Nomidachi News Archive

October 2020



October 18

Hello, Nomidachi!



Here's an announcement about some special seasonal brews and what else we're up to at Saké Nomi.


Autumn Seasonal Release
Hiyaoroshi Sake Are Here!

Please help us find them good homes!


One of the delights of being a sake drinker is the aspect of seasonality. We've mentioned it before, but some sake just seem better suited to enjoying at a specific time of year. There's a Japanese proverb something to the effect of fall being the best time of year to eat, drink, and sleep (possible title for forthcoming memoir), and one of the treats of the season for us is hiyaoroshi sake.

While most sake undergo two rounds of pasteurization before shipping, hiyaoroshi is a style where the sake is pasteurized once after presssing and before storage (approx. 6 months), and then bottled and shipped without undergoing the secondary pasteurization. 

As a result, hiyaoroshi often display the best characteristics of both worlds, with the element of freshness and liveliness of unpasteurized namazake, but also the stability of a pasteurized brew.

We are absolutely overjoyed to be able to have access to some of these rare sake (listed below) before our move, but due to our limited refrigeration space, we need your help in moving them quickly from our fridge to yours. At this point, I'm kind of thinking of them as warm, fuzzy rescue puppies in need of a good "forever home." (Cue the smarmy music) "Won't you please help save a precious brew today?"



Saké Nomi Moving Sale & Inventory "Liquification?"
October 17-27

The sale got off to a great start this past weekend, and a big, heartfelt THANK YOU goes out to all the nomidachi who dropped in and did us the tremendous favor of helping to lighten our moving load!

We've still got some work to do, insofar as still having some excellent sake (and a little glassware) on the shelves that are available at good discount pricing. As a reminder, the sale continues through at least
October 27, and we invite you to come down and peruse (or email or call to inquire, of course) our wares anytime between now and then. Special pricing includes:

10% discount on 3-5 bottles (mix & match sizes, brands)
15% discount on 6 or more bottles (mix & match sizes, brands)

(Please note: We will continue to accept "custom orders" of cases, special bottles, etc. for pick up thru October 24 (Sat.), based on distributor stock availability. So, if you'd like to squirrel away some favorites or standard "house" sake to hold you over during the brief (we hope, fingers crossed!) period between our closing and the grand reopening at the new spot, we'll work to swing you a deal to make it worth your while.)



Save the Date!
Saké Nomi 13th Anniversary/Moving Celebration
Saturday, October 24 @ 6pm (via Zoom)

Wouldn't you know it? Our 13th anniversary would, of course, occur in 2020. Well, if you need an excuse to drink some good sake and virtually socialize, we'd be honored and humbled if you join us on Saturday, October 24.

The details:

Topic: Saké Nomi 13 Anniversary/Moving Celebration
Time: Oct 24, 2020 06:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/98863881049?pwd=RlpSMGh4TzVYTmJkYU5DUmxDWWNPQT09

Meeting ID: 988 6388 1049
Passcode: 995863

 
We're still relatively new to this whole Zoom thing, so please bare with us as we stumble our way through it. We're pretty confident that sake will fix most anything, though, and we've got a suggested vendor for the good stuff, should you need some assistance . . .

If you're available to join, it would be great to see your faces and have a few cups of camaraderie and Kanpai!

We hope you and yours are keeping as best you can, and we're wishing you lots of love and laughter in the days ahead.


Arigatou & Kanpai!
Johnnie & Taiko



This Week's Featured Sake Selections
All super rare and extremely limited brews this week!

