Type
Yukawa Shuzo · Nagano
Kisoji Junmai Yamahai Hiyaoroshi (2026)
$51.00
No sales tax — Oregon
Rice
Hitogokochi rice (locally grown Nagano variety)
Prefecture
Nagano
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.
LightFullMedium: a bit of richness or creaminess, heft, more flavor intensity, more presence, sometimes higher alcohol or sweetness. A lot of namazake sits here.
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.
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.
Pairs with
Enjoy with any cold-weather meal, but especially roasted root vegetables with yogurt and walnuts.
For lack of a better description, the Smell of Fall- where air gets just dry and just cool enough that you can no longer deny Summer is over. Maybe your neighbor down the street is getting ahead of themselves and burning leaves already. Persimmon, golden raisin, cinnamon bark, pear tarts, etc. Kisoji is unique among this season's set for having a bit more body, a bit more texture, a bit more deep presence-- great for lovers of Masumi hiyaoroshi.
2025: A tangy, lightly effervescent mix of persimmon, ripe bosc pear, golden syrup, dried nectarine and mascarpone from this husband and wife team, brewing high in the Japan Alps. A classic expression of Fall with a tangy, lactic twist. In fact, the lactic tang makes the sake a bit leaner on the palate than you might imagine for a Yamahai brew.
The label-- always one of my favorites-- is a vision of the clear, starry night sky in Nagano, the "roof of Japan."
Heated to 115, this sake gains some interesting herbal elements, like forest floor and nutty fiddleheads, while the fruit goes from its fresher form to baked apple, raisins, and poached pear. 130F takes us straight into full-on Fall, whereas it's quite a bit drier and even salty when I bring it up to 140F. I recommend anywhere from lightly chilled to hot, but the range from lightly chilled to lightly warmed is my favorite.
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: Chubu
Type: Junmai
Style: Yamahai
Rice: Hitogokochi rice (locally grown Nagano variety)
Rice-Polishing Ratio: 70%
ABV: 15%
SMV: -2
Acidity: 1.7
Yeast: #901
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.
