Type
Kikunosato Shuzo · Tochigi
Kikunosato Daina Junmai Chokarakuchi
$32.00
No sales tax — Oregon
Prefecture
Tochigi
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
Fish simmered in sweet mirin-shoyu dashi, stewed dishes (nimono), stir fried dishes.
This is an extra dry Junmai sake made with Gohyakumangoku rice, which is cultivated in Nasu highlands. The soft mouthfeel and velvety, prickly dry finish highlight its abundant umami, and make the sake come across softer and gentler than a lot of other chokarakuchi-- extra dry-- styles. Whether warmed or chilled, Daina is satisfying, deeply flavorful and complex.
This brewery was established in 1866 but was reborn in 1955 as Kiku no Sato Shuzo after closing temporarily during the war. At present, they are a very small-scale brewery run by four people – two generations in one family, plus two employees – and each year they produce only 400 koku, equivalent to a mere 40,000 1.8-liter bottles (and they are only operational between late October and early April). The chief brewer (or toji) who is responsible for overall sake production is managing director Makoto Akutsu. Together with the rest of his kura, they aim to produce sake that is full-bodied and balanced yet with a clean finish – sake that can be enjoyed with meals which will actually enhance the flavors of a meal.
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: Kanto
Type: Junmai
Style: Chokarakuchi
Size: 720ml
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.
