51. Author: LetsRock | Date: Mon, 9/29/2014, 3:31PM EST | |
Never had sake but have always wanted to try it. What is recommended for a beginner? |
52. Author: Palama | Date: Sat, 10/4/2014, 8:27PM EST | |
Get a good quality cold sake. There are 3 main grades so if I were starting out I'd get the middle one, Junmai Ginjo, and go from there. Think of sake like you would white wine so they'll run the gamut of dry, fruity, sweet, sour, etc. Lotta times the bottle will have a short description of the flavor profile, if not, ask the wait help (...or sushi chef if you're sitting at the bar at a sushi place...) and they can recommend something close to your tastes. Don't always be fooled by the price tag, sake, like wine and cigars, is often times a personal choice so what tastes good to me, may not taste good to you. Trying different types and grades will help you determine what you like and with what foods. I rarely eat meat when I drink sake, I have mostly sashimi and sushi topped with raw seafood (...toro, cooked octopus, ebi, and scallops are good...). My favorite pairing is hamachi (...yellowtail...) with sake. I don't "waste" hamachi on sushi, I eat it as sashimi so I can savor the softness and the way it melts in my mouth.
But, like I said, a lot of it is personal tastes so have fun trying different ones. |
53. Author: Palama | Date: Sat, 10/4/2014, 8:54PM EST | |
Last night we drank the last of the Silk but haven't been able to find another bottle. |
54. Author: Palama | Date: Sun, 10/5/2014, 5:31AM EST | |
Also, sake is more of a sipping drink. Slamming them down like they're going out of style will only lead to a real quick drunk (...and possible mean hangover...). It's a sneaky drink so take it easy the first few times. |
55. Author: Palama | Date: Thu, 10/9/2014, 3:37AM EST | |
20 - Ty Ku Sake White - according to the little tag on the bottle, this was voted the world's best sake in 2010 (double gold) at the San Francisco International Wine Festival. It's good but my wife and I still prefer Silk. |
56. Author: T Z | Date: Thu, 10/9/2014, 6:28PM EST | |
Palama wrote:20 - Ty Ku Sake White - according to the little tag on the bottle, this was voted the world's best sake in 2010 (double gold) at the San Francisco International Wine Festival. It's good but my wife and I still prefer Silk. just picked up a bottle of the Ty-Ku good tastin stuff |
57. Author: Palama | Date: Wed, 10/15/2014, 1:58AM EST | |
21 - Ty Ku - my wife thinks this has a slight bite but we finished the bottle tonight. |
58. Author: Palama | Date: Wed, 11/12/2014, 12:05AM EST | |
22 - Mizubasho
Taking a line from Frank - I must be drinking most of the sake here. |
59. Author: ZRX1200 | Date: Wed, 11/12/2014, 12:25AM EST | |
God I can't remember the last time I had sake. |
60. Author: Palama | Date: Wed, 11/12/2014, 12:31AM EST | |
ZRX1200 wrote:God I can't remember the last time I had sake. |
61. Author: bs_kwaj | Date: Wed, 11/12/2014, 12:35AM EST | |
At work having water right now, along with microwave spicy chili and some Cheez-it white cheddar crackers. But.. after work... It'll be Kona Firerock or Longboard, and that's just if the cabinet with the Duvel is locked. |
62. Author: Palama | Date: Wed, 11/19/2014, 11:38PM EST | |
23 - Wakatake Onikoroshi ("Dragon Slayer") Junmai Daiginjo |
63. Author: Palama | Date: Thu, 1/1/2015, 4:18AM EST | |
24 - Kikusui JG Hiyaoroshi - initially I didn't think it had much taste but it is rather light. Think this would really go well with hamachi and salmon. |
64. Author: Palama | Date: Sun, 1/25/2015, 10:33PM EST | |
25 - Kikusui JG Hiyaoroshi - finished off the last of it. |
65. Author: 8trackdisco | Date: Mon, 1/26/2015, 12:30AM EST | |
26- Makers Mark 27- Makers Mark
|
66. Author: Palama | Date: Mon, 1/26/2015, 2:35AM EST | |
8trackdisco wrote:26- Makers Mark 27- Makers Mark
Slightly wrong thread. Maybe a little too much Makers? |
67. Author: Palama | Date: Fri, 7/3/2015, 1:40AM EST | |
Hmm, I guess I've been slackin' on this thread. Have had a few sakes since my last post, just never got around to posting them. So okay, kicking out 8's slightly misguided post (...sorry...) and listing:
26 - Silk
I could polish off the rest of the bottle but then there'd be nothing left for my wife tomorrow night. |
68. Author: frankj1 | Date: Fri, 7/3/2015, 9:05AM EST | |
time for me to search again. Liked what I've had but feel like no one around here knows enough to be much help in the shpos. Is price related to quality? |
69. Author: Palama | Date: Fri, 7/3/2015, 1:09PM EST | |
