Sake, Soju, Plum Wine

Our Notes

Rand Sieger, 67Wine: Kimoto Sake is a traditional style relying on the use of native rather than cultured yeasts.  This gives the sake a slightly richer, earthier character.  Kurosawa brewery in Nagano prefecture, makes this classic style of Kimoto that features a medium body and lightly mushroomy, earthy undertones.  Its rounder body and earthiness make it an excellent pairing for medium-fatty fish like yellowtail.  

Winemaker Description 

Made using the Kimoto brewing method, a rare process, Kurosawa Junmai Kimoto sake is approachable with notes of dried pair and coconut custard.  It is medium bodied and dry with fruity undertone that complements it perfectly.  Enjoy cold or warm.

Kurosawa Junmai Kimoto Sake is a finely balanced and savory sake with vibrant aromas of banana, mango, and subtle spice. Its smooth, medium body reveals layered flavors of caramelized apple, coconut custard, and honeyed fruit with a hint of smokiness. Complex yet harmonious, this versatile sake pairs beautifully with a wide range of dishes and showcases the depth of the traditional Kimoto brewing method.

Winemaker Description

Enjoy the flowery and expertly-balanced Dassai 39 Junmai Daiginjo's pleasant and addictive notes of ripe pineapples, mangoes, apples and pears.

Memo Summary Notes

Dassai (meaning "Otter Festival") is the brand that effectively revolutionized modern sake. While your wines are defined by soil and sun, this sake is defined by purity and precision.

Each grain of Yamada Nishiki rice (the "King of Sake Rice") has been polished down until only 39% of the original grain remains. By removing the outer layers of the rice (which contain fats and proteins), the brewer reaches the pure starchy heart, resulting in a cleaner, more floral, and more elegant profile.

Winemaker Description 

Kurosawa Brewery has been making sake with traditional methods in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture since 1858. Creamy textured sake, with fruity notes of pineapple and lychee. 

Nigori or "cloudy" sake leaves in some of the rice solids to give sake sweetness and texture. Delicious on its own, but pairs well with spicy Chinese or Thai dishes. Serve chilled. 

Winemaker Description

Herbaceous with hints of grapefruit and a light earthiness. Good acidity, mineral driven, well-balanced with a clean, medium finish. Delicious with tempura, full flavored fish and shellfish, fresh green vegetable dishes, and coconut-based Asian dishes. A flavorful base for stocks and marinades. This versatile sake can be served warmed, room temperature or chilled. It is aged for approximately 6 months to achieve its mellow flavor. 

Simple with aromas of rice and melon.  Serve chilled.

Winemaker Description 

Looking for a creamy and sweet dessert-type beverage you can drink after a meal, eliminating the need to indulge in a heavy dessert? Our Sho Chiku Bai Nigori Silky Mild offers the perfect way to end the evening. With a blend of fruity flavor and satisfying sweetness, our Sho Chiku Bai Nigori Silky Mild is unlike any sake you've enjoyed before. Take an adventure and purchase our Nigori sake today!

Nigori Silky Mild emits the fruity aromas and flavors of ripe banana, vanilla, melon, strawberry, and creamy sweet rice custard. Slightly sweeter than Sho Chiku Bai Nigori Crème de Sake, its milky-white appearance previews the characteristically full, smooth palate of the nigori sake type.

Winemaker Description 

Prefecture: Niigata • ABV: 15-16% • Rice: Goyaku Mangoku milled to 65% • Sake Meter Value: +6 • Acidity: 1.3

• Takes the concept of ‘everyday sake ‘ to new heights
• Dry, clean, light, notes of hazelnut and toasted rice.
• Can be served chilled, room temp or warmed
• Gohyaku Mangoku and Koshi Ibuki rice milled to 65%

While breweries love to showcase their premium ginjo styles Kirinzan take immense pride in their entry level ‘futsu-shu’ meant for everyday drinking. They use Gohyaku Mangoku and Koshi Ibuki sake rice polished to 65%, beyond requirements for even the premium honjozo grade. All rice is sourced directly from small farmers in the local  agricultural cooperative, none farther than five miles from the brewery. Made in the house style, it is dry, clean, light bodied, well balanced. Notes of hazelnut and toasted rice that makes it excellent both chilled or gently warmed.

