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Last post 2 weeks ago by Palama. 166 replies replies.
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What sake you drinking 10,000?
Palama Offline
#1 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,461
1 - Tenranzan Junmai Ginjyo

Smooth, a little fruity. Abunai.
frankj1 Offline
#2 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
Palama wrote:
1 - Tenranzan Junmai Ginjyo

Smooth, a little fruity. Abunai.

You are very good! gotta get me some.

Hey Conan, I know nuttin' 'bout no sake, but have read a bit about polishing the rice etc and that the warmed up stuff in Japanese chain restaurants (which I avoid) is uniquely offered to us ignorant mainlanders. First, is it true that warm sake is for tourists?

I am very interested in trying the real stuff. What can you suggest?
Palama Offline
#3 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,461
Hey Frank;

I'm no real expert on sake but appreciate a good one when I eat sushi. So this much I know:

The more polished the rice is, the higher quality sake it produces.

Of the different grades of sake I believe it goes like this:
Best - Junmai Daiginjo
Very good - Junmai Ginjo
Good - Junmai

I also have had very good sake without the Junmai precursor; however, what, why, how they're different, I don't know. I know we can Google it but trying to do this from memory so you might wanna verify before you walk into a sushi bar and order some. However, pretty sure if you order anything with a Ginjo grade or better you won't go wrong.

Cold or warm? Typically if you order warm sake it'll be a lower grade one. I used to only drink warm sake until I went to Japan and had cold Morita sake. I was working for Sony at that time and at the opening dinner of the line-up meetings they did the whole bust the wooden cask and pour it into a glass that was inside a square wooden cup (...you drank from the corner until it was gone and then you drank from your glass...) ceremonial thing. It was the first time I had cold sake and it was really good. However, even with that said, when it's cold here (...when the temp is 65 degrees or less...), I'll order warm sake to take the chill out. Yeah, yeah, coldness is all relative.

A bit of caution: sake is like tequila...it'll sneak up on you. You'll be drinking, eating, talking, drinking, laughing, eating, drinking, talking, drinking and then you'll have to stand up to go to the bathroom and then WHOA! Buzzed out. So go easy at first and enjoy the food with a little bit of drink and ease yourself into the world of sake.

Hope this helps a little and when you do finally try it, lemme know how it went.
Whistlebritches Offline
#4 Posted:
Joined: 04-23-2006
Posts: 22,127
The last time I drank sake I was in Sasebo Japan.We got hammered,few hangovers have ever been that severe.Ranked right up there with a Mojo hangover I suffered in the Philippines.


I'll pass.


Ron
Palama Offline
#5 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,461
I've had that same hangover...not fun Brick wall But those were the days when I drank warm sake like it was going out of style.

Older and (...a little...) wiser now so don't over do it with sake...or just about any alcohol...anymore.
Whistlebritches Offline
#6 Posted:
Joined: 04-23-2006
Posts: 22,127
Palama wrote:
I've had that same hangover...not fun Brick wall But those were the days when I drank warm sake like it was going out of style.

Older and (...a little...) wiser now so don't over do it with sake...or just about any alcohol...anymore.



Bourbon is my kryptonite........it just goes down so easy.Outside of an occasional Scotch,bourbon is about all I drink anymore.No more tequila,vodka or gin


Ron
ZRX1200 Offline
#7 Posted:
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,476
I drank sake once, don't remember if it was good.
tyyler82 Offline
#8 Posted:
Joined: 09-21-2012
Posts: 2,816
Sake bombs!
dharbolt Offline
#9 Posted:
Joined: 08-03-2013
Posts: 6,931
Mmmm... Sake, going to have to go get me some sake tonight now...




the wife thanks you Sarcasm
Palama Offline
#10 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,461
2 - Born Gold - it's a Junmai Daiginjo grade and boy, is it smooth! Abunai.
Palama Offline
#11 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,461
3 - Kamotsuru Tokusei Gold - smooth
4 - Koten Sharaku - could drink this A-L-L night!
frankj1 Offline
#12 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
thanks for the reminder. Gotta get involved here.
GhostTown Offline
#13 Posted:
Joined: 09-27-2013
Posts: 971
Love sake. Stoked to see this thread.
frankj1 Offline
#14 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
see Conan? This must be kept alive. The pleasures of life to be shared. I know you get it.
05busa Offline
#15 Posted:
Joined: 01-02-2007
Posts: 97,187
I have one in a dragon/tiger bottle, im not sure what brand it is
Palama Offline
#16 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,461
frankj1 wrote:
see Conan? This must be kept alive. The pleasures of life to be shared. I know you get it.


