Taruzake: cedar in your glass
When you start talking to people about sake, many have the impression that all sake is pretty much the same, just different brands. The reality, however, is far from it.…
Friends and sake: Honjikomi-Kamoizumi
Sake:Honjikomi KamoizumiPrefecture:HiroshimaBreweryKamoizumi ShuzoSake type:Junmai DaiginjoPolishing ratio:50%SVM:±0.0Acidity:1.7 Why do people need friends? I bet most of us never thought about it. Friends are something so natural for the majority of people…
Hot springs of Arima Onsen and the first sake
“On the 11th day, the Emperor went to the hot springs of Arima.” Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan) Scroll 25, Emperor Kotoku I was planning our first trip to…
Yoshinogawa Daiginjo
Yoshinogawa Daiginjo: Half a millennium of sake making from Niigata
BreweryYoshinogawaPrefectureNiigataSake typeDaiginjoMilling ratio40%Alcohol16%SMV+3Acidity1.2 What is the oldest sake brewery? It’s a good question and I spent a good amount of time digging around to find it out. I have to…
Fukumitsuya Kagatobi "Ai" Junmai Daiginjo
Fukumitsuya Kagatobi “Ai” Junmai Daiginjo
BreweryFukumitsuyaPrefectureIshikawaSake typeJunmai DaiginjoPolishing ratio50%Alcohol16%SMV+4Acidity1.4 I quite regret that I hadn’t taken enough interest in sake before our first (and still only!) trip to Japan in 2016. I was still planning…
The first post: sake journey begins
Sugidama sake blog will be documenting my journey from a sake novice to someone, who at least understands a difference between Ginjo and Futsushu.