Memo Summary Notes

This is a Futsushu (regular sake), but don't let that label fool you. In the hands of Kirinzan, this is a premium "daily" sake crafted with local Gohyaku-mangoku rice and soft mountain water. It is designed to be the ultimate companion to food—never competing with it, only enhancing it.

Winemaker Description

The most traditional style sake. Perfect pair with Mildly seasoned dishes. Character: Smooth, well balanced and full body. Dry/Sweet: +3 (medium dry) Texture: hard, crisp Aroma: mild, complex Suggestions: Serving: room temper to warm Pairing food: mildly seasoned Alcohol: 16%

Producer Description 

The clear nectar contained in this gorgeous blue bottle will impress upon you a gentle, fruity aroma and a light dry finish.

A charming aspect of Kikusui Junmai Ginjo is that that it draws out the inner flavors of accompanying dishes, however there is no single style of cuisine with which it absolutely must be paired. A fine choice for restaurants and beginners to sake.

Winemaker Description 

Ginjo is a special reserve connoisseur class of sake. Most sakes are brewed with rice that has been milled 30%. For our Ginjo we use rice that is polished over 50%. Additionally, we use a special strain of yeast that allows for fermentation at a cooler temperature. The result of the slower, longer process is a silky-smooth, rich and fruity flavor. Delicate, dry and silky smooth with a texture that is soft and intriguing! Serve chilled, perfect by itself or with lightly seasoned foods! 

The brewer uses rice that is polished over 50%. Additionally, they use a special strain of yeast that allows for fermentation at a cooler temperature. The result of the slower, longer process is a silky-smooth, rich texture and a fruity flavor.

Winemaker Description 

The meaning of “JUNMAI” represents the sake that is made with “Rice” and “Water”. Junmai is one of the popular categories of all time. It is the standard style sake with tasty steam rice notes and umami.

• Aromas: Subdued and earthy. You’ll find notes of steamed rice, bamboo, and a hint of dried straw, with a faint whisper of honeydew melon.

• Palate: "savory". It has a medium body and a smooth, mellow texture. You’ll taste roasted nuts, umami-rich grains, and a touch of mineral.

• Finish: Crisp and bone-dry. It cleanses the palate instantly, making it the ultimate food companion.

It compliments well with any type of food. This Junmai is great at room temparature or even chilled, however warming it slightly will definitely bring out the best quality of this kind; the mellowness and richness.

Kikusui Junmai uses the 100% Japanese Rice from Niigata. Niigata Prefecture is best known to produce World Class quality rice in Japan.

Carrying 130 years’ worth of history on their shoulders, the Kikusui Sake Company is a brewery that fought to survive - and which ultimately flourished - in Niigata Prefecture. The name "Kikusui" is a reference to a Noh theatre play, wherein eternal life could be gained by drinking the dew (Sui) from the petals of chrysanthemums (Kiku) growing in secret pools on a mountain peak.

In 2004 they established the Kikusui Sake Research Institute in an effort to both raise the bar on the quality of their offerings and wrestle with concepts such as enjoyment of sake, and sake culture itself. 

Producer Description 

Smooth and earthy, notes of toasted brown rice. Excellent with a range of food from sushi to yakitori and gyoza

Gohyaku Mangoku and Koshi Ibuki rice milled to 58%. Serve chilled or warmed
This is a true gutsy Niigata style sake, smooth and earthy, with notes of toasty brown rice. When chilled it makes a great companion for a sushi platter or gyoza dumplings, but when gently warmed it blossoms into the perfect accompaniment for yakitori, grilled salmon or roasted yellowtail.

A blend of local rice varietals Gohyaku Mangoku and Koshi Ibuki both milled down to 58% then treated with the S-3 yeast to produce a mildly fragrant and clean sake with light earthy qualities. 

