolate and coffee beans.
Varies little with but for a momentary drier note.

Overall: More complex and elegant than expected.
For lovers of dry but fruity sake.
Eminently enjoyable slightly chilled on its own.
Pairs up with any light starters . Great with cheese, too!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Hokkaido, One Cup sake, sake, Sake Brewery

Hokkaido Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 1)Takasago Brewery-The Zoo-tto Asahiyama Set Junmai

May 11, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

From one side!

The other day once again thanks to her husband, my good friend Atsuko Kurata offered me this 3 one cup sake set from Hokkaido Prefecture as part of a batch of no less than 8 cups from 6 different Prefectures!
This set of three one-cup sake is from Hokkaido by Takasago Brewery!

From the other side!

That particular set is part of a souvenir package to promote the Zoo in Asahiyama!

Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 14~15 degrees
Bottled in January 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: discreet. Rice, chestnuts
Body: Fluid
Taste: soft and dry attack backed up with some junmai petillant.
Custard, macadamia nuts, chestnuts.
Lingers only for short while before departing on a slightly mellower note with hints of coffee and greens.
Changes little with food but for a slight turn to sweetness.

Overall: A straightforward sake better fit to enjoy with food.
Very easy to drink.
Will please anybody with a traditional Japanese meal!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Fujinomiya City, sake, Sake Brewery

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Fujinishiki Brewery-Fuurin no Sasayaki Junmai Ginjo (conducted at La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

May 10, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

I don’t mind repeating it all the time but I prefer conducting sake tastings in the right environment but not many places are propitious for that exercise or willing to help.
But La Sommeliere in Miyuki Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City is certainly becoming a habit as not only I can conduct my tasting in the best conditions possible but also exchange views at the same time!

This time I tasted a remarkable sake brewed in Fujinomiya City!

“Fuurin no sasayaki/The Murmur of Summer Wind Bell” Junmai Ginjyo by Fujinishiki Brewery!
It is sold for a reasonable 630 yen for a 300 ml bottle at la Sommeliere!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki (HYogo Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 55%
Yeast: No 1401
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Dryness: + 4.4
Acidity: 1.5
Bottled in April 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: Light golden hue
Aroma: Dry and mineral. Salt, algae (konbu), Japanese parsley (seri), greens
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and complex attack backed by a little of junmai petillant.
Green coffee beans, dry cacao, lime, algae (konbu).
Lingers only for a little while before departing with hints of mandarin oranges and green Japanese plums (ume)
Coffee beans come strongly with the rise in temperature.

Overall: Unusual sake for Fujinishiki Brewery
Obviously conceived for summer drinking and eating.
Would be perfect with sushi and oysters.
Also beautifully pairs with raw bonito (katsuo), cold pork shabu shabu (reishabu), raw seabream marinated with seaweed (tai konbujime), green leaves tempura and buckwheat noodles (soba).
Probably best appreciated chilled first and left to warm up gradually to room temperature.
Deserves extra attention!

LA SOMMELIERE

420-0857 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 7-5, Aiseido Bldg, 1F
Tel. & Fax: 054-266-5085
Opening hours: 11:00~22:00 (~20:00 on Sundays and Holidays)
Entirely non-smoking!
FACEBOOK

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

One Cup sake, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: One-Cup Series 6)-Hana No Mai Brewery, Hana no Mai Junmai Ginjo Homarefuji

May 5, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

A very interesting and reasonable way to taste sake is to acquire one-cup sake!
They also make for cute collection of glasses or cups!

After an interlude to introduce the new Shidaizumi One Cup Sake I can at last complete the first batch of 5 one cup sake from Shizuoka Prefecture before thinking about the next one!

This time it is one brew by Hana No Mai Brewery in Hamamatsu City!

They are always keen to advertise Shizuoka Prefecture gastronomy and Mount Fuji!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka Prefecture-grown)
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled on February 23rd, 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: dry and fruity. Raisins.
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and fruity attack backed up with a little junmai petillant.
Raisins, nuts, mandarin oranges, custard.
Lingers only for a little while before departing with more dry mandarin oranges.
Varies little with food but for the appearance of dry chocolate and chestnuts.
Tends to become more complex when drunk with food.

Overall: Unusual sake for Hana no Mai Brewery. More complex than expected.
Elegant enough to be enjoyed on its own slightly chilled or at room temperature.
Would happily marry with any starters and cheese.

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

One Cup sake, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: One-Cup Series 5)-Makino Brewery, Fujisan Honjozo

May 3, 2015 dragonlife 2 Comments

A very interesting and reasonable way to taste sake is to acquire one-cup sake!
They also make for cute collection of glasses or cups!

