Wednesday Lessons #33: Okayama Sake
WEDNESDAY LESSONS #33: OKAYAMA SAKE 6/5/2024
SAKE 1
CHIKURIN Junmai Ginjo “Otoro” Bottle (720ml): $39
Junmai ginjo namazake Rice: Yamadanishiki (org, estate) Polishing: 50% Yeast: #1801 SMV: 0, ABV 16%
This sake is made by the Marumoto Brewery, a national cultural landmark. Nicknamed nousan sakagura, “The Farmers’ Brewery” because the farmers who grow the rice also brew the sake. An estate- bottled sake, Otoro is made from 100% Yamada Nishiki polished to junmai daiginjo levels & named after a local river, also a nod to its luxurious and creamy mouthfeel. Chikurin brand is named for Mt. Chikurinji, which supplies the brewery with its spring water.
SAKE 2
BIZEN MABOROSHI Junmai Ginjo Omachi Bottle (720ml): $43
Junmai Ginjo Rice: Bizen Omachi Polishing: 60% Yeast: Muromachi Kobo (#9) SMV: +2, acidity 1.6, ABV: 15.5%
Founded in 1688, Sakuramuromachi is the oldest brewery in Okayama. Regarding their spring water: “It is clean, of course, but it has the same water temperature in winter and summer, and is slightly soft water with a pH of 6.5. The “Omachi Cold Spring,” consisting of subsoil water from the Asahigawa River that flows through Okayama City, was used by the feudal lord Lord Ikeda during the Edo period (1603-1868) as his official water supply, and was considered the best water in Bizen Province.” It is one of the “100 best waters” in Japan today.
SAKE 3
GOZENSHU Junmai Bodaimoto Nigori Bottle (720ml): $39
Rice: Omachi Polishing: 58-65% Method: Gozenshu Bodaimoto Yeast: #9 SMV: -6, acidity 2.2 ABV: 16.5
Gozenshu is made by one of Japan’s most accomplished female toji, Maiko Tsuji, who was also the first female toji in Okayama. In 2023, the company committed to producing 100% of their sake from local Okayama omachi rice, making them the first brewery in Japan to exclusively commit to local Omachi. They are also moving toward 100% “Gozenshu Bodaimoto” method brewing. The woodblock print on the label was made by a local buddhist monk and artist to honor the history of this method.
SAKE 4
TAITEN SHIRAGIKU Junmai Shiragikumai Bottle (720ml): $34
Rice: Shiragiku Nishiki Polishing: 65% Yeast: Shiragiku (house) SMV: +4, ABV: 16%, water: hard Bicchu Toji
The brewery was first founded in 1886 and saw some hard times when it was submerged in a great flood in 1973. Fortunately they were able to get back on their feet in their current location in Okayama Prefecture. The brewery gets its name from a gorgeous white chrysanthemum that blooms across Japan in autumn. “Taiten” was added to celebrate its winning of a prize at a national competition in the year of the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Showa.
SAKE 5
KAMIKOKORO White Peach Sake “Momo” Bottle (500ml): $29
25% white peach juice from Okayama, 75% sake Bottled 2024
BONUS
KUHEIJI Junmai Daiginjo “Betsu Atsurae” (720ml): $93 Akaiwa Omachi, 40%
Okayama ~1h from Osaka ~$50
107 SE Washington St. #121, PDX, OR 97214 web: www.sunflowersake.com IG: @sunflowersake email: hello@sunflowersake.com Sunflower Sake is a retail shop, tasting room, and educational center in Portland, Oregon, focusing on craft sake from around the world. Sunflower ships year-round and offers affordable, biweekly Wednesday sake classes. Thank you so much for joining us tonight!
Printed on the sheet as #33; sequenced here by date.
