Kyoto Insider Sake Experience

Tasting Notes

No Brand
Bottle
Rice Year PR Category
2nd Category
Polishing
%
Alcohol
%
SMV Acidity Rating Memo
1 Gekkeikan Miyakoshibori Iwai Sake Rice 2025-26 Daiginjo 50% 14-15% 3.5 1.2 3.5 4 Fruity & light
2 Matsumoto Momo no Shizuku Asahi Food Rice 2025-26 Junmai 65% 14% 4.0 1.1 3.5 3 Rich, smooth, low acid, umami
(oldest type - original)
3 Joyo Yamadanishiki 55 Yamadanishiki Sake Rice 2025-26 Junmai Ginjo 55% 15% 5.0 1.6 4 5 Fruity, pineapple
ginjo = 25-35 day fermentation @ cooler temperature
4 Eikun Kotosennen Iwai Sake Rice 2025-26 Junmai Daiginjo 45% 15% 0 1.2 4 3 Fruity, melon, medium
5 Eikun Junmai Namagenshu Gohyakumangoku Kyonokagayaki 2025-26 Junmai Namagenshu 60% 17% - - 3 3 Unpasturized. Thick, earthy
blend of rice
6 Tsukinokatsura Nigorizake
2025-26 Junmai Nigorizake 60% 17% - - 4+ 3 Unpasturized. Very cloudy, very rich, sweeter
Yeast in bottle - 2nd fermentation in bottle
7 Kinshi Masamune Tasogare 2013
2013 Junmai Jyukusei-shu 60% 16-17% -7.2 2.4 3.5 3 Dark colour, Maillard reaction 12 yrs old

Tasting Notes

Guide: Shogo Hashimoto
Kyotosakeexperience.com
Instagram: @kyoto_insider_sake_experience

Additional notes:
sake = alcohol     nihonshu = Japanese sake     dai = more     nama = raw - i.e., unpasturized.
nigori = cloudy     koji mold is used in sake, miso and soy sauce     Adding alcohol lightens the flavour.
ginjo = 25-35 day fermentation at cooler temperature vs regular sake made at higher temperature for a shorter time.
All sake, whether pasteurized or not, continues to age in the bottle. But aging not necessarily better, only for junmai type.
According to Shogo, Tokubetsu Junmai, which is a special junmai, is best for sushi.
SMV - SMV stands for Sake Meter Value and it measures the density of sake compared to water, in order to decide whether each sake is dry or sweet.

My favorite was Junmai Ginjo, #3

FOODS
#1 – beans
#2 – chicken w. Teryaki sauce
#3 – pickled ginger
#4 – pickled radish
#7 – cream cheese – together with junmai jyukusei-shu are 2 sources of Maillard reaction foods.

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