Reviews

  • Junmai,  News,  Nigori,  Reviews,  Sake

    Tozai Snow Maiden

    SAKE OVERVIEW This sake is named after Hanako, or “Flower Maiden”, the most famous Japanese koi fish that lived for 226 years in the snowy, icy waters at the foot of Japan’s Mt. Ontake. TASTING NOTES Bright and fresh with a lovely ricey and fruity combination. Flavors of honeydew melon, raw pumpkin, and radish. Creamy texture and full body. FOOD PAIRING Try with spicy foods, crab, pork, or spicy tuna poke. Grade: Junmai NigoriSeimaibuai: 70%Rice: Gohyakumangoku & Gin-OhmiNihonshu-Do: +6.5Acidity: 1.6Alcohol: 14.9%Sizes: 12/300ml / 6/720mlSuggested Retail Prices: $10 / $17.5 BREWERY Kizakura Brewery

  • Junmai Ginjo,  News,  Reviews,  Sake

    Fukucho Moon on the Water

    SAKE OVERVIEW This vibrant showstopper is beautifully soft and feminine, brewed by one of Japan’s only female brewery owners and tojis. Brewed in Hiroshima, the birthplace of Ginjo sake, which is known for remarkably soft water that requires expert skill to use in sake production. Once mastered, it enables a highly controlled, precise fermentation, resulting in vibrant fruit aromas. This Junmai Ginjo is bottled immediately without charcoal filtering. TASTING NOTES A fruity nose of lime and melon with bold hints of fennel, white pepper and allspice. The flavors gravitate to ripe cantaloupe and anise while the minerality from the soft water is evident in the finish. FOOD PAIRING A natural…

  • Junmai Ginjo,  News,  Reviews,  Sake,  Toji

    Mana 1751 True Vision

    SAKE OVERVIEW This sake is a true expression of Fukui, using local yeast, bottled from a single tank, and highlights the pristine, nationally famous water source. TASTING NOTES An aromatic and expressive yamahai with notes of tart yogurt, mushroom, honey, banana and steamed rice. FOOD PAIRING Try paired with pork adobo, spicy and creamy rock shrimp or cumin spiced lamb chops. Grade: Yamahai Tokubetsu Junmai Muroka Genshu Seimaibuai: 60%Rice: GohyakumangokuNihonshu-Do: +3.5Alcohol: 16.5%Size: 720mlSuggested Retail Price: $40

  • News,  Reviews,  Sake,  Traditions

    Easter Sake Pairings

    Spring is in full bloom and Easter is just around the corner. We’ve gathered a few of our favorite Easter pairing suggestions to help get you ready for the holiday. Don’t miss discovering which sake pairs best with your favorite Easter treats below. Tozai Snow Maiden Sake Flavors of honeydew melon, raw pumpkin, and radish. Creamy texture and full body. Try paired with a white chocolate bunny. Fukucho Moon on the Water Sake A fruity nose of lime and melon with bold hints of fennel, white pepper and allspice. Try paired with dark chocolate eggs. Mana 1751 True Vision An aromatic and expressive yamahai with notes of tart yogurt, mushroom, honey, banana…

  • Junmai,  News,  Reviews,  Sake,  Toji

    Sake to Me

    Everyone loves bubbles, however, sadly, not everyone loves sake. But mix the two together and it is a whole new ballgame! Sparkling sake has less alcohol than regular sake and tends to be slightly sweeter, which may win over sake-phobic friends. We like Fukucho Seaside Sparkling Sake (MSRP $33 for 500ml) and love that it comes from one of Japan’s few female brewmasters, Miho Imada. The citrus and apple notes pair well with seafood, such as shrimp, and mild cheeses, like burrata. SAKE OVERVIEW Sparkling sake made through secondary fermentation in bottle. Toji Miho Imada uses a little white koji in this sake, resulting in citrus notes and refreshing finish.…