Type
Kameman Junmai Genmai-zake / Genmaishu
$32.00
No sales tax — Oregon
Rice
Nikomaru
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.
DrySweetPerceptibly sweet: very juicy, with a sweetness that lingers on the finish. Often balanced by more acidity. Sake in this category can pair nicely with desserts & sweeter foods, like BBQ sauce. No one will read "4" as dry, but many won't consider it especially sweet, either.
LightFullVery full: big, dense and viscous, layered and very complex, and/or lots of sweetness, alcohol, umami & age (or all the above). Like a strong cocktail, you'll sip a 5 more slowly.
SoftAcidicAbove-average acidity, an important part of this sake's character, but nowhere near sour/tart. Lift, refreshing. When paired with higher sweetness, it creates a juicy, ripe impression.
SubtleAromaticModerate aroma: noticeable from the glass. Most often, moderate intensity aromas are either ginjo-ka (fruit, florals) or koshu-ka (nuts, mushroom, brown sugar).
Pairs with
On the savory side, I want to go meaty, unctuous and saucy- yakiniku, yakitori, Southern BBQ. The caramel-y richness of the brown rice is a great foil for Szechuan hot pot. Also would be a great digestif sipped room temp with a little salted caramel ice cream or some dark chocolate.
Sake made from 100% unpolished brown rice is a true rarity! Kameman takes great care to select rice that is grown without the use of pesticides, since the character of the whole grain will be expressed in the final product. Brewing a brown rice sake is no simple feat- Hananishiki rice (Kumamoto's flagship sakamai) is gently crushed, rather than polished, so the koji can penetrate the starch core. Soaking and steaming takes twice as long, and additions are made very carefully by the toji to keep the fermentation on track. The sake is aged at the brewery before release.
The nose on this reads like a lighter koshu- the classic notes of caramel and dried fruit hit right away. But the first sip shows this is truly its own thing. I get notes of stone roasted Japanese sweet potatoes, shochu lees, short crust, whole wheat cookie kit kats, dark brown sugar, buckwheat flower honey, sorghum syrup, baekseju...I could go on. Lovely chilled, and gently warmed to nurukan (~40°C), but I find that it really shines at room temperature in a snifter.
Your case:
$30 flat-rate case shipping (up to 12 bottles) — the more you add, the less per bottle. Per federal requirements, an adult (21+) with photo ID must be present to receive the delivery.
Sake Club members: $20 shipping (up to 12 bottles) with your club bottles About the clubs
Specifications
Region: Kyushu
Class: Junmai
Style: Koshu
Rice: Nikomaru
Rice-Polishing Ratio: 100% (brown rice)
Yeast: Kumamoto yeast
Size: 500ml
Shipping
Available nationwide to states and counties that permit alcohol. No sales tax (Oregon). Flat-rate case shipping; in-store pickup available.
Pick up in person
Shop open Tu–Sun. Order online and pick up at the shop — 107 SE Washington St. #121, Portland, Oregon.