Continuing hopefully a long series of one cup sake from Shizuoka Prefecture, the sixth brew was concocted by Makino Brewery in Fujinomiya City: Fujisan Honjozo!

Incidentally only Makino Brewery in Shizuoka Prefecture and another in Yamanashi Prefecture have the right to use the word “Fujisan/富士山” as sake brand! They even share identical design labels!

Mount Fuji Symbol!

Rice milled down to 70%
Alcohol: 15 degrees
Bottled in February 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: Assertive. Dry. rice, coffee beans
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry attack backed with pleasant alcohol.
Coffee beans, apples.
Lingers only for a while before departing with hints of nuts and dark chocolate.
Takes on a slightly mellower note with food before quickly returning to very dry first impressions.

Overall: Solid and straightforward sake with a reliable and dry approach.
Obviously conceived to marry with food, izakaya fare in particular, but dry sake lovers will appreciate it on its own at all temperatures.
I personally enjoyed it slightly chilled with cheese!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Fukushima Prefecture, One Cup sake, sake, Sake Brewery

Fukushima Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 5) Suehiro Brewery-Dr. Noguchi Cup

May 2, 2015 dragonlife 1 Comment

The other day thanks to her husband, my good friend offered me this 5 one cup sake set from Fukushima Prefecture!
Today, continuing my break from the Shizuoka Prefecture one cup sake I sampled a one cup sake by Suehiro Brewery!

Called “Dr. Noguchi Cup”! very probably a junmai!

Dryness: + 1.5~2.5
Acidity: 1.2~1.4
Yeast: Suehiro yeast (T-1) + No 701
Amino acids: 1.0~1.2
Moromi/mash: 25~27
Sakekasu/white lees: 23
Alcohol;: 1516 degrees
Bottled in February 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: light golden hue
Aroma: Assertive and fruity. Rice, coffee beans
Body: fluid
Taste: Assertive, dry and fruity attack backed up with pleasant alcohol and strong junmai petilleant.
Complex: Coffee beans, almonds, dry custard, yoghurt
Lingers for a while before departing with more coffee beans and chestnuts
Stays true to first impressions all the way through.
Hints of dark chocolate, banana and mandarin oranges coming late amid strong coffee beans.
Drier than expected.
Changes little with food but for a drier note.

Overall: Surprisingly interesting and more complex than expected.
Definitely for dry sake lovers in spite of its low dryness.
Should marry well with any food, izakaya heavy fare in particular as well as cheese!
Definitely worth a try!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

One Cup sake, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: One-Cup Series 4)-Shidaizumi Brewery, Nyan Cup Fujieda Junmai Ginjo Homarefuji

April 29, 2015 dragonlife 1 Comment

A very interesting and reasonable way to taste sake is to acquire one-cup sake!
They also make for cute collection of glasses or cups!

Shidaizumi Brewery in Fujieda City has gathered fame all over Japan for their Nyan Cup/Kitten Cup design, a registered mark, both for sake (black and grey) and umeshu (green and colored).
They have just put out a new one to make the City of Fujieda all over Japan and beyond and remind everyone that the first-ever soccer game was played there!

The design shows Mount Fuji but “Fujieda” actually means “wisteria branch”, hence the symbol color of the city.
The cats are three, with one female bearing the number “12”!

She is flanked by two male soccer-playing cats bearing the number “11”,..

and “10”!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka-grown)
Rice milled down to 55%
Bottled in April 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: dry and fruity. Rice, pears
Body: fluid
Taste: dry and fruity attack backed by junmai petillant and strong alcohol.
Complex and elusive: apricots, coffee beans, dry dark chocolate, nuts.
Disappears quickly on drier note of dark chocolate.
Stays true to first impressions all the time.
Varies little with food but for a slightly mellower note.
Coffee beans tend to make a strong comeback with every sip.

Overall: thoroughly enjoyable sake.
Great o its own but happily marries with food, particularly cheese, eggs and vegetable stews.
Definitely more elegant in spite of its dryness than expected.
Just too good for soccer players, a sake for rugbymen!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Fukushima Prefecture, One Cup sake, sake, Sake Brewery

Fukushima Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 4): Kokken Brewery-Kokken Honjozo

April 25, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Simply called Kokken for a Honjozo!

Rice milled down to 65%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in march 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: Light and dry. Fruity. Coffee beans
Body: fluid
Taste: Dry and fruity attack backed with pleasant alcohol.
Fruity. Strong coffee beans, almonds and hints of dark chocolate and custard.
Lingers on for a little while before before departing on a drier note with more coffee beans and custard.
Varies little with food but for a drier note.
Drinks very easily.

