Type
Amabuki Shuzo · Saga
Amabuki Junmai Ginjo "Ichigo" Cup
$9.00
No sales tax — Oregon
Rice
Omachi
Prefecture
Saga
Flavor profileEach scale is our tasting-room read on where this bottle sits between two extremes — dry to sweet, light to full-bodied, soft to acidic, and subtle to aromatic. These are subjective, however, and will shift with food, serveware & temp.
DrySweetBalanced: a bit of fleshy sweetness. Fruit notes taste more round and juicy, chocolate notes have more heft. Typical sweetness for modern styles. Some people will read "3" as dry.
LightFullLight: lean and easy, mellow, has enough flavor and umami to give it character but generally really easy to drink. This is the most common weight for junmai ginjo/ginjo sake.
SoftAcidicSoft: the most common degree of acidity for sake. A little bit of acidity to give it structure and keep the flavor refreshing, but acidity isn't an important part of its identity.
SubtleAromaticSubtle aroma: if you stick your nose in, you'll get a few quiet notes of fruit, grains, nuts & rice. Aroma isn't a big part of this sake's character. An aromatically quiet sake can still have a powerful flavor, though.
Strawberry flower sake yeast is used to give this sake a uniquely complex and layered fruitiness that is indeed reminiscent of fresh wild strawberries and all of the forest understory that grows beside them-- power of suggestion, or something to it? A succulent bottle loaded with new and interesting flavors.
The completely pasteurized cup version of this sake-- which was originally introduced as a namazake-- offers an interesting interpretation of the immensely popular Amabuki Ichigo (nama). It maintains the plush mouthfeel and rich body of the original, but the texture and flavor linger much longer than the nama. There's a tiny touch of sweetness on the finish but the balance is perfect and the overall impression is more serious than playful. It's the most "ginjo" of the three Amabuki cups, and perhaps the most representative of its yeast.
An incredible value for this wee little gem!
Ground shipping is $25 to $40, free at 12 bottles.
Free pickup at our Portland shop. An adult (21+) with photo ID must be present for delivery.
Specifications
Region: Kyushu
Type: Junmai Ginjo & Ginjo
Rice: Omachi
Rice-Polishing Ratio: 55%
ABV: 16%
SMV: +1
Acidity: 1.8
Yeast: Wild yeast isolated from strawberry flowers
Size: 180ml
Shipping
Ships to most states, not Alaska, Hawaii or Utah. No sales tax (Oregon). Free Ground shipping at 12 bottles. Pickup at our Portland shop is free.
Pick up in person
Shop open Tu–Sun. Order online and pick up at the shop — 107 SE Washington St. #121, Portland, Oregon.
