Tag Archives: Sake Breweries

Oomuraya Brewery, sake, Sake Breweries, Shimada City, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture

Oomuraya Brewing Sake Tasting Party at La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City!

April 23, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Saké Sommeliére Hisae Tsujimura/辻村尚江さん, Chef Noboru shooji/庄司昇親方, and Owner Hiromi Hasegawa/長谷川浩美さん！

On Friday, April 22nd, was held a very special sake tasting in La Sommeliere, in Miyuki Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!

Oomuraya Brewery (Shimada City) Master Brewer, Wataru Hibino/日比野哲杜氏 had come to introduce 4 new sake all made with Shizuoka-grown Homarefuji rice!

Over 16 sake-knowledgeable guests from all kinds fields participated to the event!

An the menu to accompany the sake was exclusively japanese-style!

The water served came directly from Oomuraya brewery well!

The 4 sake of the day, some still unlabeled as not yet put on the market!

The first sake was Junmai Daiginjo Genshu which will eventually be called Wakatake Premium Junmai dDaiginjo!

To accompany a o-toshi/appetizer made with a combination of two leeks, surf clam and “shiraga” spikenard!

The second sake was Tokubetsu Junmai Nama called Oniotome (Summer Season greetings)!

Accompanying tuna and seabream sashimi and vegetable plate!

The third sake was Junmai Daiginjo called “Take no Kaze”!

Accompanying simmered young bamboo shoots, sweet simmered shrimp, giant butterbur and japanese pepper sprouts!

The final sake was a Junmai Ginjo eventually to be called Wakatake Junmai Ginjo!

Accompanying a mixed steamed rice!

Individual tasting reports on each sake of the day coming soon!

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, 12:00~18:00 on Sundays & National Holidays
FACEBOOK (Japanese)
Entirely non-smoking!

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-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

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Gotemba City, Negami Brewery, sake, Sake Breweries, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Negami Brewery-Kinmei Junmai Nama Genshu Shiboritate

March 27, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

The other I was back to my favorite lair, namely Kasuri in Aoba Odengai in Shizuoka City, where I knew a fine sake was waiting for my tasting!

It was a nectar created by Negami Brewery in Gotemba City!
Kinmei Junmai (no pure alcohol blended in) Nama (unpasteurized) Genshu (no pure rice alcohol blended in) Shiboritate (just pressed)!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki
Rice milled down to 50~60%
Alcohol: 17 degrees
Second press
Bottled in March 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: transparent
Aroma: dry and fruity. Pears
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and fruity attack backed up with puissant junmai petillent.
Complex: pears, white flowers, melon, oranges.
Lingers for a while before departing on notes of soft flowers, melon and oranges.
Turns drier with food with herbs making an appearance.

Overall: Another nectar to be enjoyed in the place of a white wine!
Best appreciated on its own slightly chilled.
Difficult to pair with food because of its very complex character.
Suggested pairing: asparaguses

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Morimoto Brewery-H. Morimoto Filtered Tokubetsu Junmai Nama Genshu

March 19, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Last night when I paid a quick visit to my favorite oden bar in Shizuoka City, the Mama san showed this bottle she had just acquired at Tomitaya Sake Store in Shizuoka City!

Great Brew Master Hitoshi Morimoto was having fun once again in Kikugawa City, in the central-Western part of Shizuoka Prefecture!
The name was just his as he called it H. Morimoto Filtered (in English) for this Tokubetsu Junmai (no pure alcohol blended in) Nama (unpasteurized) genshu (no pure water blended in)!
Incidentally, it is a very limited edition!

Rice: Gohyakumangoku (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 60%
Yeast: Kyoukai 901 Go
Alcohol: 17~18 degrees
Dryness: – 4
Bottled in February 2016

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: dry and discreet. Rice, faint pears
Taste: very fruity, sweetish attack backed up with puissant junmai petillant.
Complex: apples, plums, apricots, sweet pears.
Lingers for a while before departing on sweet, fruity and flowery notes and oranges.
No acidity whatsoever but the sweetness is not cloying at all.

