Our Sake of the Year for 2022 is Akabu Gokujo No Kire Junmai Daiginjo, a special brew that has blown everyone away. “Gokujo No Kire” means “best of the best cut.” It comes from the brewery, Akabu Shuzo, located in Japan’s northern prefecture of Iwate.
This is a sake made of a special rice grain Yuinoka, whittled away to 35% of its original size, brewed slowly in the coldest months of January and February. Pressing is done at temperatures of -2 degrees, bottled right away and stored at sub-zero freezing temperatures. The aim of this intense polishing is to get at the heart of the rice grain, otherwise known as “shinpaku”.
The nose is elegant and demure. On the palate the drinker is greeted with notes of dried pineapple, fresh pear and Fuji apple. This is a sleek sake with good concentration and focus, followed by a broad midpalate feel, and lingering dry finish. Enjoy this with a variety of white fish and even uni, and also don’t be afraid to experiment with different dishes like risotto, making this a harmonious combination. We feel quite confident to say that if you do not like this sake, then maybe sake isn’t for you!
PREFECTURE: IWATE
RICE VARIETY: YUINOKA
RICE POLISHING RATIO: 35%
YEAST: IWATE KOBO
ACIDITY: NONDISCLOSED
SMV: NONDISCLOSED
ALCOHOL: 15%
The nose is elegant and demure. On the palate the drinker is greeted with notes of dried pineapple, fresh pear and Fuji apple. This is a sleek sake with good concentration and focus, followed by a broad midpalate feel, and lingering dry finish. Enjoy this with a variety of white fish and even uni, and also don’t be afraid to experiment with different dishes like risotto, making this a harmonious combination. We feel quite confident to say that if you do not like this sake, then maybe sake isn’t for you!
PREFECTURE: IWATE
RICE VARIETY: YUINOKA
RICE POLISHING RATIO: 35%
YEAST: IWATE KOBO
ACIDITY: NONDISCLOSED
SMV: NONDISCLOSED
ALCOHOL: 15%
Overall Rating
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