Konnichi wa, Nomidachi!

This is just a quick note to let you know about our holiday schedule and our great good fortune in securing additional stock of some very special new-to-WA brews.

Holiday Season Hours of Operation
We will be open for our normal hours of operation, except where noted:
12/22-23: CLOSED
12/24: Noon- 6 pm
12/25: CLOSED -- Merry Christmas!
12/29-30: CLOSED
12/31: Noon- 6 pm
1/1/20: CLOSED -- Happy New Year!
1/2: 5- 10 pm


Holiday Sake Tasting/Supplemental Shipment
We mentioned a few special, limited availability sake last week, and though we sold out, we managed to convince our distributor to bring in some more, and we're very excited to be able to share them with you this weekend.

We will have the sake available for tasting (while supplies last), this Friday and Saturday, Dec. 20-21.  If you're unable to stop by, but are interested in ordering and reserving a few bottles, please get in touch by Noon, Thursday, 12/19.

(NOTE: The following tasting notes and explanations are from the distributor, since we haven’t yet had a chance to spend the “quality time” alone with a bottle we require to do our own notes.)

Born Tokusen Junmai Daiginjo

Brewery: Kato Kichibee (est. 1860)
Region: Fukui
Grade/Rice Polish Ratio: Junmai Daiginjo/38%
SMV: +5
Tasting Notes:  Born's Special Junmai Daiginjo, aged for a minimum of two years at 0℃.  Medium-bodied satin-like mouthfeel, and boasts the mature fragrance of grapefruits. Delightfully debonair.  If you're a fan of Born Muroka Nama Genshu or Born Gold, you already know what you're in for with this gem.  2019 Awards: Gold Medal, International Sake Challenge; Gold Medal, Sake China; Gold Medal, London Sake Challenge.

Price:  $100/720 ml (gift box included)

Senkin “Immortal Wing” Classic Omachi Junmai Daiginjo

Brewery: Senkin Sake Brewery (est. 1806)
Region: Tochigi
Grade/Rice Polish Ratio: Junmai Daiginjo/40-50%
SMV: -2
Tasting Notes:  Only 1250 cases are brewed each year of this rare treat - the Omachi edition of Senkin's "classic" series, which is made using traditional sake brewing methods. Finely textured and elegantly layered, this lively Junmai Daiginjo born from Japan's historic first sake rice displays flavors of peach, sage, melon rind and freshly husked rice. The bright, umami-rich, dynamic sake holds up well when paired with robust dishes, and it is perfect to serve alongside dishes heavy in salt, fat, brine, cream or umami.
Price: $50/720 ml

 

Senkin “Immortal Wing” Classic Kame no O Junmai Daiginjo

Brewery: Senkin Sake Brewery (est. 1806)
Region: Tochigi
Grade/Rice Polish Ratio: Junmai Daiginjo/40-50%
SMV: -2
Tasting Notes:  Senkin Classic Kame no O is part of the brewery's "classic" series - sake made using traditional brewing methods. Brewed astoundingly using 100% ancient rice Kame no O - a finicky specimen that requires 100% by-hand cultivation, and furthermore one of the few pure rice strains left in Japan. The resulting sake is delicate, smartly sharp, and maintains a balance and reverence to the uniquely wild flavor of Kame no O. Highly rated by the leading U.S. wine critic Robert M. Parker Jr., this sake is best paired with Japanese cuisine and can be served at a variety of temperatures.
Price: $50/720 ml

A very interesting article about the Senkin brewery, and the people behind the brand, can be found here.

Happy Holidays to you and yours.  We look forward to raising a celebratory glass with you soon!

Hello, Nomidachi!

Yes, this Friday is the 13th, with all its spooky, unfortunate connotations.  However, fear not, for this Friday the 13th we have some very special and delectable junmai daiginjo sake arriving to be sold in Washington for the very first time.

I was fortunate to have a sample tasting with the distributor last week, and I came away VERY impressed.  I’ve been drinking premium sake every day for years now, so while not playing hard to get or anything, I feel like it takes something special to elicit a “Wow!” during a tasting.  I uttered that expression after tasting each one of the sake mentioned below.  

(NOTE: The tasting notes and explanations are from the distributor, since we haven’t yet had a chance to spend the “quality time” alone with a bottle we require to do our own notes.  ‘Really looking forward to rectifying that situation.)

 

Born Tokusen Junmai Daiginjo

Brewery: Kato Kichibee (est. 1860)
Region: Fukui
Grade/Rice Polish Ratio: Junmai Daiginjo/38%
SMV: +5
Tasting Notes:  Born's Special Junmai Daiginjo, aged for a minimum of two years at 0℃.  Medium-bodied satin-like mouthfeel, and boasts the mature fragrance of grapefruits. Delightfully debonair.  If you're a fan of Born Muroka Nama Genshu or Born Gold, you already know what you're in for with this gem.

Price:  $100/720 ml (gift box included)

Senkin “Immortal Wing” Classic Omachi Junmai Daiginjo

Brewery: Senkin Sake Brewery (est. 1806)
Region: Tochigi
Grade/Rice Polish Ratio: Junmai Daiginjo/40-50%
SMV: -2
Tasting Notes:  Only 1250 cases are brewed each year of this rare treat - the Omachi edition of Senkin's "classic" series, which is made using traditional sake brewing methods. Finely textured and elegantly layered, this lively Junmai Daiginjo born from Japan's historic first sake rice displays flavors of peach, sage, melon rind and freshly husked rice. The bright, umami-rich, dynamic sake holds up well when paired with robust dishes, and it is perfect to serve alongside dishes heavy in salt, fat, brine, cream or umami.
Price: $50/720 ml

 

Senkin “Immortal Wing” Classic Kame no O Junmai Daiginjo

Brewery: Senkin Sake Brewery (est. 1806)
Region: Tochigi
Grade/Rice Polish Ratio: Junmai Daiginjo/40-50%
SMV: -2
Tasting Notes:  Senkin Classic Kame no O is part of the brewery's "classic" series - sake made using traditional brewing methods. Brewed astoundingly using 100% ancient rice Kame no O - a finicky specimen that requires 100% by-hand cultivation, and furthermore one of the few pure rice strains left in Japan. The resulting sake is delicate, smartly sharp, and maintains a balance and reverence to the uniquely wild flavor of Kame no O. Highly rated by the leading U.S. wine critic Robert M. Parker Jr., this sake is best paired with Japanese cuisine and can be served at a variety of temperatures.
Price: $50/720 ml

These sake should arrive at the shop by 5 pm Friday, and we plan on selling them by the glass and bottle throughout the weekend, while limited supplies last.

If you’d like to order a bottle or two (or 3 or 4 or 6 for that 10% “case” discount), please get in touch by Noon on Thursday, 12/12.