Tag Archives: One Cup sake

Japanese sake, One Cup sake, Sanwa Brewery, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 16: Sanwa Brewery Garyubai junmai ginjo homarefuji, 120th Anniversary of Shimizu Port!

March 15, 2020 dragonlife Leave a comment

Finally Sanwa Brewery in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City has joined the One Cup Sake Movement! LOL

They had many reasons to do beside the obvious business advantages.
First it became an opportunity to introduce the local mascot and remind people that Mount Fuji stands in Shizuoka Prefecture (and Yamanashi Prefecture! And certainly not in Kanagawa Prefecture or Tokyo!)!

It also commemorates the 120th Anniversary of the founding of modern times Shimizu Port!

This sake was made with locally grown Homare Fuji rice!

Rice: Homare Fuji (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 50%
Alcohol: 16 degrees
Bottled in December 2019

Clarity: very clear
Color: very light golden hue
Aroma: light, fruity, dry. Pears, pineapple, green apples

Tasting: strong dry attack backed with junmai petillant. Almonds, pineapple, nuts, oranges.
disappears quickly enough finishing on a very dry note.
Takes on a milder turn with food and nuttier with still a dry finish.
Drier almonds and oranges and junmai petillant making a strong comeback once away from food.

Comments: very dry and strong sake for a Garyubai by Sanwa Brewery.
Comparatively uncomplicated, solid, dependable sake.
Despite its high status of junmai ginjo a sake fit for any food, especially heavy or izakaya cuisine.

Recommended pairings: grilled meats, stews, nabemono, cheese.

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Chiyo Musubi Brewery, Japanese Gastronomy, Japanese sake, Tottori Prefecture, Tottori Sake

Tottori One Cup Sake Tasting 3: Chiyo Musubi Brewery-Gokuraku Oyaji Junmai/Junmai Ginjo

March 12, 2020 dragonlife Leave a comment

Tottori Prefecture is famed all over Japan for a manga called “Gegege no Kitaroo”, a story featuring all kinds of ghosts, whose first episode was pblished back on October 10th, 1967.
Although the prefecture is popular for many other reasons many a fan will visit the Prefecture to visit all the attractions based on that particular manga!

This particular one cup sake is part of a three cups set. This is the third one featuring Medama Oyaji One Eye Old Man, a frie3nd of Kitaroo, the main hero of the manga! He has the particularity to enjoy his baths inside a ramen bowl! Incidentally Gokuraku Oyaji means “Old Man having a great time”!

Rice milled down to 50%
Alcohol: 16 degrees
Bottled in December 2018

Color: light golden
Clarity : very clear
Aroma: strong and deep. Nuts, almonds.
Taste: smooth dry and woody attack warming up the palate with noticeable junmai petillant. Almost sweet almonds, dry oranges/mikan. Disappears after a while lingering on the palate.
Changes little with food but for deeper almonds and oranges.
Tends to sweeten again away from food.

Comments: solid, dependable sake.
Uncomplicated in spite of its elevated status. Very easy to drink. can be enjoyed with any type of meal or with light snacks.

Recommended pairings:: grilled meats, izakaya fare, cheese.

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Chiyo Musubi Brewery, Japanese Gastronomy, Japanese sake, One Cup sake, Tottori Prefecture, Tottori Sake

Tottori One Cup Sake Tasting 2: Chiyo Musubi Brewery-Nezumi Otoko Junmai/Junmai Ginjo

February 21, 2020 dragonlife Leave a comment

This particular one cup sake is part of a three cups set. This is the second one featuring Nezumi Otoko/Rat Man who happens to often antagonize Kitaroo, the main hero of the manga!

Rice milled down to 55%
Alcohol: 16.5 degrees
Bottled in Novemeber 2018

Clarity: very clear
Color: light golden
Aroma: discreet. Dry. Nuts, almonds, dry raisins.
Tasting: very dry attack. Fruity. Roasted nuts, chestnuts, raisins, dry ornages.
Disappears quickly enough warming up the palate with a lingering dry nuts note.
Changes little with food but for deeper nuts and late appearance of coffee nuts.along with deeper almonds.

Comments: Solid, reliable, uncomplicated sake with a very dry accent. Quite modest for a junmai ginjo. Easy to drink.
At its best during a meal, especially izkaya style.

Recommended pairings: cheese, oden, frilled fish, grilled shiitake, tamagoyaki.