Overall: a very fruity and flowery nectar!
Very unusual concept in Shizuoka prefecture where the great majority of sake are dry.
Very deep and complex with ever-changing facets surging up.
A sake best enjoyed on its own although could definitely be savored in the place of a dessert wine.
A last liqueur for the road, but one easy on the body and soul!
Suggested pairings: Chocolate, blue cheese.

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Japan, Japan Gastronomy, La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City, sake, Sake Breweries, Shizuoka City, Suruga Brewery

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Suruga Brewery-Tenko Junmai Dai Ginjo Muroka Genshu (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

March 16, 2016 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 we tasted a nectar brewed by an increasingly popular Suruga Brewery (Shizuoka City) which is already a lot of attention throughout Japan despite its very short history!

“Tenko/Heavens Rainbow” Junmai (no pure sake alcohol blended in) Daiginjo Muroka (unfiltered) Genshu (no pure water added)!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki (Hyogo Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 40%
Dryness: + 2
Acidity: 1.2
Alcohol: 16~17 degrees
Bottled in December 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: light gold
Aroma: dry and very fruity.
Pears, banana, custard, chestnuts, young coconuts, green melon
Body: fluid, almost sirupy
Taste: dry and fruity attack backed with puissant junmai petillant.
Complex: custard, cream soda, banana, yogurt.
Always seems to reach the brink of sweetness without reaching it.
Lingers on for a short while before departing on a slightly drier note of custard, oranges and faint almonds.
Will become markedly drier with salty foods.

Overall: Very rich sake if there were such a term!
Both elegant and very satisfying.
Very fruity and sweetish at first but beautifully counterbalanced with swift, but in the right amount, acidity.
Could definitely be used as a superlative dessert wine!
Suggested pairings: Blue cheese!

LA SOMMELIERE

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Hamamatsu-Tenjingura Brewery, sake, Sake Breweries, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Hamamatsu Shuzou (formerly Hamamatsu-Tenjingura Brewery)-Shusseijo Tokubetsu Junmai Nama Genshu Shizuku Shibori

February 29, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Hamamatsu-Tenjingura Brewery has been through some significant changes recently.
It was sold to the Totsuka Family in Kakegawa City who already owns Hiraki Brewery and Shizuoka-Hiraki Brewery in Shizuoka City. And the name has apparently been changed to Hamamatsu Shuzou Co. Ltd. I do not know it is such a positive step although this has ensured a next generation of owners.
On the other hand, lady Master Brewer Miwa Masui/増井美和さん has definitely been accepted and furthermore hailed for her efforts as the only lady Sake Master Brewer, or “touji/杜氏” in Japanese, a feat the more remarkable that she does not come from a sake brewery family!

She even appears of the label of her latest creation, Shusseijo Tokubetsu Junmai Nama Genshu Shizuku Shibori, a very limited edition!

it is a Tokubetsu Junmai (meaning no pure alcohol was blended) Nama (unpasteurized) genshu (no pure water was blended in)!

Moreover, it is a Shizuku Shibori, meaning that the sake was not pressed but that it was left to drip out naturally from suspended bags, an extravagant method if there is one!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 60%
Yeast Shizuoka NEW-5
Alcohol: 17~18 degrees
Dryness: -5
Acidity: 1.7
Bottled in February 2016

Clarity: Smoky as it is only partially filtered but very clean
Color: Faint golden hue with thin white lees
Body: slightly sirupy
Aroma: Sweetish and fruity. Rice, melon
Taste: Strong, spicy and sweetish attack backed up by puissant junami petillant.
Melon, rice, rice lees.
Lingers for quite a while before departing on strong notes of oranges and faint almonds.
Rice lees and junmai petillant will come up stronger with food.

