An unofficial guide to Yamaguchi Prefecture and its nihonshu
Rather than do a regular old tasting note, review, or event update, I thought I'd take a look back at what this year was like for me in my sake journey. 2019 was a fairly big sake year for me. I led my first tasting class back in January, and did my first work translating... Continue Reading →
An ode to a perfect sake.
Koshu, or aged sake, is a tricky thing. It's a big, popular topic right now, and everyone is talking about how amazing it can be, but it's also kind of a mixed bag. It can be funky, and off-putting, and sometimes downright undrinkable. One I tried was described as having notes of soy sauce, earth,... Continue Reading →
This blog focuses on two things, mostly: Jizake in general (i.e. small local sake breweries), and Yamaguchi in particular. Today's post, however, has nothing to do with either. A colleague on a recent business trip invited me to visit his neighborhood of Nada in Kobe to visit some sake breweries, and how could I say... Continue Reading →
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 →
Yamaguchi Sake 