Naginata
Junmai Daiginjo (Oregon, USA)                                          
Extremely limited production (584 hand-numbered bottles, and we are down to our last few!) of an American made sake aspiring to be “the greatest sake ever produced outside of Japan.” Soft gold coloring, with a gentle viscosity to the mouthfeel. Notes of caramel, butterscotch and anise on the palate. Brewed in Oregon, using highly milled (40%) Yamada Nishiki sake rice grown in Arkansas.
$70/720 ml bottle



Gokyo Junmai Hiyaoroshi (Yamaguchi)                           
Limited seasonal release!  Mellow golden coloring, with notes of cantaloupe and honey in the nose.  Vibrant and lively (like a namazake), fruity, juicy, and just a touch acidic, with a clean, dry finish.  $50/720ml bottle
 
Urakasumi “Hiyaoroshi”
Tokubetsu Junmai (Miyagi)                                 
Limited seasonal release!  Soft and lively, with deep, resonating umami.  The mild spice in the pleasantly lingering finish perfectly embodies and brings to mind a crisp, mellow autumnal afternoon.  $50/720ml bottle
 



Otokoyama “Hiyaoroshi”
Tokubetsu Junmai (Hokkaido)                                      
Limited seasonal release!  Soft, slightly creamy texture, with steamed rice, grains, and yeast in the nose and on the palate.  Faint butter and a touch of toffee, with kimoto tanginess in the acidity and astringency.  $45/720ml bottle
 
Wakatake Oniotome “Sachi”
Tokubetsu Junmai (Shizuoka)                                
Limited seasonal release!  Mineral, sea breeze aroma.  Light and dry, with cinnamon notes throughout.  Brewed by the makers of popular Onikoroshi (“Demon Killer”), oniotome is “Devil’s Daughter,” and the kanji used for the name Sachi means “dry.”  
$45/720ml bottle

 

October 6

Hello, Nomidachi!



Number one most frequently asked question (after, of course, the availability of sushi) Johnnie fields on a regular basis is, "What's your favorite sake?"

His standard reply has to do with having been blessed with twin daughters over 21 YEARS AGO (!!!) and not being able to declare a favorite at home, while at the shop there are 200 or so premium brews jostling for his affection, and he is thus 200 times less likely to be able to make that call either. In the end, his favorite tends to be the one in the glass in front of him.

There are, however, sake that fit a certain time or season or occasion just right. The sake we mention below are ones that feel right now. We hope you'll have a chance to try them and let us know what you think.

Be well and be safe, and keep taking good care of one another. We miss you madly!


Arigatou & Kanpai!
Johnnie & Taiko



This Week's Featured Sake Selections
During the next few weeks, we'll be featuring some of our all-time favorites and most popular sake from the past year or so. This week that includes what we think may be the best sake currently available in Washington (Born), some with sentimental ties from the birthplace of the influential Nanbu Toji brewers guild (Tsukinowa), and ones that just feel seasonally appropriate (Choryo), including:


Born Muroka Nama Genshu
Junmai Daiginjo (Fukui)                                             
Fragrant, fruity, lively, and rich with notes of cinnamon and figs. A Japanese vocabulary lesson of a junmai daiginjo, with a serious case of the “un”s: unfiltered (muroka), unpasteurized (nama), and undiluted (genshu).  If you haven't had it yet, as Cab Calloway suggested, man, you've got to get hep to this jive!  $70/720 ml bottle


Tsukinowa Yoinotsuki “Midnight Moon”
Daiginjo (Iwate)                                     
Amber tint, with notes of honey in aroma and taste.  An element of depth in the earthy, caramel sweetness.  Complex and quiet, soft and melting.  Brewed in Johnnie’s Japanese “hometown” by one of his former English students – one of the few female toji (master brewer) in the industry!  $48/720 ml bottle





Choryo Yoshinosugi no Taruzake Futsu-shu
Pronounced golden hue, with deep, rich wood aromas and a hint of chocolate in the nose.  Notes of maple and brown sugar sweetness on the palate. Nice, full-bodied balance. This is the first taruzake (cedar barrel aged sake) to have been bottled for commercial sale, back in 1964.
Price: $30/720 ml


Choryo Omachi
Tokubetsu Junmai
The notes for the "old" version read: "Faint golden tint, with earthy, yeasty aromas. Soft and light, with a hint of butterscotch and toffee on the palate. Settled (aged for 30 months in the bottle), and rounds out nicely and is comforting when warm (room temp might be best). Fantastic 'daily drinker' that provides great value and 'bang for your buck.'" The "new" version, which arrived last week, has been low-temp bottle aged for SEVEN YEARS!  Price: $30/720 ml


Choryo Yoshinosugi no Taruzake Omachi Yamahai
Junmai
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.
Price: $40/720 ml bottle





(NOTE: For those of you who may have missed the fantastic tour and tasting we did with the folks from Choryo Shuzo on Saké Day, October 1 -- or if you simply want to revisit -- here's a link to a recording of the event.)



Tsukinowa Kinen “Memorial”
Futsu-shu (Iwate)                                                     
Light and soft.  Soft yellowish tint.  Slightly bitter cantaloupe and melon notes on palate.  An easy drinking “session saké,” said to be much loved by the local folks.  Johnnie doesn’t remember drinking it when he lived there, but there are a few years of his Japanese sojourn that are a little fuzzy . . .  $55/1.8 L bottle; $35/720 ml bottle (new size!)



 

October 12

Greetings, Nomidachi!



"Happenings?" Have we got some "sake happenings" for you!


Movin' on (up?)
As some of you may be aware, sometime this past June we marked our 13 year anniversary (more on how we intend to celebrate with YOU in a minute) in our spot on South Washington Street, and what is it the Deadheads say? "What a long, strange trip it's been?" Well, yeah, it's been something like that. Economic recessions? Check. Endless construction and disappearance of parking for patrons? Check. Let's not even dignify the current pandemic with a mention. Oops.

Anyway, there have been lots of changes to the neighborhood, but the one whose influence we are currently most feeling is the sale and plans for redevelopment of the building Saké Nomi currently occupies. Yes, the sale took place a while back, and we've known our lease would come to an end for quite some time now. And, though the days of 2020 have seemed to drag on and blend one into another so that it's difficult to keep track of days of the week, let alone significant dates, the time draws nigh: our lease is up at the end of this month, and Saké Nomi is moving.

But, not to worry nor panic, trusted Nomidachi! While we will save some of the details for later, for now just know that we are relocating a scant couple blocks away, remaining in Seattle's original downtown neighborhood, Pioneer Square. While moving is never much fun, we are excited about the opportunities the new space presents, and we're doing our best to stay calm, present, Zen, etc., and remain open to the possibilities and adventures ahead.

We could use your help, though. Sure, if anyone wants to volunteer some muscle or logistical expertise for the physical move, we'll be glad to have the help, and you know there will be some premium "fuel" to keep energy and spirits high. But, more than that, we could use your assistance in "lightening our load." So, we're proposing:



Saké Nomi Moving Sale & Inventory "Liquification?"
October 17-27

As our impending move necessitates us curtailing our inventory purchases and trying to clear the shelves as much as possible, we invite you to come down and peruse (or email or call to inquire, of course) our wares anytime, but especially during our sale: October 17-27. Special pricing includes:

10% discount on 3-5 bottles (mix & match sizes, brands)
15% discount on 6 or more bottles (mix & match sizes, brands)

(Please note: We will continue to accept "custom orders" of cases, special bottles, etc. for pick up thru October 24 (Sat.), based on distributor stock availability. So, if you'd like to squirrel away some favorites or standard "house" sake to hold you over during the brief (we hope, fingers crossed!) period between our closing and the grand reopening at the new spot, we'll work to swing you a deal to make it worth your while.)

PS: If any of you would like to come down and snap some commemorative pics before we start tearing the place apart in earnest at the end of the month, please feel free to do so. If you feel the need to set up a time, please call, but we'll make sure to keep everything socially distanced, masked up, and safe.



Save the Date!
Saké Nomi 13th Anniversary/Moving Celebration
Saturday, October 24 @ 6pm (via Zoom)

Wouldn't you know it? Our 13th anniversary would, of course, occur in 2020. Well, if you need an excuse to drink some good sake and virtually socialize, we'd be honored and humbled if you join us on Saturday, October 24. We're still working on the logistics, but we will update you in the coming days via newsletter, Facebook, and Instagram.

