Brewed with 100% yamadanishiki rice locallygrown in hyogo prefecture, this is an especially refined ginjo sake with a refreshingly fruity fragrance. In japan it is known as the divine drink and forms an inevitable part of festivities, traditions and ceremonies. The american heritage dictionary of the english language. Junmai sakes tend be higher in acidity, rich, flavorful and full bodied. Being undiluted genshu it retains the rich depth t. Taiyo shuzo brewerys history began when the 14 local kura merged to form one.
But junmai also means the absence of any distilled alcohol. Unfortunately, although my soy sauce is organic and my sake is junmai purerice, none of that industrial alcohol in my sake. Daiginjo, junmai daiginjo, ginjo, junmai ginjo, junmai, tokubetsu junmai, honjozo and tokubetsu honjozo. Brewed with laborintensive steps, eschewing machinery for traditional tools and methods, using highly polished rice at. Premium junmai, ginjo, daiginjo sake perfect guide sake 101 leo 01172017 if you are a beginner of sake, even if you hear junmai dai ginjo you do not understand what it is. Japanese sake with a title like ginjo or junmai is said to be a specific premium sake. Rock sake junmai ginjo reflects the ancient tradition of japanese sake with fresh taste and quality for the modern palate.
There are 8 types of premium sake with this special title. Generally junmai is a term used for sake that is made of pure rice wine without any additional alcohol. Premium junmai, ginjo, daiginjo sake perfect guide. Ginjo means a least 40% of the rice was polished away, leaving a smoother. Kagura, the oldest sake brewery in kyoto matsui sake. The nose on this brew from gunma not a lot of sake from there is a wonderful array of steamed sweet rice, cooked veggies, minerals, and wood tones.
Nestled between the mountains and the sea of japan the brewery gets it naturally filtered water from kuzuryu river nine headed dragon the junmai ginjo. There is much mystery and myth about sake, but here you can learn the real deal. Junmai ginjo, tokubetsu honjozo, tokubetsu junmai, honjozo and junmai are legally classified as premium sake in japan. Comparisons from courtney kaplan echo park sake bar. At the ginjo level they are multilayered and complex, and it is not always easy to describe their qualities in words. And this semithick ginjo is a walk on the other side. Bushido is a ginjo genshu junmai sake let us help translate. Junmai daiginjo daiginjo japanese sake vine connections. Handcrafted using ancient japanese techniques and american sensibilities, g joy is the.
Nothing is used in its production except rice, water, and koji, the magical mold that converts the starch in. Just like wine labels, sake labels tell you an enormous amount of information. Sakeone brewery nestled into oregon wine country in forest grove, the sakeone kura taps into some of the countrys best water with each premium craft brew it produces. Kikusui junmai ginjo sake prices, stores, tasting notes. Historically, it was a milling percentage of rice of 70% remaining with 30% being milled away. This brewery uses 100% dewanosato rice, with a 60% polishing ratio. The listing below has the highest quality at the top. Rihaku wandering poet junmai ginjo sake prices, stores. This includes sake made with a rice polishing ratio over 70%, made with ingredients other than the.
Although these products fall just below the ginjo category, they are nonetheless very much premium at least the outer 30% of the rice kernel is milled away. In chinese characters, it is written as an ice bamboo shoot is an inverted icicle that occurs in a cave. Kagura is a nondistilled, nonpasteurized and undiluted sake produced at the kamogawa brewery which was revived for production at the very location of the matsui shuzos establishment. This is a sake that tends to be fruity and must be polished to 60% seimaibuai. All types of sake junmaishu, honjozo, ginjo shu, and daiginjoshu can be namazake, or not. This process of starch conversion into simpler sugars e. The classic style of ginjo level sakes, which includes daiginjos, is to be a little fruity, as well. This is an easy drinking gem that has a wonderful balance of sweet and dry. Ty ku is designated junmai ginjo, one of the highest grades of sake less than 10% of all sake and uses all natural ingredients. Sake that is made up of water, koji mold, yeast and rice milled to at least 60%. My tasting note all notes please login or register to leave a tasting note. Mild and dry in taste and with a fresh, fruity ginjo flavor and full body, this is a wellbalanced sake with substantial character. Hakutsuru sake, superior junmai ginjo sake sake social.
