Sake tasting

[Kitadatedenka]

After evening Court at WW, there was in informal sake tasting, sponsored by The Hime and I on the green. Here is what we had and what the various tasters thought:

1. Hakutsuru

4th bottle down
www.hakutsuru-sake.com/content/01.html

This used to be my favorite back when the only available to me were this and Fu-ki. We had an opened bottle, and though that it might have gotten skunky, but the fresh bottle was just as bad. It is now known as 'ditch-water' in Northshield.

2. Gekkeikan

www.gekkeikan-sake.com/product.cfm?type=domestic

I had expected this to be pretty awful, as I've tried their (and I try to say this with a striaght face) 'plum wine'. But it wasn't bad. Quite mild, sort of a bidweiser of sake. Nothing notable.

3. Otokoyama

likely the junmai export
otokoyama.hokkai.or.jp/english/goods_d/index.html

I received this as a gift. It was quite good, with a nice, strong flavor, and not too much sourness on the finish. I'll defiitely get some again.

4. Kinsen plum

www.takarasake.com/products/plum.htm

I don't much care for grape wine with natural plum flavor, as I prefer the stronger taste of real plum wine, but this wasn't too bad as the genre goes. We used it in half-measure to cleanse out palates.

5. Sho Chiku Bai

probably the light
www.takarasake.com/products/sake.htm

I've recently been able to get this around town. Quite basic in taste, between the Gekkeikan and Otokoyama in strength of taste.

6. Napa Saki

www.liquorama.net/browseproducts/Napa-Saki-Sake.HTML

An interesting, rather sweet and fruity sake. Apparently made in the US. A slightly licorice scent.

7. Sato no Homare

www.esake.com/Store/bin/US-lineup/Sudo-USA/sudo-usa.html

Another gift. This was definitely the most discussed bottle. Strong licorice taste initally. Strongest taste overall. Nothing like the other bottles at all. Good for showing that there's as much differences between sakes as any other type of alcoholic beverage.

Hmm, I thought we had 8 bottles, but perhaps not, or I'm forgetting one.

[Takeda Sanjuichiro]

Were they served chilled or warm?

I've found with Otokoyama if it is properly chilled it has barely any taste, but a nice warming sensation, not unlike good vodka, but not so much "burn". It is also good warmed, but the flavors are much more perceptable.

[Kitadatedenka]

Given the facilities, all were at room temperature -- but that room was pretty warm already ;D

[Saionji Shonagon]

5. Sho Chiku Bai

probably the light
www.takarasake.com/products/sake.htm [\quote]

The Takara Sake plant is just of I-80 and University Avenue in Berkeley, CA. ;->

M.

[adarael]

Suggested brands - that is to say, 'my favorites':

Hakkaisan: Junmai ginjo (I think). Very smooth, marginal aftertaste. Medium dryness, but quite crisp. This is the sake I drink most often, for most any occasion. Best served with cold soba, in my opinion.

Mu: Junmai-daiginjo. Damp, with an oddly sweet aftertaste. Very low acidity, and tends to feel like it's evaporated from your mouth shortly after taking a sip. Hard to find, usually, but well worth the price when you can get it. Seems to work best with very hot foods, as long as they don't involve curry. Curry udon and Mu is an interesting combo, but not particularly complimentary. Scallop nigiri (especially with a layer of lime salt between the meat and the rice), on the other hand, is a fantastic combo.

Oni-Koroshi. I had to try this one when I heard the name, because any more-expensive-than-dirt-cheap sake called 'demon hunter' is interesting to me. Not disappointing in the least. I don't know what type it is... but I *can* tell you it's good warm or cold, though room temperature is a bit 'eh' - I think it loses something. Extremely dry. Like, mind-bogglingly dry. Good with damn near anything. This is my 'travelling sake' - I.E. if I want to make someone drink something good, want to give a gift, etc. Probably will be carrying this to damp or wet event sites quite regularly, when camping. Because more people need to try it. At least, if they like dry sake.