Niwa no Uguisu contains only 6% alcohol by volume, making it very(!) easy to drink and well suited to a sunny afternoon. It’s delightfully thick and has a nice fruity sweetness. Doburoku is not meant to be an especially complex beverage, but what it really offers is a pleasant array of soft fruit flavors: peach, melon, kiwi, a bit of tart grapefruit, and soft fresh mochi. If you’re a fan of Calpis, Yakult, white Ramune, or even drinkable kefir, you’ll probably be a huge fan of this doburoku. Even though the texture is thick and it leaves a residue you may not be used to, I think it drinks so elegantly from glass and recommend serving chilled in a wine glass or thin-walled glass cup or ochoko, such as kiriko.
Stats
- Brewery: Yamaguchi Shuzojo
- Brand: Niwa no Uguisu
- Est: 1832
- Grade: Grades are not technically assigned to doburoku, but this would qualify as a junmai ginjo.
- Prefecture: Fukuoka
- Rice: Yumeikkon
- Polishing: 60%
- Yeast: Proprietary
- Starter: Sokujo
Background:
A Love Letter to Doburoku
Adapted from Sunflower Sake Club writeup, March 2022