Overall: Strong, straightforward, “nigori-style/containing white lees” sake, a bit unusual for Shizuoka prefecture, considering it is sweeter than the norm.
Definitively conceived to accompany heavy izakaya cuisine.
Should do well at any temperature.
For the “nigori-style” sake lovers and definitely above average for such a style!
Suggested pairings: Izakaya Cuisine, BBQ meats!

HAMAMATSU SHUZOU Co. LTD.

430-0808 Hamamatsu City, Naka Ku, Tenjin Machi, 3-57
Tel.: 053-540-2082
HOMEPAGE

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sugii Brewery-Junmai Bodaimoto

February 22, 2016 dragonlife Leave a comment

Sugii Brewery in Fujieda City has made itself a name all over the country when it comes to experimentation in the brewing of sake and their latest nectar is another illustration!

Junmai Bodaimoto!
Bodaimoto/菩提酛 is an old way of making the moto/酛/sake starter dating back to the Muromachi Era (14th~16th Century) with a mixture of steamed and non steamed (raw) rice, natural lactic acid and yeast.

Rice: Shizuoka Prefecture rices
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 13.8 %
Dryness: + 5.5
Acidity: 2.0
Bottled in February 2016

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: Discreet, elegant and fruity. Green apples, persimmon
Body: sirupy
Taste: Very dry and fruity attack. Little junmai petillant.
Prunes, dry muscat.
Lingers only for a little while before departing on a drier note withdry apricots and persimmon.
Turns drier, more discreet and acidic with food.
Alcohol will surge forth in spite of its low contents.

Overall: A discovery from another era when taste buds were definitely different!
I personally loved its down to earth approach and fully appreciated with food although it might shock people used to milder sake.
A sake to enjoy informally!
Suggested pairings: izakaya heavy food, stews, pickles.

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Hatsukame Brewery-Hatsukame “En” Honjozo

December 28, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

When it comes to a home party one always looks for a sake which is not only tasty and easy to pair at all temperatures but also reasonably-priced.
The other day I did participate to a big home party with old mates and I had the perfect present to bring with me!

Hatsukame Brewery in Okabe, Fujieda City produces this extravagant honjozo called “En/縁”！
When you read the specs you will realize that some breweries in Shizuoka Prefecture are spoiling their customers!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki
Rice milled down to 65%
Dryness: + 4
Acidity: 1.30
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Brewed in September 2015
Bottled in November 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: dry and fruity. pears, banana, rice, greens
Body: fluid
Taste: Dry and fruity attack.
Complex: oranges, custard, chestnuts.
Lingers only for a short while before departing on a still drier note with oranges, custard and coffee beans.
Becomes milder and lighter with food before finishing on a drier note.
Oranges and custard in particular will come back once again away from food.
At lukewarm temperature/”nurukan”, tends to become lighter and less complex, but still very pleasant on the palate.

Overall: I conducted that tasting in a light-hearted manner with my friends before he alcohol took the best of them. We all agreed it was simply extravagant considering the ridiculously cheap price!
This is the kind of sake you can bring to any party any time of the year when you can savor it on its own or with any food, at room temperature or warmed up!
The kind of sake you won’t let inside the bottle very long and a great introduction to beginners!

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Fujinishiki Brewery-Fujinishiki Hiyaoroshi Junmai Genshu (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

September 18, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

This time I tasted a brew by Fujinishiki Brewery in Fujinomiya City!

This is a Hiyaoroshi, that is a sake pasteurized only once before bottling only.
It is not only a junmai but also a genshu, that is no pure water was added!

Rice: Gohyakumangoku (Fukui Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 65%
Yeast: Shizuoka NEW-5
Alcohol: 17 degrees
Dryness: + 4
Acidity: 1.6
Bottled in September 2015

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Clarity: very clear
Color: white wine-like golden hue
Aroma: dry and very fruity
Complex: pineapple, banana, apples, mango, apricot
Body: fluid
Taste: softer than expected dry and fruity attack back up by puissant junmai petillant
Complex: almonds, biscuits, custard
Easy to drink in spite of its high alcohol content thanks to the Shizuoka yeast.
Lingers on for a while warming up the back of the palate.
Varies little with food but for a drier finish.
Insistently asks for the next sip and cup, a true sign pf a good sake.

