Hey There, Nomidachi!

Price: $45/720 ml (10% “case” discount on orders of 6 or more bottles)

ETA: Available at Saké Nomi Friday, 2/2
Order by: Noon, Thursday, Feb. 1

New Beer Arrival: Craft-o-Saurus Pale Ale
Leave it to the wacky crew at Yo Ho Brewing to come up with a dinosaur-themed pale ale.  The graphics, as expected, are terrific, but, sadly, at press time we had no suitable images to include.  This easy-drinker is fairly limited, but we've managed to secure a couple cases, so please stop by and give it a sip while you can.



Other Sake Featured on This Week's Tasting Menu 

Dassai Migaki Niwari Sanbu “23%” Junmai Daiginjo (Yamaguchi)               
Luxurious nose of sweet tropical flowers, with raisin/date notes on palate.  Soft and smooth, but with layered richness.  With one of the highest rice milling ratios (23%, of course) in Japanese premium saké, you WILL NOT find this saké available to "test drive" by the glass anywhere else in Washington.  Elegant balance.  A saké perfect for toasts and special occasions!  $150/720 ml bottle



Wataribune “55” Junmai Ginjo (Ibaraki)                                              Great example of a clear, unfiltered sake, with richness not always found in ginjo saké.  Soft and mellow, yet substantial, with lively pineapple aroma & flavor. This sake is named after the Wataribune heirloom rice strain used in brewing, and its 55% polish ratio.  $52/720 ml bottle


Seikyo “Omachi” Junmai Ginjo (Hiroshima)                                        Melon and grapefruit aromas, with notes of pink grapefruit on the palate.  An enticing combination of clean taste and full, plump mouthfeel.  Mellow and low-key, but the character is substantial and self-confident.  Subtle, silky (super soft!), and sultry, with loads of umami.  $45/720 ml bottle


Kamoizumi Shusen Junmai Ginjo (Hiroshima)                                  Dark gold coloring with earthy aromas of wet leaves, apples, and brown sugar.  Light, very soft texture.  Dry impression on the palate, despite the sweeter notes in the aroma.  Lingering, tangy, dry finish.  Heat it up just a touch, the umami comes forward, and the whole game changes. $50/900 ml bottle
 

Happy New Year!

In newsletters at the beginning of past years, we've listed what turned out to be the best-sellers from the previous year as kind of a summary and survey of how Seattle sake drinkers' tastes are shaping up.  The list is usually heavily weighted toward limited seasonal releases (especially namazake), many of which will not be available again until late spring.

Rather than tease you with something you can't get your hands on right away, the following short list contains sake of note that we have thoroughly enjoyed, and, in theory, you have access to year-round, including RIGHT NOW.


Dewazakura Dewasansan Junmai Ginjo Nama Genshu (Yamagata)                  
Greenish gold tint, with aggressive aromatics of grass, straw, sweet pastry, cinnamon, and banana.  Light mouthfeel, with a very dry, astringent finish.  An overall lively presence, with the sake letting you know it’s there, and it means business.  $45/720 ml bottle
 


Choryo Yoshinosugi no Taruzake Omachi Yamahai Junmai (Nara)                   
The English transliteration is a mouthful, but there’s a lot going on with this cedar barrel-aged taruzake. Pretty significant yellow coloring, with aromas of cedar, brown sugar, and faint licorice. Soft, slightly viscous mouthfeel, with a definite mild koshu (aged sake) element present. We think it shows its best stuff at room temperature or slightly warmer. $42/720 ml bottle

 
Daishichi Yukishibori Honjozo (Fukushima)                               
This kimoto-style lightly sparkling nigorizake has aromas of pears and white peaches.  It is light, clean, and faintly mineral on the palate.  Johnnie’s tasting notes declare enthusiastically, “Here is your champagne for oysters!”  Serve well-chilled.
$60/720 ml bottle
 

Dewazakura “Omachi” Junmai Ginjo (Yamagata)          
Greenish gold in appearance with notes of minerals, earthiness, and candied melon in the nose.  Soft and silky, and while the impression on the palate is one of pronounced fruitiness, with melon and citrus accents, it finishes dry.  Overall, semi-dry, thus lending itself to "session" drinking, where it is neither overwhelming nor pedestrian. 
$45/720 ml bottle (Featured on this week's tasting menu)

 
Eiko Fuji Namachozo Junmai Ginjo (Yamagata)                               
Savory candied fruit notes of green apple, papaya, and banana.  Fruit forward, but with a dry finish.  Undergoing just one pasteurization, it’s soft, light, and “zingy” (according to Taiko).  $65/720 ml bottle (Featured on this week's tasting menu)



Other Sake Featured on This Week's Tasting Menu 

Manotsuru “Four Diamonds” Junmai Ginjo (Niigata)       
Clean & soft.  Coloring reminiscent of golden roses.  Clean scent of sea breeze in the nose.  Soft, billowy, velvety texture to the mouthfeel, with slight minerality and a tingling nama-esque finish on the palate.  $40/500 ml bottle

Kaiun “Better Fortune” Junmai Ginjo (Shizuoka)                         
A New Year’s tradition like no other!  Intriguingly elusive, drinking one minute dry, the next minute sweet and displaying a gentle, layered balance of sweet, dry, and astringent elements.  Golden tint due to lack of charcoal filtration -- the spring water source is so pure, no filtration is required.
$95/1.8 L bottle; $50/720 ml bottle; $25/300 ml bottle

Kokuryu “Black Dragon” Junmai Ginjo (Fukui)                     
Light yellow tinge, with soft banana notes in nose.  Soft, silky mouthfeel, with a mellow sweetness and settled richness on the palate.  Clean, sleek, and full of umami.
$98/1.8 L bottle; $45/720 ml bottle

Kikusui Junmai Ginjo Hiyaoroshi (Niigata)                             
Very limited seasonal release!  Mildly sweet suggestions of citrus, honey, and yeast in the nose.  Soft, clean, and medium-bodied.  The dry finish makes this a particularly “food-friendly” junmai ginjo.  $40/720ml bottle

Hello, Nomidachi!

We're pleased to announce the arrival of another terrific sake from Saké Nomi favorite, Kasumi Tsuru (Hyogo prefecture, est. 1725).

Kasumi Tsuru Yamahai Tokubetsu Junmai features aromas of mild green apple, mochi, and roasted nuts.  It has a soft, flowing, billowy texture, but a full-bodied and sturdy structure, with a mildly acidic overall character.  Dry and a touch bitter in the finish, it has a minty, prickly aftertaste that lingers and hangs around a bit.  $45/720 ml bottle

We're featuring it on the menu this week (and it is fantastic as a warmed up kanzake, too!), so come on down and give it a try.

 

New Year's Pop-Up with Umami Kushi
January 27@ 6:00- 9:00 pm



Please mark your calendar and make plans to join us in welcoming 2018 as we host a unique pop-up event with Umami Kushi on Saturday, January 27 @ 6:00-9:00 pm.

$70 (plus tax)/person includes a variety of Chef Harold's traditional and innovative yakitori stylings, as well as 4 premium Japanese sake selections.

Space is limited to the first 25 RSVPs, and this event WILL sell out.

RSVP and pre-pay today by calling us at 206-467-SAKE (7253), or e-mailing to info@sakenomi.us.

If you have any questions or require additional information, please give us a shout.


Kanpai, and best wishes for a healthy, happy, and prosperous Year of the Dog! (Gilligan Ginjo thinks every year is Year of the Dog.)