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Chiyo Musubi Brewery, Japanese Gastronomy, Japanese sake, One Cup sake, Tottori Sake

Tottori One Cup Sake Tasting 1: Chiyo Musubi Brewery-Kitaroo Junmai/Junmai Ginjo

February 11, 2020 dragonlife Leave a comment

This particular one cup sake is part of a three cups set. This one is named Kitaroo from the main hero of the manga!

Rice milled down to 50%
Alcohol: 16 degrees
Bottled in Novemeber 2018.

Clarity: very clear
Color: light golden hue
Aroma: discreet, dry and fruity. plums, nuts.
Tasting: very dry and sharp attack. Plums, roasted nuts. Disappears slowly enough wit a strong impression left on the palate. Tastes almost like very dry sherry wit nuts added.
Changes little with food but for some petiillant on the tongue.

Comments: solid, uncompromising and uncomplcated sake to accompany heavy food , especially in winter.
Recommended pairings: potato salad, oden, grilled fish

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Hokkaido, Hokkaido sake, Japanese Gastronomy, Japanese sake, Nihon Seishu Brewery

Hokkaido One Cup Sake Tasting 1: Nihon Seishu Brewery Chitose Branch-Chitosetsuru Hakodate Gagyuzan

November 19, 2019 dragonlife Leave a comment

i found this one cup sake the other day during my visit in Hakodate, Hokkaido Island!

Although this label is usually sold in Hakodate only the Brewery is actually from Sapporo, namely the Nihon Seishu Brewery but this particular brand, ChitoseTsuru is brewed in their branch brewery in Chitose, not far from the Chitose International airport!

The label depicts Gyaguzan, one of the most, if not most famous night view in Hakodate City!

Rice: various rice from Japan
Dryness: + 1
Acidity: 1.3
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in June 2019

Clarity: very clear
Color: light golden hue
Aroma: strong. plums
Body: fluid
Taste: dry and smooth attack. Drier than expected. Plums, persimmons, nuts. Lingers for a while on the tongue and palate Does not noticeably change with food but for a little more acidity. Tends to finish on drier note.
Overall: Straightforward sake. Not a premium but quite enjoyable actually if you like solid uncomplicaed brews.
Recommended pairings: Izakaya fare, heavy foods, BBQ, grilled fish.

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Japan, Japan Sake, Kyoto City, One Cup sake, sake, Tomio Brewery

Kyoto One Cup Sake Tasting 1: Kitagawa Honkei Brewery-Tomio Honjozo Miyouhoudai

September 3, 2017 dragonlife 1 Comment

Tomo Brewery in Kyoto City has created this one cup sake to promote tourism and Miyoudoudai Festival in particular when the night is lit by ritual fires in the mountains surrounding the city!

And the design characters of the cup have the particularity to turn from transparent to red when the temperature dips under 17 degrees Celsius!

incidentally, this is a hojonzo!

Rice milled down to 68%
Alcohol: 14 degrees
Bottled in February 2016

Color: almost transparent
Clarity: very clear
Aroma: Strong and dry. Plums, smoked wood, raisins
Taste: Dry, deepish and fruity attack.
Raisins, plums, dry mandarins.
Lingers for a while on the palate to depart on even drier notes of oranges, coffee beans and almonds.

Overall: an uncomplicated sake conceived to be enjoyed with food, especially izakaya fare, although many a sake lover would drink it on its own.
Keep the cup as a souvenir!
Recommended pairings: bbq meats, nuts, fried potatoes, cheese

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Fujimasa Brewery, Fujinomiya City, One Cup sake, sake, Sake Breweries, Shizuoka Sake

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: One-Cup Series 15: Fujimasa Brewery-Genkotsu

January 2, 2017 dragonlife Leave a comment

The other day I had the surprise to discover a One Cup sake by Fujimasa Brewery which is located in Fujinomiya City, a long way from Shizuoka City!

Interesting and very macho name: Genkotsu, that is “The Fist”!

Advertised a “dry sake”!

Old-fashioned cap!
Incidentally this is a honjozo!

Rice: various from Shizuoka Prefecture
Rice milled down to 68%
Dryness: + 6
Acidity: 1.1
Yeast: No 6
Alcohol: 15.5 degrees
Bottled in December 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: light golden hue
Aroma: dry, smoky, oak, plums
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and smoky attack.
Dry plums.
Pleasantly warms back of the palate.
Lingers for a while before departing on a softer note of dry oranges and more plums.
Tends to turn even drier and smokier with food.
Late appearance of chestnuts and bitter chocolate.

Overall: as expected a sake fit for men’s taste although I don’t doubt many members of the so-called weak gender will appreciate its uncompromising dryness and smoky oaken notes!
Great with a hot meal!
Suggested pairings: yakitori, oden, stews, cheese.

