[Review] Premium Sake Tasting Event Kikizake Vol.9

Winter Sake Special with Sake Master Toshi

Just like how a full-bodied red wine is for winter and a chilled white wine is for summer, some sake are especially wonderful to drink during the cold winter. Sake Master Toshi Maeda has handpicked 6 premium "winter sake" – those sake with higher alcohol content and/or richer, fuller flavour, to warm us up today.

The line up for today (* From left to right. No.1 is still chilling in the fridge)

1. Saiya Shuzo Yukinobosha Junmai Ginjo (Akita / Serve Chilled)
– Seimaibuai 50% ǀ SMV +1 ǀ Acidity 1.5 ǀ ALC 16.0% ǀ Akita Sake Komachi Rice
– 2012 International Wine Challenge, Gold Medal Winner of the Junmai Ginjo
– Fruity fragrance of pear and honeydew melon. Clean and subtle, with a slightly dry
finish.

2. Saiya Shuzo Yukinobosha Yamahai Honjozo (Akita / Serve Room Temperature)
– Seimaibuai 65% ǀ SMV +2 ǀ Acidity 1.8 ǀ ALC 15.0% ǀ Yamadanishiki Rice
– Rich body and dry finish with a good amount of acidity

3. Fukuchiya Kasumitsuru Kimoto Karakuchi (Hyogo / Serve Room Temperature)
– Seimaibuai 58% ǀ SMV +5.5 ǀ Acidity 1.5 ǀ ALC 15.5% ǀ
Hyogo grown Gohyakumangoku Rice
– 2011 International Sake Challenge, Trophy Winner of Kimoto/Yamahai category
– Rich body and umami combined with strong acidity and dryness. Finishes dry.

4. Rihaku Shuzo Rihaku Tokubetsu Junmai (Shimane / Serve Warm)
* Toshi's favorite WARM sake.served around 45 C
– Seimaibuai 58% ǀ SMV +3 ǀ Acidity 1.5 ǀ ALC 15.3% ǀ
Shimane grown Gohyakumangoku Rice
– Quite nose with nashi pear fragrance. Gentle attack, clean and round taste on the front palate at first, then turns soft and mild. Finish dry.

5. Tosatsuru Shuzo Tosatsuru Joto Honjozo (Kohchi / Serve Hot)
– Seimaibuai 65% ǀ SMV +10 ǀ Acidity 1.4 ǀ ALC 15% ǀ Matsuyama Mitsui & Akebono
Rice
– Clean and crisp, light creamy frangrance of caramel and a hint of chestnut. Long tail of acidity after a sweetness of rice and a good amount of dryness. Great to drink hot.

6. Hamada Shuzo Shironotakumi Kome Shochu (Kagoshima / Serve on Ice)
– Rice Shochu ǀ Black Koji ǀ Single Distilled ǀ ALC 25% ǀ
– Fruity fragrance, clean and smooth touch on the palate and finishes dry and crisp.

Toshi welcomed us with a little cup of warm umeshu

No.1 with light snacks
(clockwise: edamame, Swiss cheese, charcoal soba with wasabi sesame seeds, cashew nuts and macadamia)

Passionate Sake Master Toshi giving us an informative yet entertaining lecture on sake

Movie Time

Q & A Time

Our Dessert – Amazake Toshi shared with us, his friend, Hayakawa-san's
gift from Tenryo Shuzo, Gifu

Voices of the participants

Toshi pouring "Tenryo" from Gifu for Gabriel An early Happy Birthday to Dan (birthday: 18 June)

"I've been to Maedaya before but this is the first time for me to attend a kikizake event. No.3 Kasumitsuru Kimoto Karakuchi is my favourite because it just suits my palate."
– Gabriel

"I love the food at Maedaya and so I was thinking maybe I will try joining the kikizake event, too. My favourite is No.1 Yukinobosha Junmai Ginjo because it is very easy to drink and it's not too dry."
– Stella

"I've been to kikizaka No.4 before and my fiancée got this for my birthday! I just love the body and the dryness of No.3."
– Dan

"Kanpai!!"

"We have been here (Maedaya) for so many times but it's our first kikizake event. I like No.3 the most because I think it's the best balanced sake out of the six. Personally, I love unpasteurized sake the most."
– Jamie

"I like No.3 for the same reason. I think it's smooth and well-balanced, and I really like the aroma! I quite like hot or warm sake. We will come back definitely!"
– Amber

Four cool ladies with bright smiles

"This is my 4th time because I really love this sort of sake tasting event. I like No.2 for its smoothness and the stronger taste. I think the it's a good match with the light snacks, too. No.3 has a nice balance of dryness and sweetness, and I love that."
– Naomi

"I am a fourth timer like Fiona. We just want to keep learning more about sake. I don't really like hot or warm ones but I really like the first three, especially No.1 and No.3."
– Fiona (in black)

"This is my first kikizake event. I love No.1 the most because it's chilled and light, sort of like summer kind of wine (sake)."
– Sarina

"I'm a first timer but I've heard a lot from my friends about sake so I gave it go. I like No.3 for its smoothness and No.2 for its earthiness."
– Fiona (in red)