Saké
Gekkeikan Sake (USA)
Black & Gold Saké
Bought Freeport Wine March 2021. Very smooth, dry, Fine, light floral flavor. Buy again — 3 years ago
SakéOne
Moonstone Asian Pear Saké
Lovely peach flavor, only a tad sweeter than I’d prefer — 9 months ago
Kuheiji
Eau du Désir Yamada Nishiki Junmai Ginjo Sake 2019
I'm always so impressed with the saké scene in Malaysia. This is a bottle that I'd be hard-pressed to find listed in any Australian restaurant, and if any at all, none for a fair price I bet. Clearly great things are happening behind the scenes here, with Kuheiji's Eau Du Désir popping up on the shelves of my local grocery (I don't exactly live in the epicenter of Malaysia).
Straight out of the bottle, you get the impression that Kuheiji has just bottled a fresh unadulterated ferment. That tingly sensation of CO2 on the nose, before it gets hit by ester-heavy ferment aromas, with the light spritz on the palate, and zestiness in the finish - gosh, it really feels like a ferment. It's just so fresh and lively, as it should be with each vintage of the Eau Du Désir. Air brings more clarity to the flavors of juicy melons, apples, and interestingly, guava. There's a sweet almost malty-core here, which is balanced out by the crisp slightly-bitter finish. So easy to drink! — 2 years ago
Dassai Sake Brewery
Dassai 23 Junmai Daiginjo Yamadanishiki Sake
After a line-up featuring the likes of Aramasa, Yamamoto, Tatenokawa, and Ohmine, the Dassai 23 Centrifuge came off a little boring. As JT puts it, “It’s what I’d expect saké to taste like.” Then chef Alex added the darnest comment, “Doesn’t it remind you of soju.” Hahahaha.
Rich, round and heavy, with an almost sterile quality to the finish, it definitely wasn’t up my alley but I got to commend how lovely the silky textures were. Solid though - Dassai is Dassai, like how Dom is Dom. Reliability at scale. — a year ago
Hakkaisan Sake Brewing
Kowakura Shikomi Junmai Daiginjo Saké
It might have been the ambiance/glass/carafe they used to decant that has me giving this a higher rating than others but I think it’s accurate. Right out of the bottle it’s light, crisp and clean. As it opens and warms the flavors come out. I’d call it a light, sweet melon but if you told me it was an apple/pear sweetness I’d be hard pressed to disagree. Great bottle. Polished to 45% — 2 years ago
SakéOne
SakéMoto Premium Junmai Saké
Paired well with cooking dinner — 2 years ago
Austin Hohnke
I don’t drink a lot of saké and certainly not of this quality.
Rich and undiluted (genshu). Fermented in the ancient Yamahai style. Full of vanilla and cocoa with a soft smokiness in the background. Quite savory. Per a recommendation we paired with flank steak and it elevated the dish beautifully. Saké packaging consistently overdelivers. — 2 months ago