We've been big fans of Sakari for some time now - and it's not just because they're the official Sake of the Japanese Imperial Household! - with their really fun and stylish Sake's and Sake liqueurs, that are as versatile as they are varied, offering a whole spectrum of flavour profiles, aromatics and textures that are befitting of almost any occasion or cuisine.

But this time, Sakari has topped the cake!

Now, the over 135 year old company has always made clear that innovation is at the heart of what they do, and have always shown a streak of willingness to be adventurous and pioneering - but we certainly did not expect them to make a Gari Sake liqueur!

Yes, Gari! Now you might not immediately recognise the name, but if you've ever had a course of sushi, you'll know instantly what it is the moment you see it!

Gari or ガリis a side dish or condiment of Japanese pickled ginger that's made by soaking thinly sliced young ginger in sweet vinegar brine, which then serves as a refreshing palate cleanser, and is also known to help with the digestion of raw fish, and is hence why it's always served alongside sushi!

And so, it appears that Sakari makes a seasonal liqueur - the latest addition to their line-up - where they've blended pure Junmai Sake with ginger and sushi vinegar, so as to produce what they call a faithful recreation of the iconic Japanese condiment!

Regardless of how you might think that sounds on paper, it's certainly intriguing enough that we had to try it!

But before we do so, we should quickly recap why Sakari is such a big deal!

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.

Now, that all said, you might not have heard of it in spite of its fame, because for a large part of its history, the Sake brewery was mostly focused on its local presence - after all, Nihonsakari already holds claim to the greatest endorsement it could possibly 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.

And so with all that said, it's time to get back to taste testing the Sakari Gari and finding out if it's crazy good or maybe just crazy!

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 Gari [Sakari ガリ]

Tasting Notes

Colour: Hazy Lemonade

Aroma: Super aromatic, it's immediately giving a mix of fresh and pickled ginger, with also a some ginger beer. It's as vibrant as it is deep, with a heady and broad aroma that is surprisingly not sharp nor spiky.

Taste: Medium-bodied here, it's rounded and lush, with a really easygoing richness that then envelopes the perky spiciness of grated ginger. It's backed up by cane sugar, which rounds out the nippiness.

Finish: More on grated ginger, fresh wasabi, all still with that deep richness, which persists through the finish for a clean and seamless finale. Lingering depth of pickled ginger acidity and freshly grated ginger spiciness that echoes out, without any sharpness.

My Thoughts

This was absolutely delightful and super satisfying! It's incredibly precise and evocative, immediately conveying that pickled ginger aroma and flavour, yet at the same time it's never sharp or spiky, allowing you to fully lean in and appreciate the acidity and spiciness fully. On the palate, it's rich and luscious, rounded out with this mellow sweetness, yet without blunting the very satisfying and broad nippiness of the ginger. Into the finish is where you'll find that acidity come through beautifully and vibrantly, which even persists on for some time, almost like you've just had some really high quality brown sugar ginger tea.

It sounds perhaps a little intimidating, but I assure you, it's incredibly satisfying, and almost definitely the best experience I've ever had with ginger. It's vibrant, it's spiced, it's mellowed sweet - perfectly put together! It's as unique, and as one of a kind, as it is incredibly tasty!

All through the Sake Matsuri festival I was roping everyone I could recognise - because that's the beauty and fun of Sake Matsuri! - to go over and try this out, and no matter any prior reservations, every single person came back for more and took home a couple of bottles! 

Sakari truly puts daring where their mouth is!

Kanpai!

@111hotpot