Sake, Soju, Plum Wine

Jokigen Junmai Sake Green Label — Yamagata Prefecture, Japan

Sakata Shuzo has been brewing sake in Yamagata Prefecture — in the Tohoku region of northern Japan — for generations, drawing on the soft, mineral-pure waters of Sakata and the cold mountain climate that makes Yamagata one of Japan’s most celebrated sake-producing regions. The brewery’s Jokigen label (“good mood” in Japanese) is a fitting name for a sake built around pleasure, generosity, and the kind of fruit-forward character that makes it as welcome at the casual table as at the considered dinner.

The Green Label Junmai is brewed from Hyogo-grown Yamada Nishiki rice — the undisputed king of sake rice — milled to 70% and fermented with Jokigen’s proprietary house yeast. Yamada Nishiki is prized for its large grain size, low protein content, and exceptional ability to develop glossy texture and tropical fruit character during fermentation. At SMV +2, this is technically dry, but the lush, fruity aromatics and medium-full body give it a richness and generosity that belies the numbers. An atypically fruity Junmai — and all the better for it.

Clear and bright in the glass. The nose is vibrant and inviting — fresh toasted grains, lush tropical fruit, and a lift of muscat grape. On the palate it is medium-full bodied with a beautiful glossy texture, flavors of fresh apple, muscat, and ripe stone fruit, and a soft but dry finish that keeps it food-friendly and endlessly sippable. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

• Brewery: Sakata Shuzo, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan
• Style: Junmai
• Rice: Yamada Nishiki (Hyogo), milled to 70%
• Yeast: Jokigen House Yeast
• Water: Sakata Soft Water
• Sake Meter Value (SMV): +2 (dry)
• Acidity: 1.6
• ABV: 15%
• Size: 720ml
• Tasting Notes: Toasted grains, tropical fruit, fresh apple, muscat grape, glossy texture, soft dry finish
• Best Paired With: Grilled fatty salmon, roast chicken, Thai red curry, yakitori, miso-glazed vegetables

Yamada Nishiki rice. Yamagata soft water. A Junmai that rewrites what “dry” can taste like.

Winemaker Description 

If you've ever encountered a "warm sake" skeptic, heat up a bottle of this Kenbishi "Kuromatsu" and prove to them that warm sake can be one of life's greatest pleasures. With the right amount of heat (around 104°F), hints of cashews, rice, caramel emerge. This 180ml bottle is designed especially for the microwave – remove the cap and heat for 20 seconds.

One cup sakes were first introduced during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and are perfect for taking on a picnic, a game, or alongside takeout.

Gyokusendo Shuzo Mukade Nigori Ginjo — Gifu, Japan

Gyokusendo Shuzo is a small, artisan brewery nestled in Gifu Prefecture, in the heart of the Japanese Alps. The brewery draws its water from the legendary springs of the Yoro Mountains — a source celebrated for centuries for its exceptional purity and soft mineral character, long considered among the finest brewing waters in Japan. It is this water, combined with locally grown rice milled to 50% and the delicate Ginjo fermentation process, that defines the Mukade style: refined, aromatic, and unlike any nigori you have encountered before.

Nigori sake is unfiltered, allowing fine rice sediment to remain in the bottle — giving it a characteristic milky appearance, a silky texture, and a gentle richness that sets it apart from clear sake. The Mukade Nigori Ginjo takes this tradition and elevates it: fermented at low temperatures with Yeast 601 to develop the floral, fruity Ginjo aromatics, then left unfiltered to preserve its natural texture and depth. The result is a sake that is simultaneously elegant and indulgent — dry on the finish, yet lush and enveloping on the palate.

Cloudy and luminous in the glass, with a soft ivory hue. The nose is delicate and floral — white peach, lychee, rice blossom, and a whisper of cream. On the palate it is silky and medium-bodied, with a gentle sweetness that gives way to a clean, dry finish. The Yoro mountain water is felt throughout: soft, pure, and seamlessly integrated. A sake that rewards both the curious newcomer and the seasoned enthusiast.