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Gifu Prefecture, One Cup sake, Watanabe Shuzouten Brewery

Gifu One Cup Sake Series 2): Watanabe Shuzouten Brewery-Hourai Futsushu

August 15, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

It was about time I opened those two one cup sake by Watanabe Shuzouten Brewery I acquired in Takayama City in Gifu Prefecture!

They are both futsushu but with a marked variant.
I started with the one named “Hourai/蓬莱”!

Rice: Hida homare (Gifu Prefecture9
Rice milled down to 63&
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Dryness: ; 3
Acidity: 1.4

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: dry and fruity. Plums
Body: fluid
Taste: dry and fruity attack.
Plums, almonds, coffee beans
Lingers for a while warming up back of the palate before departing with soft notes of plums, dark chocolate and faint vanilla.
Varies little with food but for a fruitier note

overall: simple, straightforward but highly enjoyable futsushu.
Best appreciated at room temperature.
Ladies might enjoy it more than gentlemen because of its soft and fruity approach.
Suggested pairings: salads, sashimi, yakitori, takoyaki.

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Japan, Japan Gastronomy, Kin Shachi Brewery, One Cup sake, sake, Sake Brewery

Aichi Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 1): Kin Shachi Brewery-Kin Shachi Cup

June 6, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

“Kin Shachi/金鯱” is the name of the golden fish seen on top of the roof of the Nagaoya Castle in Nagoya City in Aichi Prefecture. No wonder I found this One Cup Sake in Nagoya JR Station Shinkansen Lin platform booth!
Kin Shachi Brewery is located in Handa City in Aichi Prefecture!
The sake contained in the cup is a honjozo!

Rice: Gohyakumangoku
Rice milled down to 70%
Dryness: + 4
Acidity: 1.4
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in March 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: assertive, dry and fruity. raisins, muscats, smoked nuts.
Body: fluid
Taste: Strong dry and fruity attack.
Complex: raisins, muscats, smoked nuts, persimmon.
Lingers for quite a while on the palate before departing on more notes of smoked nuts and faint oranges.
Turns slight sweeter at first with food before quickly becoming dry again with notes of dry chocolate.

Overall: a solid, dependable sake fit for food, especially izakaya fare.
For dry sake lovers!
Can be enjoyed at any temperature!
Suggested pairings: bento/oden/stes/broiled fish and meat.

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Fukui Prefecture, One Cup sake, sake, Sake Brewery

Fukui Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 3): Uno Brewery-Daiginjo Ichi No Tani

April 7, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

The other day a good friend of mine, Doctor Michitomo Kawahito brought me st of three one cup sake from Fukui Prefecture!

The set out of it package!

The third tasting: Daiginjo “Ichi no Tani” by Uno Brewery!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki
Rice milled down to 40%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in March 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: transparent
Body: fluid
Aroma: dry and fruity. Plums, oranges
Taste: dry and fruity attack.
Extremely complex: melon, faint custard, notes of white flowers, banana, pears, lychees, apricots, mirabelle.
Lingers for a while before departing on a slightly drier note with more fruit/oranges and almonds.
Gets drier with food with more dry oranges.

Overall: very elegant, actually extravagant for a one-cup sake!
Ever-changing sake that will keep you on your toes and looking forward to the next sip!
A sake to be enjoyed on its own!
The perfect souvenir!

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Fukui Prefecture, One Cup sake, sake, Sake Brewery

Fukui Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 2): Funaki Brewery-Ginjo Kita no Shou

April 7, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

The other day a good friend of mine, Doctor Michitomo Kawahito brought me st of three one cup sake from Fukui Prefecture!

The set out of it package!

The second tasting: Ginjo Kita No Shou by Funaki Brewery!

Rice milled down to 55%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in February 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: golden hue
Aroma: dry and fruity. Prunes
Body: fluid
Taste: dry and fruity attack.
Prunes, faint vanilla and oranges backed up with strong alcohol.
Lingers for a while before departing on smoky notes and dry oranges.
oranges making a comeback with following sips.

Overall: straightforward, uncomplicated and solid sake.
Obviously conceived to accompany food, especially izakaya and BBQ fare.
For dry and rustic sake lovers.
Suggested pairings: grilled fish, yakitori, stews.

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Fukui Prefecture, One Cup sake, sake, Sake Brewery

Fukui Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 1) Nanbu Brewery-Hanagaki Junmai

April 3, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

The other day a good friend of mine, Doctor Michitomo Kawahito brought me st of three one cup sake from Fukui Prefecture!