About sake the sakemaking process sake process chart sake tools. Appetizers main dishes, this sake compliments delicate japanese cuisine or raw seafood such as oysters on the half shell. Second, ginjo level sake comes in various subclasses namely ginjo and junmai ginjo, as well as daiginjo and junmai daiginjo. Junmai ginjo ginjo sake classification levels are determined by the percentage the rice is milled before the brewing process. Jul 17, 2015 junmai ginjo is the secondhighest grade of sake, the ricebased alcoholic beverage that has become a strong symbol of japanese culture. Company name tenzan shuzo tenzan sake brewing company sake quality data ingredients. In sakata city, yamagata, local fishermen call their knife makiri, believing it can protect against evil forces which cause unfortunate events and natural disasters. Gokyo junmai daiginjos, nishiki junmai daiginjo, dassai junmai daiginjo, bochozuru junmai daiginjo.
Japanese sake eshop sake online yukinobosha junmai ginjo. Skip the white wine and shake up your usual order by trying a glass or two. One of the most important terms in the sake lexicon is the word junmai. Ototos resident sake translator courtney kaplan shares comparisons to help you decide which sake is for you if you like west coast ipas try the chiyonosono kumamoto shinriki junmai ginjo. The nose on the brew is a whispered collection of cantaloupe, white grape, sweet rice, raisin, and spring water elements. Sake silver is an aromatic junmai ginjo sake with honeysuckle on the nose and floral notes of 49. Junmai ginjoginjo flight dewatsuru habataki junmai ginjo made using loc al akinosei rice, this sake is slightly dry, with a crisp minera lity and clean. Direct translation from japanese to english is an ice bamboo shoot. It also reflects the hiroshima style, which is described as kirei, a japanese word meaning both clean and. Tropical fruit notes as well as apricot and pear uses on aaa rated yamanda nishiki rice milled to 55% isojiman has taken great care in sourcing the very best sake rice available for over 30 years, back at a time when that was not a priority. Sake, also spelled sake is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting rice that has been. Dec 01, 20 junmai ginjo tend to have more umami tasting amino acids than junmai daiginjo so pair well with fuller flavours.
Circle japan, asian grocery supermarket, japanese products and services, from fresh japanese breads, coffee and tea to a phenomenal assortment of groceries. The awards were divided into the ginjo division, the junmai. Lets jump back in right where we left off legal classifications for sake. There are eight in total, four of which were introduced in article 2.
The waiter was adept at explaining the sakes, and i ordered a really good one to share with my dad, a junmai ginjo called gissen, i believe. Yukinobousha junmai ginjo is one of the best products from this kura. If you are a beginner of sake, even if you hear junmai dai ginjo you do not understand what it is. Junmai ginjo is simply ginjo sake that also fits the pure rice no additives definition. The oldest of the 14 original local kura, has been in operation since 1635 ad. Sake is a fiendishly difficult product to produce requiring much skill, effort, premium ingredients and time. Only sake that meets the criteria established by the law of japan called liquor tax law is sold as premium sake. Dai ginjo tends to be more a floral style of sake and is polished to a minimum of 50% seimaibuai and will contain the least amount of rice. If not written, that sake is futsushu cheap, nonpremium sake. She introduced it as a lower type, probably referring to the sake milling ratio pyramid which lists the different recognised styles tokutei meisho in order of how much of the rice is milled away daiginjo junmai daiginjo are at the top with their minimum milling ratio of 50%, followed by ginjo junmai ginjo with 60% of the grain. Explore japans fascinating cuisine together with our sake sommelier luisa mehlhose and come to know the various flavours from sweet to dry and the differences between honjozo, junmai, ginjo, junmai ginjjo, daiginjo, and junmai daiginjo.
