Living the Sake Life in Yamaguchi, Japan
I usually focus on Yamaguchi sake for this, but that's not because it's better or anything. It's just that I'm local, and I love to support local business. At the same time, I'm more than happy to drink sake from anywhere. Especially, as in this case, when it's a gift from a friend! Chikushino Daiginjo.... Continue Reading →
The Yamaguchi Sake Awards 山口県新酒鑑評会 is the prefectural step on the way to the Japan Sake awards 全国新酒鑑評会 and this year they were held on April 14. I was able to go to the awards dinner on the evening and got a chance to taste a gathering of all the best sakes in the prefecture,... Continue Reading →
Shoraku Daigjinjo Nama, Seimaibuai 35% This is a limited edition daiginjo from Chomonkyo brewers Okazaki Shuzo. I'm a sucker for tobingakoi (aka tobindori, shizuku, fukurotsuri) sakes, and Chomonkyo is always a pleasure, so this was a no-brainer for me. In the glass, this sake has a very clean aroma with hints of rice and a... Continue Reading →
This sake is one of Hatumomiji's most premium brands. The name is a reference to the Kaiten "manned torpedoes" planned at the end of World War 2, and built and tested at a base on a small island off the coast of Shunan city. It's a sad local story, and one that lingers over the... Continue Reading →
Location: 山口県岩国市今津町3-18-9/ 3-18-9 Imazumachi, Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Open to Public: Yes, by appointment Cost: 200 yen for disposable clean suits Production: 1,000 Koku (18,000 liters) produced from September through March On Saturday, January 29th I had the perfect excuse opportunity to visit Yaoshin Shuzo, makers of Gangi, when a friend came to the area and the... Continue Reading →
On January 19, I was finally able to get a sake tasting class together, after two failed attempts last fall. 6 drinkers gathered at Kokushu 国酒 in Shunan, Yamaguchi, where we tried a total of for sakes, before going on a tour of nearby Hatsumomiji Shuzo. Kokushu is a sake specialty izakaya with a great... Continue Reading →
New year's in Japan is a big deal, more like Christmas in the USA than anything. Most everyone gets a long holiday, families gather together to celebrate the day, and lots of sake is drunk. Lots and lots of it. This is a time when sake is not only a nice way to lubricate those... Continue Reading →
Saturday, October 27th was Shunan city's 2nd annual Jizake Yokocho local sake Fair. 16 sakagura from all over Yamagata were there offering their wares, including some rarities I've never seen anywhere locally. A group of friends and I went to give our lovers a workout, and it was pure fun. None of the kura were... Continue Reading →
This rare non-junmai daiginjo from Shimonoseki Shuzo (JP Only) is my first from them, and a truly great introduction indeed! It seems these days that junmai is the word to use for brewers, and I honestly can't remember how many alcohol-added daiginjo I've seen on shelves. The only other one I've drunk is the Tobindori from... Continue Reading →