If you're available, it would be great to see your faces and have a few cups of camaraderie and Kanpai!


We feel like we're always leaning on you for support, but it's impossible for us to imagine opening Saké Nomi in Seattle and surviving these past 13-plus years without you. We will always struggle to adequately express our gratitude and affection, but THANK YOU!

Please come along with us, as we embark on this next chapter in Saké Nomi's story.


Arigatou & Kanpai!
Johnnie & Taiko



This Week's Featured Sake Selections
With the continued theme of featuring some of our (and YOUR) all-time favorites, but including some new rarities as they become available, some of the week's sake highlights look like this:

Naginata
Junmai Daiginjo (Oregon, USA)                                          
Extremely limited production (584 hand-numbered bottles) of an American made sake aspiring to be “the greatest sake ever produced outside of Japan.” Soft gold coloring, with a gentle viscosity to the mouthfeel. Notes of caramel, butterscotch and anise on the palate. Brewed in Oregon, using highly milled (40%) Yamada Nishiki sake rice grown in Arkansas.
$70/720 ml bottle

(NOTE: Our initial allotment of this rare brew arrives tomorrow, 10/14, and we've already sold over half the bottles we expect to receive. If you want to try it, or can save it for a pretty fantastic gift, don't snooze and lose!)




Born Muroka Nama Genshu Junmai Daiginjo (Fukui)                                             
Fragrant, fruity, lively, and rich with notes of cinnamon and figs. A Japanese vocabulary lesson of a junmai daiginjo, with a serious case of the “un”s: unfiltered (muroka), unpasteurized (nama), and undiluted (genshu).  If you don't know, you really should.  $70/720 ml bottle


Tsukinowa Yoinotsuki “Midnight Moon”
Daiginjo (Iwate)                                     
Amber tint, with notes of honey in aroma and taste.  An element of depth in the earthy, caramel sweetness.  Complex and quiet, soft and melting.  Brewed in Johnnie’s Japanese “hometown” by one of his former English students – one of the few female toji (master brewer) in the industry!  $48/720 ml bottle







Tedorikawa Kinka “Gold Blossom” Daiginjo (Ishikawa)    
Floral nose, with notes reminiscent of dates and raisins.  Mild spice, minerality, and cinnamon notes on the palate.  Subtly layered, soft and settled.  Deep, rich, mature, and mellow, especially for a namazake.  Featured in the documentary, The Birth of Saké. $45/720 ml bottle



Choryo Yoshinosugi no Taruzake Futsu-shu
Pronounced golden hue, with deep, rich wood aromas and a hint of chocolate in the nose.  Notes of maple and brown sugar sweetness on the palate. Nice, full-bodied balance. This is the first taruzake (cedar barrel aged sake) to have been bottled for commercial sale, back in 1964.
Price: $30/720 ml


Choryo Omachi
Tokubetsu Junmai
The notes for the "old" version read: "Faint golden tint, with earthy, yeasty aromas. Soft and light, with a hint of butterscotch and toffee on the palate. Settled (aged for 30 months in the bottle), and rounds out nicely and is comforting when warm (room temp might be best). Fantastic 'daily drinker' that provides great value and 'bang for your buck.'" The "new" version, which arrived last week, has been low-temp bottle aged for SEVEN YEARS!  Price: $30/720 ml



Choryo Yoshinosugi no Taruzake Omachi Yamahai
Junmai
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.
Price: $40/720 ml bottle








Tsukinowa Kinen “Memorial” Futsu-shu (Iwate)                                                     
Light and soft.  Soft yellowish tint.  Slightly bitter cantaloupe and melon notes on palate.  An easy drinking “session saké,” said to be much loved by the local folks.  Johnnie doesn’t remember drinking it when he lived there, but there are a few years of his Japanese sojourn that are a little fuzzy . . .  $55/1.8 L bottle; $35/720 ml bottle (new size!)

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Email: info@sakenomi.us
Telephone: 206-682-1117
106 Cherry Street,
Seattle, WA 98104
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