I'm sure most people have seen sake either in a store or behind the bar of a restaurant, many have been tempted to try it but are not to sure what it is. Well help is on the way! Dating back to the 3rd century, the use of alcohol has been written in acient texts of the Japanese. Mostly used for its spiritual enlightenment and religious ceremoines, sake has been the drink of choice.
Sake is composed of two main ingredients: rice and water and thats it! Many people consider sake to be a rice wine but in fact it follows a more similar process to beer than to wine almost making it a rice beer. Most of the sake rice contains starch which in turn leads to superior taste and drinkability. Water is extremely important in that most breweries will use groundwater or well water because of its higher quality. There are about 80 different types of rice used in sake and they all have their own characteristics.
Here in the store we are always looking to add new and interesting sakes to our self. There have been more and more people coming in and asking about sake and we are trying our best to satisfy the demand. I have picked out 3 sakes that I have personally tried and feel as though they give a good representation of the different types of sake.
Tozai Living Jewel: 720ml $21.99/300ml$12.99
Made from the Koshihikari rice this sake falls in the Junmai grade. The Junmai grade means that the rice has been polished to atleast 70%(to remove impurities) and offers aromas of tangy and ripe fruit. A clean and smooth finish makes this sake easy to pair with a wide range of foods.
Tozai Snow Maiden: 720ml $18.99
Made from Gohyakumangoku and Gin-Ohmi rice, the Snow Maiden is refered to as a "Nigorizake" or cloudy sake. It becomes cloudy due to the rice sediment that is left behind in the bottle. Brighter fruit and more rice can be see that gives way to a good long finish.
Rihaku Wandering Poet: 720ml $33.99
Made from Yamada Nishiki rice this sake moves up to the Junmai Ginjo grade. The rice is polished to 55% and is brewed at lower temperatures using more traditional techniques. This sakes has a more elegant and floral armoa that has a crsip flavorful finish.
-Chris O'Brien
Sake is composed of two main ingredients: rice and water and thats it! Many people consider sake to be a rice wine but in fact it follows a more similar process to beer than to wine almost making it a rice beer. Most of the sake rice contains starch which in turn leads to superior taste and drinkability. Water is extremely important in that most breweries will use groundwater or well water because of its higher quality. There are about 80 different types of rice used in sake and they all have their own characteristics.
Here in the store we are always looking to add new and interesting sakes to our self. There have been more and more people coming in and asking about sake and we are trying our best to satisfy the demand. I have picked out 3 sakes that I have personally tried and feel as though they give a good representation of the different types of sake.
Tozai Living Jewel: 720ml $21.99/300ml$12.99
Made from the Koshihikari rice this sake falls in the Junmai grade. The Junmai grade means that the rice has been polished to atleast 70%(to remove impurities) and offers aromas of tangy and ripe fruit. A clean and smooth finish makes this sake easy to pair with a wide range of foods.
Tozai Snow Maiden: 720ml $18.99
Made from Gohyakumangoku and Gin-Ohmi rice, the Snow Maiden is refered to as a "Nigorizake" or cloudy sake. It becomes cloudy due to the rice sediment that is left behind in the bottle. Brighter fruit and more rice can be see that gives way to a good long finish.
Rihaku Wandering Poet: 720ml $33.99
Made from Yamada Nishiki rice this sake moves up to the Junmai Ginjo grade. The rice is polished to 55% and is brewed at lower temperatures using more traditional techniques. This sakes has a more elegant and floral armoa that has a crsip flavorful finish.
-Chris O'Brien
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