Overall: Surprisingly very pleasant for such a humble sake!
Very easy to drink and pleasant on the palate.
Although obviously conceived to be drunk with food, emnienntly enjoyable on its own.
Would pair well with heavy izakaya fare, but personally enjoyed it with cheese and biscuits!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka City

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sanwa Brewery-Garyubai Kaibinjyuuri Kaoru Junmai Daiginjo Genshu Aiyama (conducted at La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

April 23, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

This time I tasted another great brew by Sanwa Brewery in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka, with one of their longest names:
Garyubai Kaibinjyuuri Kaoru Junmai Daiginjo Genshu Aiyama!

Rice: Aiyama (Hyogo Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 40%
Alcohol: 16~17 degrees
Dryness: + 4
Acidity: 1.2
Bottled in March 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: assertive, dry and fruity. Green apples, banana, apricots, compote, marshmallows
Body: Fluid, slightly sirupy
Taste: Strong, dry and very fruity attack backed up with puissant junmai petillant and pleasant alcohol.
Well-rounded but extremely complex.
Macadamia nuts, mandarin oranges, custard, green apples, walnuts.
Elegant for such a strong alcohol content.
Lingers for a short while on the palate before departing on fruity and slightly drier notes with hints of dark chocolate.
Late appearance of coffee beans.

Overall: Just a word to describe such a nectar: “superb”!
A sake that combines elegance and power. Very assertive.
Sweeter than the indicated + 4 dryness due to its great fruitiness.
Eminently enjoyable on its but would brilliantly marry with shellfish and cheese!
A discovery!

LA SOMMELIERE

420-0857 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 7-5, Aiseido Bldg, 1F
Tel. & Fax: 054-266-5085
Opening hours: 11:00~22:00 (~20:00 on Sundays and Holidays)
Entirely non-smoking!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Fukushima Prefecture, sake, Sake Brewery

Fukushima Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 3): Kaitou Otokyama Brewery-Kaitou Otokoyama Honjozo

April 21, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

The other day thanks to her husband, my good friend offered me this 5 one cup sake set from Fukushima Prefecture!
Today, taking a break from the Shizuoka Prefecture one cup sake I continued with a one cup sake by Kaitou Otokoyama Brewery!

Simply called Kaitou Otokoyama for a Honjozo!

Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in March 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: Transparent
Aroma: Discreet. Rice, custard
Body: fluid
Taste: Sweetish and fruity attack.
Marshmallows, dark chocolate, milk coffee.
Lingers for a little while warming the palate before gently departing.
Varies little with food but for a slightly drier note.

Overall: Straightforward sake of the slightly sweet type.
Enjoyable on its own or with food.
Shouls please ladies in particular.

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Fukushima Prefecture, One Cup sake, sake, Sake Brewery

Fukushima Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 2) Ohara Brewery-Classic Tokubetsu Junmai Cup

April 20, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

The Japanese are very much in love with Mozart!

Tokubetsu Junmai is a pretty high level for a one cup sake!
I decided to drink it at room temperature!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki
Rice milled down to 60%
Yeast No 9
White lees: 35%
Alcohol: 15 degrees
Dryness: + 15
Acidity: 1.4
Amino acids: 1.0
Bottled in March 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: very faint golden hue
Aroma: Dry and fruity. Discreet. Rice
Body: fluid, slightly sirupy
Taste: Dry and fruity attack, but not as dry as expected, backed with gentle junmai petillant.
Soft macadamia nuts, dry custard, marshmallow.
Lingers only for a short while before departing on a softer note.
Varies little with food but for more junmai petillant.

Overall: pleasant and very easy to drink sake in spite of its + 15 dryness not really appearing on the tongue.
has enough character to entice you into the second and third sip!
Eminently enjoyable on its own, would marry well with Cheese and chocolate in particular.

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Fukushima Prefecture, One Cup sake, sake, Sake Brewery

Fukushima Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 1) Eisen Brewery-Eisen Cup

April 19, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

The other day thanks to her husband, my good friend offered me this 5 one cup sake set from Fukushima Prefecture!
Today, taking a break from the Shizuoka Prefecture one cup sake I started with a canned one cup sake by Eisen Brewery!

Eisen Brewery: Eisen cup, Specail brew. Probably a futsushu!

Alcohol: 15 degrees
Canned in February 2017

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: Assertive an dry. Rice with hints of banana an dark chocolate
Body: fluid
Tasting: Solid and fruity attack with only mild dryness.
More complex than expected.
Nuts, dark chocolate, almonds and faint hints of melon and coffee beans.
Warms up the palate considerably on its way out.
Finishes on a drier note with plenty of nuts and almonds.

Overall: More complex than expected for such a humble-sounding sake.
Plenty of fruit married with soft dryness.
Obviously conceived to accompany food, nonetheless very enjoyable on its own.
Probably best enjoyed at room temperature.
Would particularly do well with cheese and cold meats!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES