Nihonsakari is possibly one of the most iconic Sake breweries that you've never heard of, and that's because this over 135 year old brewer has for a large part of its history, focused heavily on its local presence - and why not, after all the Hyogo Prefecture brewer already holds claim to the greatest endorsement it could clinch in Japan, being the official Sake of the Japanese Imperial Household!

Yet, in more recent years with the world much more globalised than it's ever been, the brewery has finally sought to expand its scope, and as such in 2019 has launched a new line of Sake, the Sakari brand, that is just as much targeted towards a younger audience. It's clean and stylish (deliberately focused on English labelling, with a more minimalist design, as opposed to the more ornate Nihonsakari which is labelled entirely in Japanese), with a straightforward line-up that offers a Sake for every level and occasion, with even several Sake liqueurs that hit at popular and interesting flavours. Working with a dedicate designer, Sakari would have each Sake in its lineup represented in several more universal design languages, each given its own number, colour and pattern, so that Sakari can easily be identified and understood anywhere in the world.

It's worth pointing out also that each expression features traditional Japanese patterns and colours, with the Sake's donning four patterns - Seigaiha, Yagasuri, Shippo, and Kikko Hanabishi - which each symbolises harmony, longevity, and blessings, which are then coloured in dark indigo, light green, young bamboo green, and crimson. Separately, the Sakari liqueurs feature the Asanoha pattern, the Bishamon Kikko pattern and the Tatewaku Mon'yo pattern, which respectively represents growth and health, prosperity and longevity, and also rise and prosperity, which are then rendered in wood grain, bamboo green and pink.

But first let's quickly get up to date with this iconic brewer, Nihonsakari!

Nihonsakari, originally the Nishinomiya Kigyo Company, was established in 1889 in the Nada region of Japan's Hyogo Prefecture, having been founded by five young entrepreneurs as the first ever Sake company in Japan (up till that point, most Sake breweries were family-owned as private partnerships, without having formally incorporated themselves). Leading the charge was the Morimoto family who carried the responsibility of helming Nihonsakari, and even till this day, continues to be headed up by an adopted son of the Morimoto family.

Its original founders had believed deeply in innovation and had wanted to take a more modern approach to the way Sake breweries were operated at the time, which worked splendidly as the brewery was quick to adapt to modern technology and could produce Sake with high productivity all whilst maintaining quality. With access to high quality subsoil water from the Rokko mountains that contains a mineral content that makes for clean and crisp Sake, along with Hyogo being the home of the top notch Yamada Nishiki rice, and also a yeast library of more than 600 strains with even a proprietary original yeast that only the brewery holds, Nihonsakari would thus be able to craft a wide variety of Sake flavour profiles for every occasion, demonstrating great versatility.

The legendary Nihonsakari Souhana which was served at the Japanese Emperor's enthronement.

By 1910, Nihonsakari had become the largest Sake brewer in Japan, commanding 5% of an otherwise highly fragmented market. This success would receive great validation when in 1913, the Emperor Taisho would appoint Nihonsakari to provide the Sake that was to be served during his enthronement - till this day, Nihonsakari remains as the official Sake of the Japanese Imperial Household!

Since then, Nihonsakari has not stopped innovating, even today producing its own line of cosmetics, Komenuka Bijin, made with Sake ingredients, such as a rice bran cleanser, and also health foods featuring Sake lees.

And so today, we'll get down to tasting every Sake in Nihonsakari's Sakari lineup, from Junmai and Junmai Ginjo, to Daiginjo and Junmai Daiginjo.

Let's go!

PS. These are available in Singapore via Inter Rice Asia! We were able to try them during Singapore's Sake Matsuri which happens twice a year and is a great event that allows ticket holders to try a wide array of Sakes from various distributors! A definite must go for anyone who's into Sake or curious about it!

Sake Review: Sakari Junmai

75% Rice Polishing, Yamada Nishiki, Sakari No. 14

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Bright and delicate, it opens with a light fruitiness of fresh pears and melons, backed by a layer of nuttiness of bags of raw rice grains. There's then an air of spiced pepperiness that gives it a perkiness.