Winemaker Description 

• Prefecture: Hyogo •  ABV: 12.5% •  Rice polished to 70% • Yeast: Proprietary •  Water: Mineral rich ‘Miyamizu’ spring water • SMV: -20 •  Acidity: 1.4

• A delicate, silky, unfiltered nigori sake. Off dry with a touch of sweetness but balanced at 12.5% ABV.
• Aroma of lily flowers and cantaloupes, smooth and creamy texture, flavors of Muscat grape and strawberries with a lingering finish.
• Rich and delicious, this pairs well with big flavors: spicy foods, BBQ, curries and even ice cream.

Rand Sieger, 67 Wine: This is the quintessential Junmai Daiginjo Sake. Junmai Daiginjo is made from highly polished rice making it clean, aromatic, and delicate.  The elegance of this sake is the perfect pairing for light, delicate fish like flounder, red snapper, or sea bass. 

Brewery: Nippon Seishu • Prefecture: Hokkaido  • Rice: ‘Suisei– local Hokkaido rice milled to 45% • Water: Soft spring water • Yeast: Kyokai #1801 • Sake Meter Value: – 2 • Acidity: 1.3 • ABV: 15%  

• One of the first sake made from Hokkaido’s native ‘Suisei’ rice variety. Low starch content allows for clean and dry sake with excellent structure.
• Light aromas of sweet steamed rice, medium bodied, creamy texture with light notes of Muscat, finishes crisp and structured.
• Meant to pair with the abundant seafood local to Hokkaido. Best with simply prepared dishes where ingredients shine instead of heavily seasoned cuisine.

Producer Description 

Like other sake in the Hakurakusei line, this sake is brewed to be supremely food friendly. With an aroma that whispers of banana and a zippy, citrus-like acidity, this junmai ginjo can bolster savory cuisine or walk hand-in-hand with sweeter foods such as Japanese “nimono” dishes.

It’s produced using a little known rice variety, Miyagi prefecture’s Kura no Hana sake rice, that’s been milled to 55%. Serve chilled.

Winemaker Description

Dassai "23" is the sake that defines Dassai. It is made with rice that has been milled so that only 23% of the original size of the grains remains, this is the highest degree of milling of any sake in the world. Going to this extreme allows us to create a sake like no other, a sake that is the pinnacle of refined elegance, subtlety, and delicate flavors and aromas.

To craft the ultimate Junmai-Daiginjo sake, we polished down Yamada-Nishiki rice to 23%. Delivering delicate floral aromas with a palate reminiscent of honey and an elegant lasting finish. We will be donating a portion of the sales of the Dassai Beyond and Dassai 23 series to medical professionals. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

Light and easy drinking sake named after Japan’s colorful koi fish that represent good fortune and luck. This sake represents the combination of vibrant colors, patterns, and shimmering scales that have earned Japanese koi fish the moniker “living jewels."

Our Professional Review

67Wine.com Rand Sieger | Light, soft sake with notes of banana, citrus and Asian pear.

Producer Description 

The brand was named Toyo Bijin, or “Asian Beauty,” by Sumikawa Brewing Company’s founder in honor of his late wife.

This particular brew gives an aroma red apple that fades to an almost nutmeg spice. It is a very dry sake, said to be “strong enough to kill a devil.” Be prepared for this but also enjoy its decent umami retained from the Yamadanishiki rice used in its brewing. 

Winemaker Description 

Renowned for its depth and complexity of flavor, Dassai Blue works exclusively with the “King of sake rice” Yamada Nishiki to produce Junmai Daiginjo, the highest grade sake in the world.

Our Type 50 is bottled three different ways to highlight not just the versatility of the rice, but also the exceptional level of craft that goes into every expression of Dassai Blue.

Tasting Notes: Aromas of pineapple and honeydew open to pineapple, lemon and sweet almond with a subtle caramel finish  Highest Grade | Junmai-Daiginjo sake Best Served: Chilled, 41 degree F (5°C) or below 

Memo Summary Notes 

The Dassai Blue 50 Junmai Daiginjo is the flagship entry-level sake from the state-of-the-art Dassai Blue brewery in Hyde Park, New York. Unlike the sparkling version we discussed earlier, this is a "still" sake (available in both pasteurized and unpasteurized Nama versions) designed to show the pure potential of New York spring water combined with premium Yamada Nishiki rice.