Thanks Frank.

And for the record, it's my wife that is really the main reason this thread exists. We had some of that Born Gold sake the night we took our daughter out for her b-day dinner and after taking a sip, my wife wanted to get a bottle of it. We eventually did and then she was talking to her boss about it and for Christmas she gave her a bottle of the third sake.

I don't wanna say my wife is hooked on sake but she's hooked on sake. Brick wall

Then again, could be worse...she could be hooked on cigars. d'oh!
05busa Offline
#17 Posted:
Joined: 01-02-2007
Posts: 97,187
Hehe
T Z Offline
#18 Posted:
Joined: 05-28-2008
Posts: 3,120
3 - Kamotsuru Tokusei Gold - smooth
haven't had it in years, but was my favorite
Thrilla sent me a bottle in the secret santa was excellent. wish I would have written down the name
frankj1 Offline
#19 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
#5

just got home with my first purchase, it's cooler than room temp but not quite "slightly chilled" as recommended yet.

Label says:
Tozai
Junmai Nigori
"Snow Maiden"
Premium Japanese Saki

on the back
Grade-junmai
Profile-bright, ricey/fruity, good body, long finish
Prefecture-Kyoto
Rice-Gohyakumangoku & Gin-Ohmi

there's more info showing what percentages of the bottle are ginjo, daiginjo etc.

It's cloudy, milky, thicker than I expected, lady in the shop said it would be a little fruity, told me it would be even better slightly chilled so I'l revisit later tonight.

I have a new hobby!


Palama Offline
#20 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,461
Applause
05busa Offline
#21 Posted:
Joined: 01-02-2007
Posts: 97,187
I need booze
TMCTLT Offline
#22 Posted:
Joined: 11-22-2007
Posts: 19,733
I have a question....how long does Saki keep? Was given a Saki set if you will a number of years back, it contains two bottles of Saki and two glasses / cups in a very nice wooden box presentation. There is absolutely no English language on the pkg. so I know nothing about it. The bottles seem to be almost like stoneware....one red in color the other white. The whole box then slips into a brown snap down carrying case. Anyone familiar with this???
Palama Offline
#23 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,461
Not familiar with your set but sake is best drunk as soon as possible. AFAIK, there's no benefit in aging it. I'm pretty sure it's drinkable but probably lost a lot of the flavors.
Palama Offline
#24 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,461
6 - Mizubasho Junmai Daiginjo - good stuff, light and fruity.
TMCTLT Offline
#25 Posted:
Joined: 11-22-2007
Posts: 19,733
Palama wrote:
Not familiar with your set but sake is best drunk as soon as possible. AFAIK, there's no benefit in aging it. I'm pretty sure it's drinkable but probably lost a lot of the flavors.


Conan, thanks for the reply on this. After mentioning it I went and dug it out and had forgotten that we had opened one of the bottles and yes it had slightly dis colored and had a slight vinagry taste to it, the other is still sealed but I suspect will have the same results.....bummer. Had been kept cool and dry and out of sunlight but didn't realize it was best " fresh" Brick wall

Paul
Palama Offline
#26 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,461
#7 - Ichishima Silk Deluxe Junmai - WOW! Talk about light and smooth! This one is it! No alcohol burn, the new "I could drink this all night" choice. Getting another bottle as soon as I can.
Palama Offline
#27 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,461
TMCTLT wrote:
Conan, thanks for the reply on this. After mentioning it I went and dug it out and had forgotten that we had opened one of the bottles and yes it had slightly dis colored and had a slight vinagry taste to it, the other is still sealed but I suspect will have the same results.....bummer. Had been kept cool and dry and out of sunlight but didn't realize it was best " fresh" Brick wall

