How to drink Sake

How to drink sake

 I will show how to drink sake. There are some way to drink sake, as cold, as warm, as hot and so on. I am writing how to drink generally.

As cold

 This is way to drink as cold literally. It is not saying too much that most people like this way these days. This sake is served with 7℃to 10℃ degree.　Recently there are some containers for sake as cold. When you want to enjoy sake as cold, you can enjoy easier.

What kind of sake are suitable as cold? 

  I recommend Ginjou-shu because if you warm this kind of sake, the balance of citric acid which is included sake are broken. That's why I recommend this way when you want to drink Ginjou-shu.

 

As warm

This way is also famous for a way to drink sake. How to call this way are little different depends on degree.

 Hitohada-kan
This is warmed until about 35℃. When you touch a bottom of tokkuri, you can feel the degree is same with the warmth of the skin.

 Nuru-kan
This is warmed until about 40℃. When you touch a bottom of tokkuri, you can feel hot to some extent.

 Atsu-kan
This is warmed until about 50℃.When you touch a bottom of tokkuri, you can feel very hot.


What kind of sake are suitable as warm?

I recommend Futsu-shu, Honjozo-shu, Junmai as a warm. Lactic acid and succinic acid bring out umami which is included in sake when you drink as warm.

As ordinal degree.

Some people call this way as cold, but a right way to drink this way is from 15℃ to 20℃.

Characteristics of sake made using other manufacturing

 Characteristics of sake made using other manufacturing
 

1 Nigorizake (cloudy sake)

2 Namazake

3 Koshu (aged sake)

4 Genshu

 5 Taruzake (cask sake)

.

 6 Sparkling sake

 

How to serve Sake

How to serve sake

 Outside of Japan, most people have a image that sake must be served warmed but actuality, whether or not to warm sake should be up to the type of sake served, the season or climate, and personal preference. While a warm cup of junmai sake may be very enjoyable on a cold or snowy day, a well-chilled glass of namazake (draft sake) may be just the right beverage for a warm summer day.

Snow County ''Niigata''

Niigata is referred to as “Snow Country”

 People in Japan think of Niigata and they think of rice and sake. And snow?its clean, plentiful water is one key to the purity and flavor of its sake.

 Niigata City, the capital of Niigata Prefecture and the largest city on the Japan Sea coast, is located about 200 miles north of Tokyo. It takes two hours by Shinkansen,bullet train, and four hours by car to get there from Tokyo. Shinano River, the longest river in Japan, runs through Niigata Prefecture. The river supplies an abundance of water to rice fields in the region. Its long winters and plentiful snowfalls also add to the water tables.

 Niigata Prefecture is one of the largest producers of rice in Japan. Not only that, it is also well known in Japan as the producer of Koshi Hikari, which is the most popular variety of table rice. The rice is a premium product and is therefore sold at the highest prices. The name Koshi Hikari means “Niigata Shining”?the rice has a pure, beautiful, white color that shines in the light.

 Niigata Prefecture is the only so-called state government in Japan which has such an organization completely dedicated sake. This is one important distinction showing how Sake, as a product, is nearly synonymous with its regional identity. The region is also famous throughout Japan for its local seafood cuisines.

Special-designation sake

Special-designation sake

 There are two basic types of sake: Futsū-shu (ordinary sake) and Tokutei meishō-shu (special-designation sake). Futsū-shu is the equivalent of table wine and accounts for the majority of sake produced. Tokutei meishō-shu refers to premium sakes distinguished by the degree to which the rice has been polished and the added percentage of brewer's alcohol or the absence of such additives. There are eight varieties of special-designation sake.

Kakurei''Junmaidaiginjo''

Kakurei''Junmaidaiginjo''

 Kakurei should be drunk by people who are satiated with Niigata's sake seeing as this doesn't have a characteristic of Niigata's sake. Almost all Niigata's sake are dry and crispy. But this is rather fragrant and good full-bodied sake. This flavor and taste will break your fixed idea and your biased view of Niigata's sake. I will recommend this sake to people who really like sake. 

Kosinokanbai

Koshinokanbai

 

 

 Koshinokanbai is known as a premium of sake in all of Japan. This has a concept as dry sake that good sake is drinkable like water. This sake has kept this concept when a trend of sweet sake was. You can feel a good flavor and sharpness in taste. You should try this if you want to talk about Niigata's sake to your friends.