In my limited quest to find good sake, I would generally say yes but due to the popularity of the drink here and the Japanese population (...and tourist that come here...), think we have a broader selection that stays truer to the cost / quality equation. Pricing is probably in line with the perceived quality too. However even with that said, sake, like wine and cigars, is really a personal choice. My wife is sold on Silk and although I've bought more expensive bottles to try, she always circles back to Silk. The others were very good and I would say that the quality was there but in the end, the personal taste won out. Ultimately the grading of the sake should tip you to the quality. Junmai daiginjo is all we buy these days (...let the elitist comments begin...) but paraphrasing a well known cigar saying, life is too short to drink crappy sake. Then again, since it's all personal taste, the grading could be thrown out the window if you find something you like. Idk, maybe the better grades give you less of a hangover? (...not willing to test that theory... ) Good luck and hope you find something you like Frank. |
70. Author: frankj1 | Date: Fri, 7/3/2015, 5:37PM EST | |
thanks bruddah. If i can't find what I like, I'll start polishing rice at home. |
71. Author: Palama | Date: Sun, 7/5/2015, 2:10AM EST | |
27 - Kubota Manju Junmai Daiginjo - wow! This is good stuff! Dayum smooth, light, perfect with the omakase dinner to celebrate our 33rd anniversary. |
72. Author: frankj1 | Date: Tue, 7/28/2015, 9:27PM EST | |
28~Karatamba had a glass with some great maki and nigiri in Hyannis tonight (vacationing on Cape Cod). Light and crisp, cool not cold, very nice. |
73. Author: Palama | Date: Tue, 7/28/2015, 9:31PM EST | |
|
74. Author: namadio | Date: Tue, 7/28/2015, 9:42PM EST | |
Didnt notice there was a sake thread!!! My cousin was in town the other day so i busted out my novelty habu sake from okinawa. I believe its actually awamori though. Cant read the brand.. has pixture of snake. Contains snake. |
75. Author: frankj1 | Date: Tue, 7/28/2015, 10:01PM EST | |
this is in most recent Trader Joe's flyer...for $10, I might as well try it:
Joe-San’s Junmai Ginjo Premium Sake
Joe-San’s Junmai Ginjo Premium Sake Region: n/a
Country: Japan
Composition: Pure polished rice, koji (cultured mold), and yeast with (no distilled alcohol added)
Tasting Notes: Fragrant, balanced, soft and subtle, unassuming and delicate
Story: For the sake (SAY-k) of argument, let’s say you’ve grown tired of grape wines. What to do? Sip some sake (SAH-kay). Joe-San’s Junmai Ginjo (JEW-my GIN-joe) is a good place to start. Junmai means “pure rice”—pure because no distilled alcohol has been added to this rice wine. It’s Ginjo (a premium sake style) because each rice grain is polished until 40% has been milled away, leaving mostly starch. The remaining grains are cooked, sprinkled with a special cultured mold (koji), and mixed with yeast to ferment. The result is a fragrant, delicate wine—one you must experience—for Joe’s sake (say it either way).
With: TJ’s Tofu Spring Rolls, TJ’s Super Spinach Salad, TJ’s Sushi Sensations Platter...
Availability: Joe-San’s Junmai Ginjo Premium Sake is currently available in Trader Joe's stores where wine is sold. It is $9.99 plus tax unless otherwise noted here: OR, WA, GA, FL: $10.99; NH: $11.99; OH: $14.49; CT, TN: unavailable. Alcohol availability & price may vary due to state laws, taxes, shipment fees & other such stuff. |
76. Author: Palama | Date: Tue, 7/28/2015, 10:38PM EST | |
Dang it! No Trader Joe's in Hawaii! |
77. Author: Palama | Date: Tue, 7/28/2015, 10:40PM EST | |
namadio wrote:Didnt notice there was a sake thread!!! My cousin was in town the other day so i busted out my novelty habu sake from okinawa. I believe its actually awamori though. Cant read the brand.. has pixture of snake. Contains snake. Can't remember if I've ever had awamori, probably not...but maybe next time I go to a shpo, will look for some. |
78. Author: namadio | Date: Tue, 7/28/2015, 10:47PM EST | |
Palama wrote:Can't remember if I've ever had awamori, probably not...but maybe next time I go to a shpo, will look for some.
Found the stuffs https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habushu |
79. Author: Palama | Date: Sat, 8/1/2015, 12:05AM EST | |
29 - Born Select Junmai Daiginjo - very good but has more "bite" than Silk |
80. Author: frankj1 | Date: Sat, 8/8/2015, 10:28PM EST | |
snagged a bottle of the Trader Joes offering. Will report later. |
81. Author: frankj1 | Date: Tue, 8/11/2015, 6:47PM EST | |
30~ Trader Joe-san's (seems insulting!) Junmai Ginjo soft, not especially floral or fruity, but smooth.