Producer Description 

Beniikko is an unique Honkaku Shochu distilled from 100% Beni-Satsuma sweet potatoes. Unlike the most shochu that has been produced with Kome(rice)Koji Beniikko is made with Imo(sweet potatoes)Koji. This is the secret to the magnificent rich taste and smell. 

From nose to palate, from beginning through lengthy finish, this shochu shows the flavor of well-salted, red-skinned potatoes that were gently boiled in water and a dash of vineger until dry, then broken up with a fork until fluffy.

Serving Suggestions: Slightly chilled, room temperature or to emphasize the savory aspects, warm.

Rand Sieger, 67Wine: This is a heady sake with deep, rich umami flavors and bright acidity, perfect for matching the richness of fatty fish like otoro, salmon, or mackerel.  The honjozo style relies on the addition of a small amount of brewer's alcohol to create a smoother, lighter sake with heightened aromatic complexity.

Winemaker Description 

Are you always on the lookout for the next delicious dessert wine to accompany your meals? Our 750ml plum drink variety could not be a better choice! With all the distinctive flavors you look for in a fruit-flavored sake, our sweet KOSHU Plum sake finishes off dinner with a taste to remember. You can serve it cold at the end of the meal, or try one as a drink right before you dig into your dinner. Either way, you get a refreshing beverage your guests will ask for again and again.

Intense, appetizing aromas of candied plum and cherry. The palate is sweet, but not cloying, with concentrated flavors of plum, black cherry and almond, and a lingering finish.

The KOSHU PLUM is a decadent, complex plum 'sake', ideal as an aperitif or dessert drink.

Winemaker Description 

Kamoizumi balances sweetness, acidity, astringency and the savory sake flavors like no other. The style exemplifies the elusive flavor "umami" perfectly. This is a new level of sake production. Very few have achieved the heights of complexity offered by this unpasteurized, undiluted and aged sake. After 2 years at 5° Centigrade it developes rich, layered savory character without loosing a sense of freshness. This sake is designed to be aged further in a cold cellar or wine fridge. Enjoy cold, at room temperature or over a single ice cube.

The Maegaki family started out as rice farmers who became landlords eventually sake brewing at the onset of the modern era in 1910. In 1965, Kamoizumi became one of a pioneering group of ten breweries who committed to junmai sake production at a time when heavy-handedly adding brewers alcohol to maximize profits was typical.

Kamoizumi released their first Junmai in 1971 and few have taken a bolder standing on developing a true house style than them. Their sake has an attitude: bold and full-flavored, yet with drinkability that are the hallmarks of technical mastery. Many of Kamoizumi's sakes are aged and final blending is done with great care. The Kamoizumi sakes pairs well with meat dishes and full flavored cuisine.

Winemaker Description 

Golden yellow. Honey on the nose. Sweet honey, almond and stoney fruit flavors with nice acidity. On the rocks, with club soda, gin or in your favorite tea. 

Winemaker Description 

Kurokame Is A Surprising Imo Shochu Made With 'Purple' Satsuma Sweet Potatoes. These Potatoes Have A Robust Reddish Purple Skin, But Are A Pale Yellow Inside. It Is Distilled Traditionally In Earthen Pots (Kame) Using Black Koji (Kuro Koji). Thus The Name, Kurokame ? 

Or Black Stone Pot.

Kurokame Has A Surprisingly Neutral Nose. Imos Tend To Smell Like Fresh Dirt In A Good Way. This Imo Smells More Subtle. Almost A Roasted Essence. The Initial Palate Is Spicy With A Rich Sweetness. And Then The Roast Hits. A Roasted Wheat Flavor. The Roast Holds Along With A Hint Of Sweet Spiciness Throughout the Finish.

Producer Description 

Junmai Ginjo (at least 40% of rice grain polished away). 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.

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.

A natural match for sweet, succulent shellfish like lobster and scallops, but surprising pairings like bittersweet chocolate work, too.

Producer Description 

Crafted from the finest sun ripened ume from Wakayama, this sake based umeshu is bursting from the glass with ripe ume flavors, bright acidity, and a refreshing sweetness.