Overall: Intriguing, complex and very pleasant sake!
The type of sake you can enjoy during a whole meal from starters to desserts as an almighty white wine!
Suggested pairings, especially when slightly chilled: soft-style creamy cheese and nuts, cashew nuts, Japanese pickles.

LA SOMMELIERE

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Eikun Brewery-Junmai “Yui Sararikarakuchi

September 8, 2015 dragonlife 2 Comments

I tasted this particular from one of my favorite breweries, Eikun Brewery (Shizuoka City, Shimizu Ku, Yui) at a more or less secret lair of mine in Shizuoka City where I can indulge in my hobby away from the crowds!

Eikun Brewery labels all look the same but this one includes a small important detail!

Can you see the small shrimp?
It is a sakura ebi, the emblem of Yui, famous all over the country!

Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in June 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: very faint golden hue
Aroma: dry and fruity. Pineapple, faint bananas
Body, fluid, almost sirupy
Taste: very dry and fruity attack backed up with strong junmai petillant.
Complex. Custard, walnuts, pineapple, oranges.
Lingers for a while warming up the back of the palate before departing with dry oranges.
Varies little with food but for a drier note and appearance of dark chocolate.
Coffee beans make a strong appearance once away from food again.

Overall: very elegant and refreshing but intriguing for a sake of such comparatively humble status.
For all seasons on its own or with food at any temperature!
Suggested pairings: Any vegetable dish in particular!

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Masu Ichi Brewery-Dai Ginjo (November 1988!)

July 6, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

My constant research on Shizuoka Prefecture sake and sake breweries led me some years ago to meet Mr. Toshihiro Matsunaga/松永俊宏さん, owner of Matsunaga Liquor Shop in Shizuoka City, who has been collecting and safely storing at low temperatures sake from all over Shizuoka Prefecture and some outside for no less than 30 years!
I paid him a long overdue visit the other day to talk about his treasures and purchase one of them for tasting!

Dai Ginjo by Masu Ichi Brewery (Shizuoka City) bottled in November 1988!
Founded in 1882, Masu Ichi Brewery last produced sake until 2011 under master brewer Denjirou Masui/増井伝次郎杜氏 who left this world at the young age of 49. The brewery has been dormant since then but will hopefully be reborn with the coming of age of his son who has vowed to continue in the steps of his celebrated father!
There are still some last bottles but they certainly are to find and any who does proudly announces it!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in November 1988

Clarity: still very clear!
Color: light golden hue
Aroma: dry and fruity. melon, banana, chocolate
Body: fluid, a little sirupy
Taste: very fruity and dry attack with only a little petillant on the late.
Complex: melon, banana.
Lingers for a little while before departing on notes of dark chocolate and chestnuts.
very pleasurable and easy to drink.

Overall: A remarkably well preserved true beauty for such an sake!
Not only drinking but savoring history!
Very soft on the palate with only a little petillant springing up at the end.
No need to accompany it with food! It is simply too precious!
To be valued and enjoyed like a very fine old vintage top-class wine!

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Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sanwa Brewery-Garyubai Junmai Ginjo “Ryoufuu Natsuzake” (conducted at la Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

June 14, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

This time I tasted another brew by Sanwa Brewery in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City, whose particular label is known even in the States!

It does make for an another long name!
Garyubai Junmai Ginjo “Ryoufuu Natsuzake”!

Rice: Gohyakumangoku (Toyama Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 55%
Dryness: +5
Acidity: 1.3
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in May 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: dry and fruity.green melon, asparagus, dry vanilla, custard, string beans
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and flowery attack backed up by discreet junmai petillant.
Complex. Greens, asparaguses, dry watermelon.
lingers only for a little while on palate before departing on a dry note with late appearance of walnuts and faint coffee beans.
Dark chocolate appears with rise of temperature.

