Friday, July 16, 2010

Summer Liqueur Tasting!!!

The spring tasting was a big hit...
So we are back this weekend with a Japanese Liqueur Tasting!
Ume-shu, Yuzu-shu, Natsu-mikan, and much much more!

If you are in town please stop by!


Sendai Summit post coming soon!

Meishu no Yutaka staff

Carlin

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

2010 Sendai Sake Summit

I will be attending the Sake Summit in Sendai on July 7th.
A gathering of Sake makers and sake stores; the Sake Summit is a great way to get a good look at a wide variety of sake, and to exchange info with other sake stores in Japan.
This will be my second time attending the Sake Summit (the first being last year together with my wife) and my first time there on my own, the only white boy in a sea of Sake experts (^_^;.

The biggest event at the Summit will be a 100+ bottle blind tasting.
I don't know how many people out there have gone up against a 100+ bottle tasting, but it is one heck of a challenge. (Although listening to the stories our company president tells about 300+ bottle tastings, makes the Summit sound like a walk in the park.)

This year they introduced a new section to the summit in which the participants where to pick a bottle of sake (from any maker, participating or not), and write tasting notes for it, and send it in with their registration. I picked Nagano prefecture's, Daishinshu Shuzo's, Restricted lable Kozuki (香月) Junmai Ginjo Naka Gumi. One of my favorites. Daishinshu is not participating in the Summit, and I figured that this was a good opportunity to spread some love for one of my favorite breweries.

If I had taken the time to read the BIG RED fine print that was right under the part that said I was supposed to send in the tasting notes, I wouldn't have been surprised when about a week later I received a phone call asking me to send a bottle of the brew in, so that every one could taste it at the summit. Apparently they decided it would be a good idea to get some outside suggestions, and they liked what the white guy said.

So in celebration of being picked, I bring to you:


Kozuki / 香月
Junmai Ginjou Naka-gumi / 純米吟醸中汲み
Alcohol: 16% / Polish: 50%
SMV: +4

Tasting notes:
On the nose: Big nose with sweet melon and lots of rice. Slightly zesty and very fresh.

On the palate: Medium to full bodied with big rice flavors. Hints of melon continue to a very dry finish. Well balanced with a finish that cuts like a knife (In a very good way).

Other notes:
  • The Kozuki label is a very limited release brand, being that not all of the stores that carry the main Daishinshu label, can can sell the Kozuki label.
  • This sake comes in a pasteurized and nama version. The Unpasteurized (Nama) version is released around February and ends when it sells out. The pasteurized version is available almost all year. (this post is about the pasteurized version)

I will post more about the Sendai Sake Summit (with pictures) soon.

Cheers,
Meishu no Yutaka staff

Carlin