• Brewery: Gyokusendo Shuzo, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
• Style: Nigori Ginjo — Unfiltered, Dry
• Rice: Locally grown, milled to 50%
• Yeast: 601
• Sake Meter Value (SMV): –10
• Acidity: 1.5
• ABV: 14%
• Size: 720ml
• Tasting Notes: White peach, lychee, rice blossom, cream, silky texture, dry finish
• Best Paired With: Tebasaki barbecue chicken wings, spicy red curries, tempura, soft cheeses, oysters

Yoro mountain water. Ginjo precision. Nigori soul. Sake at its most quietly extraordinary.

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.

Jokigen Junmai Ginjo “Red Label” — Sakata Shuzo, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan (720ml)

Jokigen — meaning “good mood” in Japanese — is the flagship sake of Sakata Shuzo, a celebrated brewery in Yamagata Prefecture known for producing some of Japan’s most expressive and food-friendly sake. The Red Label Junmai Ginjo is built on a foundation of Oyama Nishiki rice — a specially developed sake rice created by a group of Toyama farmers who chose Sakata Shuzo as the brewery best equipped to unlock its full potential. Milled to 55%, brewed with Jokigen’s proprietary house yeast and Sakata’s famously soft local water, the result is a classically fruity Junmai Ginjo with a subtle savory quality that sets it apart from sweeter expressions of the style. A model of the Yamagata school: layered, balanced, and deeply satisfying.

The nose opens with fresh pear, cherry blossom, and ripe apple — bright and inviting. On the palate, the sake is medium-bodied and elegant with bold notes of stewed black cherry, orange zest, and a clean savory finish that lingers with quiet complexity. At 16% ABV with a near-neutral SMV of +1 and acidity of 1.5, it is dry enough to pair with rich, umami-forward dishes while remaining approachable and pleasurable on its own.

“The Jokigen is a model Junmai Ginjo, with bold notes of cherry and apple balanced by savory undertones. Classic Yamagata style with its subtle layers of fruit and light sweetness. Made from specially grown Oyama Nishiki developed by a group of Toyama rice farmers looking to develop the ultimate sake rice.”

• Brewery: Sakata Shuzo, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan
• Style: Junmai Ginjo
• Rice: Oyama Nishiki, milled to 55%
• Yeast: Jokigen House Yeast
• Water: Sakata Soft Water
• SMV: +1 (near-dry)
• Acidity: 1.5
• ABV: 16%
• Size: 720ml
• Best Paired With: Grilled duck breast, miso-marinated black cod, maguro sashimi, richer seafood and umami-forward dishes

A model Yamagata Junmai Ginjo from one of Japan’s most respected sake breweries — Jokigen Red Label is the benchmark for what Oyama Nishiki rice, brewed with precision and purpose, can deliver in a glass of sake.

Producer Description 

This sake is a reflection of the brewery's director Masahiko Touda, who dubs himself a fungi maniac. His goal was to brew a sake that would pair with mushrooms. Notes of dried apricot, orange rind, and sweet miso enhances the earthy, deep flavors in the Kinoko Parcel.

We enjoy this sake at room temperature in a wine glass to enjoy its fruitier aromas, and warm in a guinomi to take in the more savory flavors. Touda-san hunts for mushrooms all year, exclaiming, “In Japan, mushrooms can be found throughout the year and are part of our nature and life. May the Fungi be with you!" 

Producer Description 

Kawatsuru translates to “river crane” and comes from the sighting of a crane in the river behind the brewery. Crane of Paradise is described as “umakuchi,” a combination between sweet, dry and umami flavors. The perfect summertime sip!

Juicy notes of grapefruit and freshly cut grass, with a hint of salted pineapple. Crisp, dry finish with an almost effervescent energy behind it.

Try with Pizza with prosciutto/speck or smoked salmon with cream cheese.