Nanbu Bijin 南部美人Junmai Ginjo 純米吟醸55% Seimai Buai

Rice - Miyamanishiki 美山錦🌾
Prefecture - Iwate 岩手県
Brewery - Nanbu Bijin Brewery
Alcohol - Below 16%
Color - Light Green
Aroma - Vanilla, 🍌, Barley Water
Taste - Light
Umami - Light
First impression - Lively
Body - Light
Sweetness - Medium Dry
Tail/length - Medium
Overall - First time trying Nanbu Bijin although I have come across this brand many times while shopping for 🍶. When I told my wife that I’ll like to try a bottle of 南部美人，she was like “Oh it must be very good, just like your wife”. I was a little lost at the beginning and then I realize she is literally referring herself as 南部美人。She is not wrong in saying so as she indeed helmed from 台南which is the south of Taiwan and she is also very beautiful. Ok, enough of my wife and let’s talk about this 🍶. Made from Miyamanishiki 美山錦with a 55% polishing, you can smell the delicate 🍌 and vanilla aroma of this 🍶. First taste and I find that there is a subtle hint of barley water which I kinda enjoy. The taste is light and the umami is just right to compliment the taste. I enjoyed it chilled with a piping hot bowl of black garlic Japanese 🍜. The 🍶 is light body and the medium length of it balances the strong flavor of the black garlic soup so that you won’t feel that the ramen is too heavy on the palate. I think this 🍶is a good choice for pairing strong flavor food like chili 🦀 as well since it is easy enough to drink and medium dry in sweetness which will not overpower those food. This 🍶 also has a Kosher Certification, which is regarded as one of the highest authority of food safety guarantee and also as be in accordance with Jewish religious law. This is the first time that I had encounter a 🍶 with a Kosher certification.
Overall, this is a very good 🍶.

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