Sake, Soju, Plum Wine

Brewery: Sakata Shuzo • Prefecture: Yamagata • Rice: Hyogo-grown Yamada Nishiki 70% • Yeast: Jokigen House Yeast • Water: Sakata Soft Water • Sake Meter Value: +2 • Acidity: 1.6 • ABV: 15%

• A fruity Junmai sake in the classic Yamagata style
• Aroma of fresh toasted grains mixed with lush tropical fruit. Medium full body, beautiful glossy texture, notes of fresh apple, muscat grape, soft but dry finish.
• Pair with slightly richer dishes: grilled fatty salmon, roast chicken, Thai red curry.

An atypically fruity Junmai, Jokigen brings out all the glossy texture and tropical potential of Yamada Nishiki rice to produce a sake with vibrancy and character.

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.

Brewery: Gyokusendo Shuzo • Prefecture: Gifu  • Rice: Locally grow rice milled to 50% • Yeast: 601 • Sake Meter Value: – 10 • Acidity: 1.5 • ABV: 14%  

• A remarkably elegant nigori with delicate soft sweetness, silky texture and floral Ginjo aromas.
• Crafted from spring water from the Yoro mountains, famous as a base for clean and soft textured sake.
• Pairs well with richer dishes like Tebasaki barbecue chicken wings, spicy red curries.

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.

Brewery: Sakata Shuzo • Prefecture: Yamagata • Rice: Oyama Nishiki milled to 55% • Yeast: Jokigen House Yeast • Water: Sakata Soft Water • Sake Meter Value: +1 • Acidity: 1.5 • ABV: 16%

• A classically fruity Junmai Ginjo with a slight savory quality to balance.
• Aromas of pear, move into a medium bodied sake with , notes of stewed black cherries, orange zest and a savory finish.
• Pair with richer dishes like grilled duck breast, miso marinated black cod or maguro sashimi.

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. They chose Sakata Shuzo as a brewery that could bring out the full potential of the rice.

Winemaker Description 

Damso Blueberry Soju is infused with a vibrant tasting blueberry flavor, a refreshing twist on a classic. Damso Blueberry Soju is a neutral spirit with natural and artificial flavors. 

Winemaker Description 

Delicate and nuanced, this autumnal release from Kozaemon sees a period of aging over summer before its release, yielding a sake with subtle maturity and refinement. A natural pairing for all specialties of autumn like squash and slow braised meat.

Winemaker Description 

This gentle Yuzushu from Kochi Prefecture offers a splendid nose of lemon peel, honey, fresh lemonade, elderflower, and sugar aromas, capturing an elegant and refined essence.

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 Descrption 

This Junmai Ginjo is made from Dewasansan rice, a descendant of the iconic Omachi heirloom strain. This rice is exclusively grown in Yamagata prefecture and helped to pave the way for Yamagata to receive the first geographical indication (GI), or appellation, in all of Japan.

Grassy, floral aromas with green apple and melon. The finish is soft and smooth.

An excellent pairing with teriyaki salmon, sauteed snow pea shoots or maple glazed ham.

Producer Descrption 

Local, all-natural aodani plums are soaked in Tozai sake for over three months resulting in an incredibly balanced sake with tart, juicy acidity on the finish. Plum blossoms are known as "The Flowers of Peace" in Japan and symbolize growth, renewal, and awakening.

Aromas of almond and marzipan followed by plum, apricot, and cherry on the palate. The soft tartness and acidity balance the finish with a slightly sweet smoothness.
Pair with pulled pork, glazed salmon, or desserts like peach cobbler. 

Producer Description

Dreamy Clouds is quite special because its milling rate of 59% technically qualifies it as Junmai Ginjo grade - a rare quality level for a nigori (cloudy) sake. It presents an opportunity to move Nigori drinkers forward to new styles of sake.

Bright and lean in the mouth, unlike many Nigori, and the impact is chewy with sweet rice flavors intermingling with the nutty and slightly fruity characteristics of the sake.

Pair with spicy noodle dishes, risotto, or white fish.

Our Professional Review

Nutty, dark plum, tangy and citrus tinged finish.

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.