This fragrant sake should be served just a touch cooler than room temperature. It is this mixture of cultural backgrounds that has inspired the taste of makiri junmai ginjo sake. The brewing process for junmai ginjo sake is usually more labor intensive. Its subtle nature and gentle nose allow it to match nicely with shell. Like wine, sake is a varied category, running the gamut from light, inexpensive example. The size of the pure core if this type of rice is particularly large, not needing a high polishing ratio to deliver the cleanliness of high quality sake. Tasting heavensake a new francojapanese sake blended by. Ginjo and junmai ginjo class sakes must meet a rice polishing minimum of. These are not named by the brewery without permission. Created in a traditional yamahai method, this is a power ginjo with a bright aroma of orange marmalade.
Junmai ginjo is the secondhighest grade of sake, the ricebased alcoholic beverage that has become a strong symbol of japanese culture. To have a complete list at your fingertips download the sake dictionary available on. Choose from junmai, ginjo, honjozo and daiginjo styles of. Suzaku, meaning guardian of the south, refers to the mythological japanese name for the vermillion bird and is the firstever junmai ginjo shu or ginjo to be introduced to gekkeikans. Gentle ginjo flavor, refreshing taste with some sweet notes and intense aroma. Types of sake how to japan sake and shochu makers association.
Sake is an alcoholic beverage made most famously in japan. Ginjo and junmai ginjo class sakes must meet a rice polishing minimum of 60%. Japanese sake eshop sake online yukinobosha junmai. Bold, rich, full fruit and earthy flavor tones with hints of ripe melon, pear, plum, cinnamon and cardammom. To qualify as junmai daiginjo, the sake must be made with rice grains that have been polished to half their original weight. Kokuryu brewing company sake made from soft water tends to pick up subtle flavor nuances that are not detectable in the crisp, dry sakes made from mineralrich hard water. Ultimate guide to how to read sake labels saketalk. This is the perfect sake if you are seeking the quality fruity junmai ginjo.
Junmai ginjo nakaos secret although this sake is not made using the same apple yeast as the daiginjos in the maboroshi line, this junmai ginjo still shows green apple fruit. But the laws have changed, and junmai no longer requires a specified milling rate. You can enjoy the fragrance and rich savor special to kikusuis pure rice sake, as well as its lightness and smoothness. Sake classification levels are determined by the percentage the rice is milled before the brewing process. Talk about a gentle and yet elegant sake that is incredibly drinkable. Sake classification levels are determined by the percentage the rice is milled before the. Generally junmai is a term used for sake that is made of pure rice wine without. If basic futsu sake is to japan what blended whisky is to scotland, junmai daiginjo is the finest single malt. Weve tasted a range of sake styles from junmai to ginjo to find you our favourite bottles of the japanese ricebased booze. Junmai dai ginjo refers to the highest quality of specialdesignation nihonshu.
The house of gekkeikan introduces suzaku pr newswire. Junmai ginjo tasting note special brew using 100% highlypolished gohyakumangoku sake rice, which is fermented over a long period of time at a low temperature. Hakkaisan junmai ginjo this particular sake is hard to find both in japan and the united statesits so popular. Clean, smooth with a hint of fruit tones this brew drinks very even with a dry round finish. Japanese sake history 2 koji mould was first used in the nara period 710 794. In general, the more you polish or mill the rice, the more aromatically expressive the sake becomes the rice polishing rate expresses the amount remaining, so lower numbers translate to higher polishing.
Premium sake is required to indicate its rice polishing rate on the. This percentage has now changed and can be anything as long as its displayed on the sake label. Winner of the 2009 monde selection gold medal in brussels, this sake is enjoying wider appreciation from sake connoisseurs around the world. Junmai ginjo l and junmai daiginjo r its a clever product with clever positioning, acting as a gateway into the world of sake for a contemporary crowd. Thus when you see the word junmai ginjo you will deduce that this sake is.