Overall: very elegant, dry and complex sake for such a simple gohyakumangoku rice.
Drink it first chilled before experiencing new facets as the temperature rises inside the glass.
Roll it around the glass to make it breathe.
Perfect for summer evening meals.
Marries beautifully with any cuisines as long as they include greens and fish.
Recommended pairings: katsuo tataki, cold pork shabu shabu, yuudofu, asparaguses in hollandaise sauce.

LA SOMMELIERE

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Enoshima, One Cup sake, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 7) Shidaizumi Brewery Nyan Cup Enoshima Ginjo

May 24, 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!

The other day once again thanks to her husband, my good friend Atsuko Kurata offered me this one cup sake by Shidaizumi Brewery in Shizuoka Prefecture but solely sold in Enoshima, Kanagawa Prefecture! as part of a batch of no less than 8 cups from 6 different Prefectures!
It is another version of the famous “Nyan Cup” registered design by Shidaizumi Brewery in Fujieda City!

Enoshima is not only famous for its beaches and surfing but also for recreational fishing!

A lot of visitors combine both!

Rice milled down to 50%
Alcohol: 16 degrees
Bottled in January 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: assertive, dry and fruity. Custard, bananas, melon
Body: fluid, slightly sirupy
Taste: Very fruity, dry and well-rounded attack backed up with very pleasant alcohol.
Complex. Dry custard,oranges, green coffee beans, dark chocolate.
Lingers for a short while before departing on a markedly drier note with oranges, green coffee beans and herbs.
Varies little with food but for a marked appearance of melon.

Overall: Superb sake, A bit of a waste to sell it in one cups style but will serve as great introduction to the beautiful sake brewed by a Noto Master Brewer at Shidaizumi Brewery!
Elegant in spite of its marked dryness. very complex and keeping you alert for the next facet.
Eminently enjoyable on its own, but would splendidly marry with any salad, vegetable cuisine and cheese.
Do try with dessert.
At its best first slightly chilled and slowly drunk as its temperature rises!
Difficult to equal as a one cup sake!

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Gifu Prefecture, One Cup sake, sake, Sake Brewery

Gifu Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 1) Miyozakura Brewery-Junmai

May 22, 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 Gifu Prefecture as part of a batch of no less than 8 cups from 6 different Prefectures!
This particular sake brewed by Miyozakura Brewery is a junmai!

Now, why a panda? LOL

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

Clarity: very clear
Color: transparent
Aroma: discreet. Coffee beans, rice
Body: fluid
Taste: Dry and fruity attack backed with strong junmai petillant.
More complex than expected. Apricots, macadamia nuts, very dry almonds.
Lingers for a while on palate before departing on an even drier note with hints of coffee beans and roasted nuts.
Turns milder but still very dry with food. Tends to disappear more quickly then.

Overall: A better than average one cup sake for dry sake lovers.
Should marry well with any food!
Lovely design!

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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!

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One Cup sake, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: One-Cup Series 2)-Sanwa Brewery, Shizugokoro Sun Cup Honjozo

April 11, 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!

As Matsuzakaya Department Store in Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, has quite a few of them (10 breweries for 11 brands so far), I decided to start with them.
After that I will have to chase the other ones around! LOL
This is the first batch of 5!

The second one cup is called Shizuogokoro Sun Cup by Sanwa Brewery in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

Alcohol: 15~~15.9 degrees

Clarity: very clear
Color: very faint golden hue
Aroma: Assertive and dry. Rice, chestnuts
Body: fluid
Taste: Strong and dry attack backed up with pleasant alcohol. Coffee beans, chestnuts, dry almonds.
Lingers for a short while before departing on an even drier note with hints of dark chocolate.
Stays dry but with a slightly mellower note with foot.
Chestnuts and dark chocolate will make a strong comeback away from food.

Overall: Another sake for dry sake lovers. True and easy to drink although obviously conceived to be enjoyed with food.
Would do well with any heavy food, but could be even more interesting with cheese and desserts!
Another sake to bring to BBQ”S!

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