Paul


That is a bummer Sad

You probably would have really enjoyed it.
gae9jang2j Offline
#28 Posted:
Joined: 12-13-2012
Posts: 5,612
8 had some otokoyama last night
frankj1 Offline
#29 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
9-momokawa diamond junmai ginjo

of 3 types offered in this line-up, I chose this one because it said medium dry. didn't have my cheater glasses with me but saw that it also said to refrigerate before serving, mellow, smooth, apple, melon, tropical fruits. Ginjo quality-pure sake made with each rice grain polished to at least 60%.

What I didn't see was that it is produced and bottled by Momokawa...Forest Grove, Oregon! Round eye outrage!

Oh well. Clear, light and smooth. Subtle sweetness, I caught a little melon in the finish, but apple and tropical fruits...not so much for this noob . I'd drink it with or after spicy food. Tonight it went with a RyJ C en C.

14.8% ABV, around $15.
Palama Offline
#30 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,461
Maybe Jamie works there part-time?

Nice review, will give it a try one day.
frankj1 Offline
#31 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
Palama wrote:
Maybe Jamie works there part-time?

Nice review, will give it a try one day.

but I really have no idea if it is a good one, though for the $$$ I actually would snag a bottle again, though I'd really prefer to experiment some more.
Palama Offline
#32 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,461
frankj1 wrote:
but I really have no idea if it is a good one, though for the $$$ I actually would snag a bottle again, though I'd really prefer to experiment some more.


I think like anything in which personal taste comes into play, you'll know it when you taste it and you go "that's good chit." Sticking to the junmai daiginjo grade should increase your chances.
frankj1 Offline
#33 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
gonna dust the cobwebs off my wallet and take a shot at daiginjo next time.
Palama Offline
#34 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,461
frankj1 wrote:
gonna dust the cobwebs off my wallet and take a shot at daiginjo next time.


ThumpUp
Palama Offline
#35 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,461
10 - Hoyo Kura No Hana - "Fair Maiden"
Palama Offline
#36 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,461
11 - Maboroshi Junmai Daiginjo - light but not as smooth as #7 "Silk"
frankj1 Offline
#37 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
12- Pure Dusk Shimizu-No-Mai Junmai Daiginjo

300 ML bottle for about $16...and I like this, chilled. Label blurb says fragrant bouquet, (to me it is mildly like a wet dog but not offensive), supposed to complement delicate foods like sashimi. Seems to be just fine with turkey tips and grilled cauliflower.
Palama Offline
#38 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,461
WTG! ThumpUp
Palama Offline
#39 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,461
13 - Tora no Oh - Tiger's Tail. Sister-in-law brought this back from the Motherland...good but still like "Silk" better.
Palama Offline
#40 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,461
14 - Silk - it's really good!
frankj1 Offline
#41 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
I gotta get back on the program...
Palama Offline
#42 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,461
frankj1 wrote:
I gotta get back on the program...

Think
frankj1 Offline
#43 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
Palama wrote:
Think

yup, "program" may have been misleading.

I gotta get back on the sake
Palama Offline
#44 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,461
frankj1 wrote:
yup, "program" may have been misleading.

I gotta get back on the sake


Think
frankj1 Offline
#45 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
Palama wrote:
Think

now what?
Palama Offline
#46 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,461
frankj1 wrote:
now what?


Idk, still thinkin'....
Palama Offline
#47 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,461
15 - Nanbu Bijin Shinpaku Junmai Daiginjo - Silver Medialist at the recent Joy of Sake Festival.
16 - Silk
Palama Offline
#48 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,461
17 - Silk - finished off the bottle. Sad
Palama Offline
#49 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,461
18 - Silk - got a new bottle.
Palama Offline
#50 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,461
19 - Mizubasho Junmai Daiginjo - liked it the first time around but not as smooth as Silk.
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