Hakuryu 白龍本釀造Honjyozo 60% Seimai Buai

Rice - Gohyakumangoku 五百万石🌾
Prefecture - Niigata 新澙市
Brewery - Hakuryu Shuzo
Alcohol - 15%
Color - Colourless
Aroma - Nutty, 🍄, Earthy, 🧀
Taste - Medium
Umami - Medium
First impression - Lively
Body - Light
Sweetness - Medium Dry
Tail/length - Short
Overall - It has been awhile since my last bottle of Gohyakumangoku sake. This time round decided to try a bottle of Hakuryu Honjyozo for the sole reason of me having a liking for anything with a dragon. Made with 100% Niigata Gohyakumangoku, the aroma is clearly evident of pine nuts, 🍄 and 🧀. Went ahead and tried a glass of the sake chilled around 12 degree and realized that the medium umami didn’t really compliment the light body of the sake. Made a decision to warm up about 300ml of the sake by pouring it in a tokkuri and immersing it in a water bath just to try the difference. I must say that warming the sake up does surprises me. The sake became drier and the scent became mellower. The umami and body are more rounded when the sake is warmed and it heighten the taste of it. I can taste the crisp and clear note of this Niigata style sake better as well. The light body and short length makes it well balanced and is good to pair with food like grilled fish or yakitori. I paired mine with a grilled hamachi collar lightly seasoned with salt.
Overall, this is a good sake.

Mitsui San
An amateur sake lover who loves anything 🇯🇵 and started exploring 🍶 drinking 5 years ago. A Kikisakeshi #唎酒師 by SSI & Certified Sake Sommelier by SSA. IG: @mitsui.sakenoob