The set out of it package!

I started their tasting with a junmai called hanagaki by Nanbu Brewery!

Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15 degrees
Bottled in February 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: golden hue
Aroma: dry and fruity. Prunes, faint bananas
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and fruity attack backed up with puissant junmai petillant.
Prunes, dry apricots.
lingers for a while before departing with pleasant acidity and faint ornages.
Varies little with food.

Overall: pleasant and uncomplicated sake highly suitable to drink with izakaya cuisine and haevy dishes.
Should please the dry sake lovers.
Certainly a souvenir worth taking around.
Suggested pairings: blue cheese, BBQ, yakitori.

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Kikuizumi Brewery, One Cup sake, Saitama Prefcture

Saitama Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 1) Kikuizumi Brewery-Fukka Chan Honjozo

February 7, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Thank to my good friend, mrs. Atsuko Kurata, I was able to enjoy a one cup sake from Saitama Prefecture!

The character on the glass is called Fukka Chan/ふっかちゃん! It is the mascot of Fukaya City!

It is a honjozo brewed by Kikuizumi Brewery in Fukaya City!

You can see both sides of the mascot!

Kojikome rice milled down to 65%
Kakekome rice milled down to 75%
Alcohol: 15 degrees
Bottled in February 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: light golden
Aroma: strong, dry and fruity. Raisins, prunes,
Taste: strong, dry and fruity attack
Prunes, raisins, muscat.
Lingers for a while on the palate before leaving with otes oranges, muscat, faint coffee beans and dark chocolate.
More complex than expected.
tends to become drier and mellower with food.

Overall: far more elegant and satisfying than expected!
Does splendidly with food, although will drink like a good dry sherry on its own!
suggested pairings: Izakaya cuisine, tuna kakuni, BBQ.
A great souvenir, no only for the sweet design, but for the fine sake inside. For dry sake lovers!

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: One-Cup Series 13): Shidaizumi Brewery-Nyan Cup Shidaizumi “Rasta” Umeshu

November 25, 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!

Now, this is the fifth tasting of the second batch of Shizuoka Prefecture One Cup Sake I obtained at Matsuzakaya Department Store in Shizuoka City!

A one cup sake by Shidaizumi Brewery in Fujieda City

It is part of a series known all over Japan with cat designs and so-called Nyan Cups!
Although this one contains umeshu, it was originally created with junmai sake made in the same brewery!

That name “Rasta” is just great!

Alcohol: 11 degrees
Junmai sake
Ume/Japanese plums
Water
Sugar
Fruit juice

Clarity: very clear
Color: light brown
Aroma: assertive, sweet and fruity. Umeshu
Body: fluid
Taste: drier than expected and very fruity attack.
Complex. Sweetness will come with every sip to disappear quickly.
Lingers only for a little while before departing on a dry “ume” note.
Very pleasant alcohol.

Overall: an incredibly elegant umeshu, so different from most cloying products found on the market.
Its comparatively (for the market!) high alcohol content contributes to an unexpected complexity!
The ume/Japanese plum inside are of the crunchy type and quite dry.
The cup is so exquisite! A must souvenir!
To be indulged in any time, anywhere all year round!

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Fujinomiya City, One Cup sake, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 12): Makino Brewery-Shimizu Minato Jirocyo Honjozo

September 16, 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!

Now, this is the fourth tasting of the second batch of Shizuoka Prefecture One Cup Sake I obtained at Matsuzakaya Department Store in Shizuoka City!

A one cup sake by Makino Brewery in Fujinomiya City!

Shimizu Minato Jirocyo!
That is, Shimizu ( a city of its own before it was merged into Shizuoka City) Minato (harbor) Jirocyo (pronouce “Jirochoo”, the name of the local hero!)!

Although Makino Brewery is located at the foot of Mount Fuji in Fujinomiya City, it has produced this special brew for quite some time.
Actually it is the only brewery in Shizuoka Prefecture allowed to call one of its brands, “Fujisan/Mount Fuji”!

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

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: assertive. Very dry and fruity. Almonds, roasted nuts
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and fruity attack
Dry banana, acid custard, dry oranges, roasted nuts, biscuits.
lingers for a short while warming up the back of the palate before departing with notes of oranges.
Varies little with food but for an even drier finish.
Late but strong appearance of coffee beans and then dark chocolate.

Overall: a solid and uncomplicated sake fit for an izakaya!
The dry sake lovers will appreciate it!
Bring it to a BBQ!
Suggested pairings: yakitori, curry dishes, pork and sausages.

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