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 stressful social events, but it’s also a very important part of the New Year’s tradition. In keeping with this, I decided to save a very special bottle for the evening.
This is a very special limited edition Junmai Daiginjo from Sumikawa Shuzo. It was put out in autumn and I grabbed a bottle as fast as I could. It came in a pretty nifty pleather bag for that coveted “premium feeling,” but honestly it was what’s inside that I was looking for.
Aiyama is a very rare sake rice, once grown exclusively by a single farm in Hyogo prefecture and still only available to a handful of kura. It has a very full, balanced character and in the hands of a very good brewery it can make some fantastic sake. Sumikawa is luckily a very, very good brewery.
This sake is the definition of balance. The flavors come in subtle waves, introduced by a smooth melon aroma. You get an initial mild sweetness that is boosted by a full umami note that quickly gives way to the very pleasant sourness. It was like drinking a premium melon juice…only alcoholic!
It really opened up at about 10 degrees celsius, so the pleasure only increased as you kept drinking…and frankly I could have kept drinking this one all night.
Worth every yen of its premium price of about 5,000 yen, I’d say, though not something I’d splurge for every week.
Yamaguchi Sake 
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