Sake Review: Hakutsuru Junmai Ginjo
These tasting notes have been compiled beginning in 2010 and are the property of the Sake Press blog. Inquiries to parties interested in publishing them elsewhere should contact the author here.
Hakutsuru Junmai Ginjo
Hakutsuru Sake Brewery is big. Very big. In fact, they brew more sake than pretty much everyone else Japan. Is this a reason to pass them by? Are they "Budweiser of Japan?"
They have been exporting sake to the U.S. for a long time, and chances are, if you have had hot sake served to you in the U.S., you might have had their futsuushu before. And tasting it, you might be inclined to believe that's all they do. Having visited their massive kura Kobe's Nada district, I can tell you that the also make some very fine, if not straightforward premium sake as well. Thankfully, they export some of it. This junmai ginjo is available in the U.S., and it is a very workable, honest sake with great value. My notes:
Prefecture: Hyogo
City: Kobe
Other: Nada
Country: Japan
ABV: 14.5%
SMV: +3
Aroma: slight vanilla note, crisp.
Chilled: light bodied and dry. A brief lingering of rice on the finish. Tight overall.
Room Temperature: Fuller body and more aroma. Vanilla again. Mild Melon.
Warmed: More fruit present, lighter bodied- less crisp.
Tasting takeaway: A great value at $13.99. This mild flavored, light, and dry sake has enough acidity to pair with lighter fare. Seafood and citrus grilled offerings.
Hakutsuru Junmai Ginjo
Hakutsuru Sake Brewery is big. Very big. In fact, they brew more sake than pretty much everyone else Japan. Is this a reason to pass them by? Are they "Budweiser of Japan?"
They have been exporting sake to the U.S. for a long time, and chances are, if you have had hot sake served to you in the U.S., you might have had their futsuushu before. And tasting it, you might be inclined to believe that's all they do. Having visited their massive kura Kobe's Nada district, I can tell you that the also make some very fine, if not straightforward premium sake as well. Thankfully, they export some of it. This junmai ginjo is available in the U.S., and it is a very workable, honest sake with great value. My notes:
Prefecture: Hyogo
City: Kobe
Other: Nada
Country: Japan
ABV: 14.5%
SMV: +3
Aroma: slight vanilla note, crisp.
Chilled: light bodied and dry. A brief lingering of rice on the finish. Tight overall.
Room Temperature: Fuller body and more aroma. Vanilla again. Mild Melon.
Warmed: More fruit present, lighter bodied- less crisp.
Tasting takeaway: A great value at $13.99. This mild flavored, light, and dry sake has enough acidity to pair with lighter fare. Seafood and citrus grilled offerings.
A big fan of Hakutsuru sake. At our tasting in Kobe, I quite liked a few of them. Solid quality!
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