Norman

9.1

Banshu Ikkon “Chō-kara” Junmai, i.e., “Super-Dry”
Brewery: 山陽盃酒造株式会社 (Sanyōhai Shuzō), Shisō, Hyōgo
Rice: 兵庫北錦 100% (Hyōgo Kitanishiki)
Polish: 60% remaining
SMV (nihonshu-do): +10 (very dry)
ABV: 15%
Volume: 720 ml
Bottled: 2025-06
Style notes from the back label: soft umami with clarity and a very crisp finish; versatile across temperatures.

What to expect in the glass
• Aromatics are restrained. Think steamed rice, faint grain, maybe a hint of dried apple rather than ginjō fruit.
• Palate is lean and highly dry with a quick, clean cut. The +10 SMV puts it on the bone-dry end of the spectrum.
• Body is light to mid. Not a plush or glycerol style. If served too cold it can read “thin” and a touch bitter on the back end.

It’s dry for sure. Crisp and on the edge of bitter/sharp. The body is light and mouthfeel borders on thin but better than those others I called thin, watery and bitter. I liked this. Not staying loved but it was good and did go went with food. Has a bit of a finish that I couldn’t quite place but is what gave it the bitterness. It’s not one that just disappears. — 10 months ago

Kim Kudasik

9.0

Crisp, light, smooth and dry. Dangerous because it goes down very easy. — 5 years ago

Daniel Yoo

10

Floral not too sweet perfectly dry without that malty rice taste some sakes have — 6 years ago

MaJ CappS

9.0

With a clean smell of sweet grass, and ocean mist.

Clean, a good Sake will always have this as a descriptor. Weighty mouthfeel, hints of tropical fleshy fruits- subtlety hints of mango, banana, guanoabana. A touch of fresh cacao pod flesh. And of course the obvious flavors of rice polished to a bran free perfection. A nice, uncloying sweetness allows for ‘this wine to show through the alcohol. — 7 years ago

Daniel Evans

9.0

Grass, pine but light, sweet too. Light burn, light savory. — 8 years ago

Sardine House

9.5

Clear slightly yellow. Beautifully balanced with a well rounded umami flavour. Soft even finish. Beautiful! — 9 years ago

Norman

8.9

Delectable is giving two of the bottles from this producer the sane name. I think this is just Junmai and the black is Daijingo. Sake World 2024 Had to judge given it’s the same glass throughout the tasting but this is the lightest and probably the sharpest. I hate to say acidic since these glasses mess you up but it was the least favorite. — 2 years ago

S.S. Mandani

9.1

Fresh, light, crisp, and nice savory, melon qualities.

Crushable and great value — 3 years ago

Jamie Lauder

9.7

From Hyogo prefecture. Honda Shoten Tatsuriki Daigingyo. Ripe melon and golden pear on the nose.
This nihon-shu has a viscous quality. Yellow plum, ripe honeydew melon, apricot with a spicy cinnamon finish. We had duck soba with local Matsutake mushrooms and green onions charred in duck fat with this sake. — 6 years ago

Anna Vocaturo

9.2

Very clean taste, slightly sweet, delicious with Hamachi and citrus 🌸 — 7 years ago

John Saul

9.3

Very sweet and easy to drink — 8 years ago

Ken Cohen

9.1

full body and dry — 9 years ago

Yuri

9.1

Hot discussion about epidemiological networking in Osaka, with Honjo-sensei and Sobue-sensei at my favourite Kappo:-) — 9 years ago

with Kaori

romo

9.3

This is skin-contact marsanne WeatherEye Vineyard @Delectable Blue label 41 days on skins drinks like a white, not an orange. Peach Hi-C. — 2 years ago

Jamie Lauder

9.1

This is beautiful Nihon-shu.
Super ripe green melon, persimmon, ripe apricot and nougat.
With a semi-viscous quality, creamy texture and mouthfeel. There is acidity here but it’s hiding behind the richness.
We had seared Japanese beef from Iwate in northern Japan.
It tasted like meat flavoured butter.
— 3 years ago

Joe Hakim

9.0

Paired well with cooking dinner — 5 years ago

Ned Gray Creed

9.4

That’s how you finish a long work day. Sake, sandwiched between Negronis. — 7 years ago

with Tyson

Naoki Kondo

9.0

Maroyaka- Tokyo local — 8 years ago

Andy Tam

9.2

Creamy sweet rich melon taste. My go to brewery — 8 years ago

Aaron Tan

8.9

Herbal and sorta fruity — 9 years ago