Producer Description 

Dreamlike mist in a glass graced with aromas of white flower, pear, and anise. Silky texture with a citrus fruitiness heightened by a delicate effervescence.

Producer Description 

Chiyonosono's Sacred Power was crafted with Kyushu Shinriki rice (their own house-cultivated variety) and Kumamoto yeast. The Seimaibuai value is 55%, meaning 45% of the grain was polished away. 

This is a rich, mellow, full-flavored sake with aromas of hay, lemongrass and tropical fruits. On the silky palate, those fruits couple with accents of saline and savory umami flavors, finishing with uplifting brightness and acidity. Enjoy with selections from the raw bar, sushi and sautéed greens and veggies.

Winemaker Description

Dry and crisp, the flavors are dominated by mixed nuts, fresh cut green grass and other earthier flavors. Mediumbodied with a rich mouthfeel, followed by a lengthy and dry finish. Pairs well with hearty grains, mushrooms, beef, lamb, and BBQ sauce. 

Producer Description 

This famous brand, called “Demon Slayer,” tastes nothing like its name, unless you can slay demons with sweetness. It is a clear Junmai Daiginjo with a delicate aroma of ripe fruits, velvety texture, and finishes on a sharp, crisp note. Its elegance makes it stand out as a delightful sake. Warm it up to broaden the already delicious aroma.

Memo Summary Notes 

Wakatake Junmai Ginjo Demon Slayer Onikoroshi Sake is a standout offering that blends rich tradition with modern appeal. Crafted using high-quality rice and pure water, this sake boasts a smooth, clean taste with delicate fruity notes and a hint of umami. The Onikoroshi (meaning "demon slayer") label adds a unique and playful twist, referencing its bold character that cuts through like a sword. With its well-balanced profile, Wakatake Junmai Ginjo is perfect for both sake connoisseurs and newcomers, offering an accessible yet refined drinking experience.

Winemaker Description 

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.

Try with salad with carrot ginger dressing, coconut crab curry or spring pea & mint gazpacho. 

Our Professional Review

A unique expression of sake made with olive yeast.  Beautiful white fruits and floral notes backed by lovely herbal and savory notes.

Winemaker Description 

Miho-san revived Hattanso rice, an extinct heirloom breed from the Akitsu region in Hiroshima, by devoting over 10 years of her life to learning how to grow it and brew with it. One of the few female brewery owners and "Toji" (brewmaster), Miho Imada mills the rice for this sake less than most Junmais because she believes it results in the best expression of rice flavor, balance, and complexity.

An amazing oyster pairing, as Hiroshima has more oyster beds than anywhere else in Japan and influences the sake. Also try it with red curry and ginger steamed clams. 

Our Professional Review

Earthy, bold and zesty with accents of lemon and apricot.

Producer Description 

This savory sake is inspired by local legends of Niigata's annual fox-bride festival. Local lore tells of mysterious lights that appeared on nearby Mt. Kirin in the distant past, which are claimed to be the lanterns carried in the fox-bride procession. With a 50% polishing rate, this sake could technically qualify as a Junmai Daiginjo, but the savory notes and food pairing versatility identify more with the style expected from Junmai 

Intense aromas of grilled nuts, pistachio, and a hint of white chocolate. Ripe honeydew notes finish crisp with a hint of lingering sweetness.

One of the best meat pairings in the portfolio. Try with duck, fig-stuffed pork loin, or black cod with miso glaze.

Winemaker Description 

This sparkling was made with an in-bottle secondary fermentation process without any added sugar. It is well-balanced with a pleasant sweetness derived from rice and refreshing sharpness from the fizz.  

Tasting Notes: A fruity aroma reminiscent of green apples and Japanese 'Wagashi' treats. Some sweetness, moderate fizziness, and a refreshing crisp finish Highest Grade | Junmai-Daiginjo Nigori sake Best Served: Chilled, 41 degree F (5°C) or below.

Memo Summary Notes

The Dassai Blue 50 Sparkling Nigori is a standout release from the Dassai Blue brewery in Hyde Park, New York. This sake represents a major milestone for the brand, as it is the first sparkling cloudy sake they have produced entirely in the United States using traditional Japanese methods.