Yamahai junmai ginjo profile lightly sweet body light serving temp chilled california rolls clam chowder lobster key lime pie. The drops dripping from the top is frozen instantly and is called by this name because it has a shape. Junmai daiginjo daiginjo sake classification levels are determined by the percentage the rice is milled before the brewing process. Rice is polished to 60% of the original size, brewed using a meticulous laborintensive process, with a little alcohol added. So a junmai ginjo shu is a ginjo shu with no added ethyl alcohol. This ultrapremium sake does not contain sulfites, preservatives or. Yes there are many out there who perceive sake to be a hard alcohol. Stores and prices for rihaku wandering poet junmai ginjo sake prices, stores, tasting notes and market data. Some ginjo shu and daiginjoshu are also junmai shu. To qualify for this prestigious title a sake must be made with rice polished to remove bran and improve taste to below 60 percent of its original weight, and must not be fortified with distilled alcohol.
Junmai ginjo is pure rice sake made with rice which has been refined to 60% or less of its original size. The waiter was adept at explaining the sakes, and i ordered a really good one to share with my dad, a junmai ginjo called gissen, i. Muromachi bizen maboroshi junmai ginjo its sake time. As natsuki stated, the japanese create a wonderful, artisan, niche product, but dont necessarily know how to translate it into the western market. Sake that is made up of rice, water, koji mold, yeast and a portion of distilled alcohol, and the rice is milled at least 50% now that you have grasped the fact that there are six major categories of sake, prepare for the idea that sake can be made in different fashions to produce more variations of sake.
Soon as you sip it, a fruit basket of apple, pear and melon spreads slowly all over your mouth. It also reflects the hiroshima style, which is described as kirei, a japanese word meaning both clean and pretty. The flavor is deep, rich and complex, with a curious earthiness and alluring smokiness, unique to the legendary rice kame no o. Pronunciation of ginjo with 1 audio pronunciation, 1 meaning, 6 translations and more for ginjo. Junmai type sake can also be thought that the taste of rice is condensed. Kawacho junmai ginjo sake rating was calculated by to be 89 points out of 100 on 6232011. Junmai daiginjo is the highest grade of sake, japans famous rice wine beverage. Ginjo sake equals premium sake premium japanese sake rice.
I was also brought up on stage to talk about my love of sake and yamaguchi in front of them all, but thats another story. The four main grades of sake are junmai, honjozo, ginjo and daiginjo. Iwc trophy winning sake tasting at japanese embassy london. Shichida junmai ginjo company name tenzan shuzo tenzan sake brewing company sake quality data ingredients.
The type of premium sake must be written on the sake label. Ginjo sake is to regular sake what single malt scotch is to regular scotch meaning its top shelf. Junmai literally means pure rice, and is made from rice, water, yeast. Clean and crisp, every sake lover has to try this at least once. Brewed with a prized heirloom rice strain called shinriki, which produces a big powerful style. Junmai ginjos are elegant and refined but still have some of the richer qualities found in junmais. Until recently, at least 30% of the rice used for junmai sake had to be milled away. Nigori cloudy sake this gives you a representation of the range of sakes and allows you to select dryer or fruitier sakes for more specificity. Dai ginjo dyeguinjaw junmai dai ginjo jyunmydyeguinjaw dai ginjo is. This sake is an abbreviation for honjozo karakuchi, meaning. Sake that is made up of rice, water, koji mold, yeast and a portion of added distilled alcohol, and the rice is milled to at least 60%. Welcome back to the third in this fivepart overview of nihonshu. Excellently balanced ginjo from a pioneer of the style. This is an important term in the world of sake, as it separates pure rice sake from nonpure rice sake.
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