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TASTING NOTE: The epitome of purity, this sake is more subtle and nuanced than most highly aromatic Junmai Daiginjos. It is based on the ideals of Zen Buddhism and "wabi-sabi," the belief that beauty within the arts should be as understated and pure as a simple strand of pearls.  Aromas of white flower, Asian pear & steamed rice. Finishes elegantly with rich minerality and rice texture. Serve slightly chilled.

Region: Shimane

Grade: Junmai Daiginjo

Seimaibuai: 50%

Nihonshu-Do: +2

ABV: 15.5% 

Rice: Yamada Nishiki

From 18 acres of vines growing in a celebrated vineyard named the Fat Sheep.* This is in the adjacent commune of Saint Fiacre, which is the smallest of the 23 communes in the Sèvre et Maine AC and one with some of the best grape- growing land. The rocky gneiss soil here is thin, between 6-14 inches deep, in a seam of amphibolite, a greenish metamorphic rock. The vines were planted between 1930 and 1986, and average more than 50 years old. The meager soil and old vines on this small hill give naturally low yields, averaging 45 hl/ha. After spontaneous fermentation, the wine rests on its lees in underground tanks for twelve to fourteen months. Ripe, round, concentrated and intensely mineral, this wine can age beautifully, developing aromas with bottle age that are a cross between Riesling and Pinot Blanc.

From one of the most famous and sought after Sake breweries in Japan!

TASTING NOTES: A soft sake with complex flavors of honeycomb, pear, cream, roasted almonds and nougat, softer aromas of pear blossom will emerge as the sake opens in the glass.

Region: Ishikawa Prefecture

Quality Grade: Junmai 

Seimaibuai: 65%

Nihonshu-Do: -4.0

Rice: Yamada Nishiki

Alcohol: 15.5%

Made with yeast extracted from the Sanuki olive native to the region, this hyperlocal sake showcases the best of Kagawa in a one-of-a-kind bottling.

Juicy notes of musk melon, white flowers and green pear with hints of starfruit, grass and salinity.

Region: Kagawa

Grade: Junmai Ginjo

Seimaibuai: 55%

Nihonshu-Do: N/A

ABV: 14%

Rice: Sanukiyoimai

This high-end Kōchi-style Daiginjo is made just once a year in small batches, showcasing the brewery's dedication to craftsmanship. The rice is sourced from the Tojo region, considered one of the best for sake rice in Japan. After a slow fermentation process lasting 35 days at low temperatures, the sake is aged just below freezing for several months to achieve a soft texture and deep flavors while retaining bright, fresh, and citrus-like qualities.

This sake presents a fresh collection of aromas, including cherry, papaya, mango, cantaloupe, persimmon, simple syrup, and condensed milk. On the palate, it is light, balanced, bright, and refreshing, with flavors of Asian pear, green apple, grapefruit, cantaloupe, and lime, leading to a quick and dry mineral finish. ​

Region: Kōchi Prefecture​

Quality Grade: Junmai Daiginjo​

Seimaibuai: 30%​

Nihonshu-Do: +3​

Rice: Grade A Yamada Nishiki from Tojo​

Alcohol: 15%

Komasa Gin is produced by Komasa Jyozo in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, a distillery with roots going back to 1883 and strong ties to shōchū tradition. The gin is built on a rice shōchū base and uses local botanicals, especially the Sakurajima komikan, a very small mandarin orange grown in volcanic soils of Mt. Sakurajima, which give its fruit a unique sweetness and aroma.

Tasting Note:
The nose opens with bright tangerine and mandarin peel aromas, softened by floral hints of violet and a faint rice grain presence. On the palate the citrus carries through,  sweet orange notes mingle with juniper and coriander, balanced by mild herbal spice and a subtle earthiness. The finish is smooth and lingering, leaving citrus zest and spice echoes with just a touch of warming grain underneath.

The nose on this “once in a lifetime” masterpiece is an amazing collection of rose petals, cream, raisins, bananas, and cotton candy aromas. This sake wasn’t built; it evolved into a superb Daiginjo standing on the shoulders of both the Kimoto and Shizuku style of sake brewing. Throw in 4 years of aging, and you get a complexity not found in most sake. Fruit-forward, full-bodied, rich, and complex, it drinks you more than you drink it. Look for ripe persimmon, raisin, marshmallow, nougat, and woody elements that grow in a wine glass, and feel more aged as the fluid warms. "Heavenly Flower" drinks like rich liquid umami, especially in a white wine glass. This is not your dainty and elegant Daiginjo sake. It is a brew that is in the upper stratosphere of the sake-drinking world. Not to be missed in your lifetime!

With the small amounts produced, the years of aging needed to produce each bottle and the centuries of experience crafting sake, Kikuhime has become one of the most renowned and sought after sake in the world, prized by chefs and restaurants for its nuanced pairings, and by collectors who enjoy the subtleties that develop over the years. 

BY or “Brew Year” references that unlike the extended aging for most Kikuhime this Daiginjo is released in the same year it was brewed to showcase its vibrancy. A complex, bold and dry sake. Has the fresh melon notes associated with highly polished sake, but contrasted by a big structure and chewy texture that broaden the flavor and make it exceedingly complex. Pairs beautifully with a broad range of food, excellent with simple preparations of white fish and vegetables but bold enough to pair with fatty tuna, pork and richer flavors.Can be consumed now to enjoy vibrant fruit or if aged will continue to develop earthy tones.

Region: Ishikawa Prefecture

Quality Grade: Daiginjo

Seimaibuai: 50%

Nihonshu-Do: N/A

Rice: Yamada Nishiki

Alcohol: 17.5%

In the northern part of Niigata Prefecture, there is a lagoon named “Fukushimagata”. Fukushimagata Lagoon is where the magnificent Gozu mountain range is reflected on the surface of the lake, and is renowned for its wintering swans. Among the top 100 most beautiful natural landmarks in Japan. 

Region: Niigata Prefecture, Japan

Quality Grade: Junmai

Seimaibuai: 65%

Nihonshu-Do: N/A

Rice: Takane-nishiki

Alcohol: 16%

This undiluted natural drip junmai daiginjo made with the kimoto method is Daishichi’s superlative sake. This sake was created by reviewing all processes in sake making and taking them once again to a higher level, as if ascending on a spiralling staircase. The result is the ultimate sake.

Complex, with a vigorous, animated vitality, and a completely satisfying balance. Beauty that surpasses the imagination. I recommend a long decant. Tastes amazing a week after opening.