Type
Hakutsuru · Hyogo
Hakutsuru Futsushu "Toji-Kan"
$21.00
No sales tax — Oregon
Rice
Yamadanishiki (Hyogo)
Prefecture
Hyogo
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 dry: reads as dry, with a little bit of softness, or maybe a fruit/brown sugar note that tempers the impression of dryness. Most people will read "2" 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.
SoftAcidicVery soft: gentle and mellow, almost no perceptible acidity. A "1" sake isn't flat or boring, but is balanced around overall subtlety and softness, using other characteristics to give it structure.
SubtleAromaticVery subtle aroma: almost no aroma, maybe a little rice, chestnut, or pear. Usually comes with a subtle flavor profile as well.
Pairs with
A gently warm tokkuri of Toji-kan enhances all kinds of cold weather classics. For some ideas- shepard's pie, shoyu ramen, beef stew, or miso butter salmon.
Toji-kan is beautifully balanced, lovely warm and hot (or room temp), with a deep ricey sweetness. The typical confected, marshmallowy notes of cheap futsushu are absent, instead flavors of chestnut, kinako, and marzipan. This is a very unique release from Hakutsuru-- a personal project from a beloved retiring toji, using ingredients far above grade for futsushu ("regular," table sake)-- and its price is incredibly competitive for the quality.
At Sunflower, I am deeply committed to small breweries but I give myself permission to flex from time to time when the argument is compelling. This is one such case. Making an excellent $21 sake available to my customers (not everyone can afford a $35 bottle, for sure!) is more important than sticking to dogma (I think!)
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: Kansai
Type: Honjozo & Futsushu
Rice: Yamadanishiki (Hyogo)
Rice-Polishing Ratio: 70%
ABV: 15%
Starter: Sokujo
SMV: +2
Acidity: 1.4
Yeast: Proprietary
Size: 720ml
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.
