Suntory Yamazaki Umeshu Tarushiage
Suntory's Yamazaki Cask Umeshu Tarushiage is produced by blending aged plum wine in whisky barrels at the Yamazaki Distillery. Characterised by moderate bitterness from the barrel aging with a refreshing taste. Rich aromas with a thickness, lingering taste. Best served neat, on the rocks, or with soda. This umeshu has aromas of stone fruits, honeydew, apricots, almonds, brioche, and malt. A rich palate with fruity sweetness of almonds, plums, apricots, and dried fruits blending with hints of Yamazaki malt. The finish provides an impression of ex-whisky barrels delivering vanilla and woody notes to the finish with a slight bitterness.
Heiwa Shuzo Tsuru-ume Suppai Umeshu
Tsuru-Ume series are brewed and blended with the long experience and the rich skill and recipe in the liquor sprits brewing works of Heiwa Shuzou brewery. The most specific idea of living in this modern world stands on the understanding of “Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability.” In this idea, the Tsuru-Ume series are hand-crafted in the concept of LOHAS style. That is why this series is not for mass production and easy consumption. You will know it when you try! Among the products produced in Wakayama prefecture, Heiwa Shuzo Tsuru-ume Suppai Umeshu is a new plum sake from Wakayama Prefecture, the plum heartland of Japan. The Heiwa Shuzō brewery has its own orchards and sticks to the principle of slow-brew. For this exquisite and full-taste umeshu, three times more plums have been used than usual in this recipe and the plums have been kept in the sake for 3 years, giving extra plum taste and aroma and making it extra sour or 'Suppai'. Cool it and enjoy it straight or on the rocks. After opening, store in a refrigerator and drink as soon as possible.
Kameman Shuzo Genmaishu
In theory it is impossible to ferment whole brown rice unless it is sprouted [which is what used to be done in ancient times] however Genmai-zake [literally - brown rice sake] means that the husk of the rice has not been polished off. Rather, the rice husk is crushed to expose the inner part of the grain to allow fermentation, while leaving the rice completely unpolished. Genmai-zake needs twice as much rice than would usually be required to make the same quantity of sake made from polished rice. This style also requires extra attention with longer soaking and steaming times. Soaking for Genmai-zake takes around 14 hours, whereas soaking for white rice ranges from 1 minute for highly polished rice to around 1 hour for less polished. This long soak time is followed by a double steaming process. During the fermentation of the Genmaishu, Shiuchi-san has to implement complicated additions of kōji rice, steamed rice and water at very specific intervals of the ferment period to to achieve the exact result he wants in the finished sake. Kameman also needs to age the sake before it is at its optimum drinking condition. It is incredibly rare to see a sake made from brown rice, with only one other brewery in Japan making a genmai-zake. The Genmaishu displays a beautiful brown sugar and roasted cocoa bean nose with a lovely balanced sweetness on the palate with tastes of ‘Christmas cake’ dried fruit and spices. Kameman have achieved the perfect balance of sweet/savoury/dry to make this a well balanced sake with great palate weight. As this sake ages it develops into even richer, more complex flavours. This is an interesting sake to match with food as it can be paired with sweet dishes with pastry, nuts and honey or can be used to match with rich ingredients like foie gras.
Attack on Titan - Beyond the Wall - Sake Set (4 )
In collaboration with Attack on Titan, the Kikunosato Brewery has released this limited edition 4 bottle sake set with the theme, Beyond the Wall. Four Japanese designers and followers of Attack on Titan came together to develop this project of five months. More than 100 animation scenes have been incorporated into the design so you can enjoy the story of the three characters - Mikasa, Levi, and Eren. Each sake in this set have different ingredients and tastes. The first character is Eren, brewed with Gohyakumangoku rice; the second is Mikasa, using Yumesasara; the third is Levi, using Yamada Nishiki; the fourth is a special release Titan Model edition also using Yamada Nishiki but with a lower abv.
White Oak Akashi Red Blended Japanese Whisky
The White Oak Distillery is located in the city of Akashi in the Hyogo prefecture. This distillery received its distillery license in 1919 but only really began using it for whisky in 1984; prior to that it mainly (and still) was used for saké and barley shochu production. White Oak Akashi Red Blended Japanese Whisky is produced from both grain and malt whiskies. A light and fruity drink with hints of almond, peach, and grape.
Afuri Ohana Junmai Nama Sake
The Afuri series from Kikkawa Jozo is brewed with water from a rain-fed spring at the foot of Mount Afuri in Kanagawa. It is naturally harder than typical sake brewing water at 150ppm in equal parts Calcium and Magnesium. These nutrients allow for extremely low temperature fermentation to develop extra complexity. Founded in 1912, Kikkawa once made rich and dry sake. The 7th generation chief brewer Masanori Mizuno took over in 2012 changing focus to a complex, robust and aromatic style balanced by ancient acid production techniques. This is a pure rice sake with a beautiful rose-pink color made using the rare Tsurubara (rambling rose) flower yeast and pesticide-free cultivated ancient rice which is also rich in polyphenols and minerals. It has a gentle and smooth taste, making it suitable even for sake beginners. While it has a sweet and floral aroma, it also offers a clear aftertaste.. Serve chilled, serve with rich dishes or as you begin your afternoon.
Afuri Ringo San no.77 Junmai Ginjo
Starting with super high quality Hyogo grown Yamada Nishiki, this sake features yeast no.77 which is very high in malic acid production (green apple note). Aromas of honeysuckle, white grape and lemon balm leap from the glass. The palate is round but transitions very quickly into sweet tart candy. There’s lots of acidity, even some astringency before the long finish suggests apple jolly rancher. A great introduction to the Afuri line.