All Entries
Follow via Twitter
ISake Premium Add/Read Comments
Related Posts:
South African Mishale Brandy
Bob Bob Ricard - Its Quite Nice
Tanqueray Gin / Magnum Photos Photography Competition & Exhibition
Tariquet L'Apéritif
Note in a bottle
Domaine de Lauroux Armagnac
Related:
Snooth Wine Search:
Share
Thoughts of soapy water, of biting alcohol and of paraffin should be laid to one side. For here, in this lightly frosted bottle, is a liquid at once delicate but also full of subtle, tantalising flavours. Sake occupies a complicated niche in the ranks of alcoholic drinks and not one I profess to know much about. There are the various types rice (here it is Gohyakumangoku) and differing levels of milling. Then each Saki is graded from Futsushu through to ultra-premium Junmai. The more the rice is milled, the cleaner and lighter with a corresponding delicacy of flavour the final drink is likely to be. Isake Premium has been milled to 65% which means that 35% of each rice grain has been milled away. Brewed like beer but served like wine.
Sipping a small chilled glassful a comparison with wine is hard to ignore. The flavour is initially delicate with hints of lemon and lychee, but unlike a corresponding white wine, the acidity is much lower. After a swirl over the gums the flavour explodes in a mix of fresh fruits, nuts and cooked rice all with a herbal edge. The finish, with sweet and sour notes, is quite long - tailored to the Western palate perhaps as the Japanese preference is for a short run of flavour. Alcohol 14.5%. Sake should be consumed within a year of purchase and within a few days of opening to retain the freshness and the subtly of flavour.
Yamatogawa Isake Premium from Fukushima Prefecture is available from Isake Store. This 180ml bottle is £9.99.
Sipping a small chilled glassful a comparison with wine is hard to ignore. The flavour is initially delicate with hints of lemon and lychee, but unlike a corresponding white wine, the acidity is much lower. After a swirl over the gums the flavour explodes in a mix of fresh fruits, nuts and cooked rice all with a herbal edge. The finish, with sweet and sour notes, is quite long - tailored to the Western palate perhaps as the Japanese preference is for a short run of flavour. Alcohol 14.5%. Sake should be consumed within a year of purchase and within a few days of opening to retain the freshness and the subtly of flavour.
Yamatogawa Isake Premium from Fukushima Prefecture is available from Isake Store. This 180ml bottle is £9.99.
ADD A COMMENT (4)Previous Post: Red Wine May Stop Teeth Falling Out. Next Post: South Africa Wine Production Problems.
Comments
From: Ed (March 12, 2006 11:39 AM)
I've been getting into chilled saki the last few years. We've a couple of fusion restaurants down here that have saki sommeliers and if i remember a store hosting tastings. Must see if I can find this one down here.
From: Andrew (March 12, 2006 5:08 PM)
It is not something I have seen much about and can't really see it being anything other than a niche - a fascinating and sophisticated niche though. Although with the rise in popularity of sushi I would have thought there would be more interest.
From: John (February 12, 2007 11:11 AM)
There is a new thing on the market!
Red Sake!
Yes they make red sake using red rice.
It tastes more fruity then the regular one and has a lovely rose red colour.
I have seen it in Selfridges where the Isake Sommelier is doing tastings.
They are organizing one with the red sake running from 12-16 feb 2007.
Definietly worth giving a try.
From: Anna (April 5, 2008 5:37 PM)
Come and sample the new Isake Classic in Selfridges 5th -6th April 2008! From 3pm..