Hanahato Hatsushibori Junmai Ginjo Genshu Nama

Of all the Spring namazake, this is the gentlest and sweetest-- although not at all cloying, more like a well balanced cocktail. 

Notes of strawberry, white chocolate, donut peach, almond milk, vanilla, soft serve, buttery shortbread, and cheesecake. The texture is weighty, soft, plush, pillowy and even a little juicy in the mid-palate, making my mouth water.

This is an excellent namazake for sipping although it also paired beautifully with a light crab salad served on butter lettuce with kumquat. I'd love to see it with goat cheese and strawberry salad, fresh Northern thai flavors and papaya salad, mango-avocado salsa, pineapple pizza...you get the idea! You can play off off of the sweetness by incorporating fruit and savory characteristics in the food.