Settyubai’’Honjozo''

Settyubai''Honjozo''

 Niigata's Sake is very famous for sake tasting dry, but there is not only sake tasting dry but also sake tasting sweet. When you feel tired, do you want something tasting sweet, don't you? Settubai ''Honjozo'' has given people in Niigata an energy because it tastes sweet. I recommend this because this is the best sake in kind of tasting sweet and this is made by sake brewery which is good at making sake which are added brewing alcohol to add sweetness. 

Midorikawa

Midorikawa

 

 When you drink Midorikawa as cold, you feel a good body which 'Junmaisyu' has. When you drink this as warm, This become Sake without too distinctive a character, moderate flavor and taste match with light flavor food. Also taste of rice match with personality is strong cuisine as well. This don't only get tired of drinking like 'Houjozosyu' but also taste refined flavor like 'Junmaiginjo'. This will be an entrance for a beginner of Niigata's Sake. So I recommend this for the beginner.

Jousenmizunogotoshi''Junmaiginjo''

Jousenmizunogotoshi''Junmaiginjo''

Jousenmizunogotoshi is delisiciou Sake of Niigarta, not tasty Sake. Niigata's Sake is characterized as crispy and dry. Jousenmizunogotoshi is sumit as this meening. Junmaiginjo of this is just exactly like water. This Sake is cut sweetness and taste,  so this is extremely more smooth and drinkable than water, this is still feel flavor of Sake. This is exactly pure Niigata's Sake. It is not diffecult to get this Sake, so I recommend to try this.

Kosinokagetora''Ryu''

Kosinokagetora''Ryu''

 Kosinokagetora is made of nice Niigata rice and water of low hardnes. Obviously of course expensive Sake like 'Junmaidaiginjo' or 'Daiginjo' is good Sake, so I dare to recommend you 'Ryu',which is cheap Sake in Niigata. This is cheep sake, but you can taste mild, crispy ,dry and good going down. You should say 'Just as I expected Niigata is land of Sake' because this has characteristic  of dry but you can sill feel mild because this is brewed thoughtfullly. It is useless that if Sake is too expensive like you can buy a bottle per some years however that Sake is very good taste.  That's why I recommend Kosinokagetora''Ryu''

Kikusui''Funakuti Itibansibori''

Kikusui''Funakuti Itibansibori''

 This might be bad words, Kikusui is the best Sake in cheap Sake in Niigata. I want you to drink this not expecting good. You should taste thick flavor and characteristic sense of dry of Niigata's Sake when you drink as cold. You must be surprised in Niigata. You should say 'It is amazing I can get a such a good Sake in a supermarket and a convenience store. I recommend you Kikusui''Yondanshikomi'' if you want similar taste and milder than ''Funakuti Itibansibori''

Shimeharitsuru ''Jun''

Shimeharitsuru''Jun''

  Shimeharitsuru''Jun'' has mild flavor and this tastes dry and refreshing. This goes well with any food because this has modest flavor and taste in Niigata Sake. You should gulp this down with food when you drink this. Some people say 'Shimeharitsuru is the best Sake when we drink with some food'. I recommend you Shimeharitsuru''Yuki'', which is brewed by Tokubetsuhonjouzo, if you want more dryer than ''Jun'', but Shimeharitsuru''jun'', which is brewed by Junmaiginjo, is typical Niigata Sake so I recommend you ''Jun'' if you want to know about Niigata.

Hakkaisan

Hakkaisan

What is Niigata Sake ? A half of Japanese says ''Kubota'', the other half says ''Hakkaisan''. Hakkaisan is a pioneer showing all over the Japan that there is crispy and dry Sake in Niigata. This is tanrei,it means crispy, and dry. Junmai Ginjo of Hakkaisan is milder than Dai Ginjo. But some people say that Dai Ginjo is better than Junmai Ginjo. You should have a drinking contest if you could!

 

Kubota''Manju''

Kubota''Manju''

Kubota is most acknowledged as Sake of Niigata. In addition, ''Manju'', which you must drink this as you drink Sake of Niigata, is  the supreme authority among Kubota. When you drink this, this goes down very smoothly as if you forget what you drink this. But you want to drink again to remember the taste. This go on until the bottle is empty. Japanese says that ''Manju'' has devilish flavor because this is pretty smoothly.