Taste: Lighter-bodied here, it's clean and fresh, almost as if it were simply textural. There's really light fragrances of steamed rice with also a dusting of anise and licorice.

Finish: More immediately dry here with a clean and crisp finish, accented by a herbaceous savouriness of dried oregano. Delicate floral aromatics of irises.

My Thoughts 

A really light and clean Sake that comes through really fresh, and is almost a blank canvas of sorts, which makes it really versatile for a whole range of cuisines. It strikes as being almost botanical, with fragrances and accents of fruits, nuts, spice and florals, and yet its taste is very much that of steamed rice, giving it that deep, mellow sweetness. This feels like a Sake that you could keep drinking without it wearing on the palate, where it resides in the background and doesn't demand much attention or interrogating. That said, it's certainly not something you'd necessarily count as having a strong character, which it certainly doesn't pretend to be one.

Sake Review: Sakari Junmai Ginjo

55% Rice Polishing, Yamada Nishiki, Sakari No. 13

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Leaning towards a more earthy tone, coming through with dried shimeji mushrooms that brings about a sort of dry woodiness.

Taste: Sweet and savoury all at once, it's lighter bodied, with an intense bit of asian nashi pears and peaches, joined by an umaminess of kombu kelp stock. A slight pepperiness as well, with also a soft rustic plume of brie cheese rinds. 

Finish: Taking a more mineral tone, the finish is slightly briny, with also more steamed rice coming through in the form of aromatics, as well as still that rustic touch of soft cheese.

My Thoughts 

Wow! This was incredibly complex and also beautifully rustic, evoking a sense of brie cheese and pear jam sandwiches! Whilst it might come off rather earthy in its aromas, it's actually much fruitier and sweeter on the palate, which together pairs perfectly sensorially, combining to offer up this balance of sweetness and savouriness. It's really unique and very gourmet! 

Sake Review: Sakari Daiginjo

50% Rice Polishing, Yamada Nishiki, Sakari No. 12

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Big fruitiness, this opens up to fruits of peaches, apricots, melons, green apples and pears, garnished with bouquets of white florals. It's juicy and also a touch savoury, with a dash of dried herbs.

Taste: Richer and more rounded here, with a bigger lusciousness. Here it leans towards green fruits of melons and green apples, that's paired with that overt nuttiness of raw rice grains.

Finish: Surprisingly clean and fresh, with a really satisfying dryness that balances out the body's richness. It's a firm and broad finish, with a slight umami savouriness of teriyaki sauce.

My Thoughts 

This feels like the biggest of the four, it's more vibrant and explosive with its intense aromas, and at the same time carries the most weight to its body, with quite a bit of richness packed in. The flavours here are more bold and forward, with also more intensity, which has that effect of grabbing your attention. That said, it comes through noticeably more heavy, although that does balance out on the finish which has an incredibly refreshing dryness.

Sake Review: Sakari Junmai Daiginjo

50% Rice Polishing, Yamada Nishiki, Sakari No. 11

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Distinctly more delicate here, with fruity fragrances of blueberries, mulberries and peach, backed up by a base of floury rice mochi chewy starchiness.

Taste: Sweet and approachable, it starts off with fresh blueberries, and as it opens up, tinned lychee and longan fruit syrup begin to come through. Again, backed by that deep earthy, nutty sweetness of steamed rice.

Finish: The fruity flavours take to the backstage here, with the rice grain tones taking over with more prominence, offering up more in the way of steamed rice and rice crackers, with a very fine sprinkle of saltiness.

My Thoughts 

Really elegant and fruity with also a solid depth, the flavours here are more classic and deliver that signature Junmai Daiginjo flavour profile. It's approachable, fruity, delicate and well balanced, showcasing a very well-executed interpretation of a Junmai Daiginjo, this is a definite crowd pleaser.

Kanpai!

@111hotpot