Type
Koueigiku Shuzo · Saga
Koueigiku Tsukikage Kimoto Muroka Nama Genshu "Moon Shadow"
$38.00
No sales tax — Oregon
Rice
Shinriki
Prefecture
Saga
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.
Wow! That is such a fun and unusual flavor. I write this as I taste Shinriki Tsukikage for the first time, and I'm so stunned by the unique beauty of it. I think I'm going to struggle to write tasting notes, only because I can't do it concisely!
The flavor of this sake can really be separated into 4 experiences for me. First, the aroma: ostensibly nothing too unique...yummy orchard fruit, some fresh cream, cultured butter notes... but I get the distinct smell of some of my favorite local Oregon Chardonnays with just a touch of that indulgent oak-buttery vibe (locals: think Martin Woods or Crowley!), an alluring quality that leaves me sniffing as much as sipping.
Next, there's the palate. To start, a pretty typical nama-ness, full orchard fruit, peach, a little bit of mango, tropical, a little buttery and caramelized. Off-dry, higher than average acidity, super well balanced, really grounded. Then, the mid palate comes in with this really unusual...something. It's an umami quality, but it's not like anything I've had before. There's a sense of golden fields of grain, chamomile tea, and the sweet resinous quality of white sage. Smudge stick sake? Anyway, it's different.
The finish is lingering....that's the last part. Because it lingers, it invites you think about this whole experience.
Anyway, I love it.
I could not be more proud to introduce our third Shinriki sake. One of the rarest, ancient varieties of rice in Japan!
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
Type: Junmai
Style: Namazake, Kimoto, Modern
Rice: Shinriki
Rice-Polishing Ratio: N/A
ABV: 15%
Yeast: Proprietary
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.