13-14% ABV
on Dry/Sweet they say +3 (medium dry)...I agree.
well worth the $10! I'll go back when I can and grab several if available...should ship well if I ever get round 2 out of here. |
82. Author: Palama | Date: Thu, 8/13/2015, 3:30AM EST | |
^^^ Going to Vegas in October, will keep my eyes open for it. ^^^ |
83. Author: frankj1 | Date: Thu, 8/13/2015, 6:43PM EST | |
Palama wrote:^^^ Going to Vegas in October, will keep my eyes open for it. ^^^ just remember, I said worth the $10 |
84. Author: frankj1 | Date: Sun, 11/29/2015, 10:11PM EST | |
31~Hakutsuru junmai sake
15% abv, short money at Trader Joe's, was great with spicy tuna maki and caterpillar maki last night. drank it cool, not chilled. |
85. Author: Palama | Date: Sat, 3/5/2016, 1:43AM EST | |
32 - Kubota Senju Tokubetsu Honjozo “1000 Long Lives” At Yohei Sushi, omakase night. Sake was very good, wife really liked it. We split a bottle. |
86. Author: frankj1 | Date: Thu, 3/24/2016, 8:31PM EST | |
20~ Horin Gekkeikan Sake...junmai daiginjo
think I stumbled into a good one |
87. Author: Palama | Date: Thu, 3/24/2016, 9:30PM EST | |
frankj1 wrote:20~ Horin Gekkeikan Sake...junmai daiginjo
think I stumbled into a good one Must be good, you can't even count correctly! |
88. Author: frankj1 | Date: Thu, 3/24/2016, 10:14PM EST | |
Palama wrote:Must be good, you can't even count correctly! you're making my point! HA! |
89. Author: frankj1 | Date: Thu, 3/24/2016, 10:16PM EST | |
I figured it out. I hit quick reply from the bottom of page one... |
90. Author: frankj1 | Date: Thu, 4/14/2016, 10:47PM EST | |
Conan! A brand new sake brewery just opened in Waltham, MA, about 30 minutes away from me.
Dovetail Sake was originally planning to open last August but at the last minute the founders discovered a source for Yamada Nishiki rice in Arkansas, "the most sought after brewing rice in the world". This made them scrap their plans and start over.
They are releasing two versions, Nakahama Junmai which is filtered (16% abv) and the unfiltered Omori Nigori (14% abv).
The story in a local newspaper quotes one of the owners: "at the highest level you have Junmai Honjozo, which both of these are"...but they are totally different.
The Nakahama is "slightly dry and fruity, more complex than the Omori. But the Omori has a stronger,fruity flavor with a pronounced rice flavor".
I hope to have a personal account soon, and will add this to the box that is now 12 years overdue...unless this stuff is like a million dollars for a .375 bottle! |
91. Author: Palama | Date: Fri, 4/15/2016, 2:28AM EST | |
Hope their distribution reaches the 50th state!
Wife has recently taken a shine to flavored sake - peach, lemon and another one (...strawberry?...). Tried one that was carbonated so seemed like I was drinking soda. Need to steer her back to "regular" sake. |
92. Author: Palama | Date: Mon, 4/18/2016, 10:40PM EST | |
34 - Kubota Senju Tokubetsu Honjozo “1000 Long Lives” Somehow not as good as that night my wife and I split a bottle at the sushi bar...maybe drinking at home had something to do with it. Then again, wasn't eating fresh sashimi and sushi either. |
93. Author: Palama | Date: Fri, 6/17/2016, 12:58AM EST | |
35 - Kubota Kouju Tokubetsu Junmai |
94. Author: Palama | Date: Sun, 7/3/2016, 11:28PM EST | |
36 - Tamanohikari Super Premium Ginjo
Really good! We haven't been drinking much sake lately but wife wants me to pick up another bottle so might be posting more frequently again. |
95. Author: Palama | Date: Sun, 10/16/2016, 10:52PM EST | |
37 - Tamanohikari Super Premium Ginjo
Can't believe we still had some left! We've been slacking!
|
96. Author: Palama | Date: Sat, 2/18/2017, 12:08AM EST | |
Been awhile....
38 - Nanbu Bijin Shinpaku Junmai Daiginjo "Southern Beauty"
Easily identified by the big "O" on the label. |
97. Author: frankj1 | Date: Sat, 2/25/2017, 10:40PM EST | |
don't know what sake was in the drink but had a saketini (vodka, sake, dry vermouth) at a great Japanese restaurant tonight. Great meal, great drink. |
98. Author: Palama | Date: Mon, 6/19/2017, 12:57AM EST | |
39 - Kikusui Junmai Ginjo - at Restaurant Suntory for Father's Day dinner |
99. Author: Palama | Date: Sun, 7/23/2017, 11:02PM EST | |
40 - Kikusui Junmai Ginjo - someone gave our daughter a 1.8L bottle and she gave it to us. We'll be drinking this for a while. |
100. Author: Palama | Date: Sat, 8/26/2017, 1:45AM EST | |
41 - Kikusui Junmai Ginjo - we keep working on it. Over half of the bottle is gone now. |