“Tatenokawa” & “Yukinobosha” & “Koshinohakuro” In-store tasting event @ Ikebukuro

You can taste Tatenokawa, TATENOKAWA, Inc. from Yamagata prefecture, Yukinobosha, Saiya Shuzouten Co.,Ltd. from Akita prefecture and Koshinohakuro, HAKURO SHUZO co.Ltd. from Niigata prefecture.

 

 

Tatenokawa (TATENOKAWA, Inc.)

In 1832, when the head of the Uesugi clan first visited the Shonai area he was so amazed by the quality of the water that he recommended sake production to first generation Heishiro.

And so, in 1854, Heishiro began making sake. In the following year 1855, the visiting Daimyo of the Sounai Clan, Sakai Tadakatsu was presented with the sake and in return christened the brand “TATENOKAWA” (English Name: CASTLE BROOK).

In 2005 they began establishing contracts directly with local farmers. The raw ingredients of Junmai Daiginjo are rice and water. The rice plays a huge part in determining the quality of the end product and yet so many breweries rely on rice suppliers and brewer’s associations for procurement.

In 2010, here at TATENOKAWA, Inc. they began Junmai Daiginjo only production under a new “TATENOKAWA” 100 year vision

In order to realise this vision they have increased the tempo of their overseas exports, which they began in 2008, with a view to their sake becoming a luxury item that has fans all over the world.

Their goal is to make sake that appeals to and is recognised by people globally.

TATENOKAWA, Inc. Home page

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楯野川 純米大吟醸 上流 Tatenokawa Junmai Daiginjo More detail JOURYU 720ml (専用カートン付)

A part of the Ryu (stream) series, is named after its high quality and high specifications. Made with 40% polished Yamada Nishiki sake rice and only the best part of the sake pressing nakadori (middle cut). A sake with a stable balance of flavour and aroma, a nose of ripened fruits, and a high quality Japanese candy like elegance, topped off with a clean finish.

 

 

Yukinobosha (Saiya Shuzouten Co.,Ltd.)

Saiya Shuzo is located in Yurihonjo City, Akita prefecture, founded in 1902. It is multiple awarded brewery and top class sake in Akita.

Yurihonjo City is in the southwest of Akita Prefecture. It has a graceful mountain, Mt. Chokai, in the south, and, the western part of the city is on the Japan Sea. It is a city spreading out along Koyoshigawa, a class A river with headwaters coming out of Mt. Chokai. It is filtered down through the mountain. This is semi-soft water, which is very good for sake brewing.

Saiya Shuzo doesn’t allow high demand to speed up their production. The brewery has always put a strong focus on using their own in-house yeast and milling rice properly. Saiya Shuzo was the first brewery in Akita prefecture to culture its own yeast. By isolating and re-culturing the healthy and hardworking yeast out of moromi (fermenting mash) tanks, the master brewer has discovered a strain of yeast that can survive under a strenuous environment of low temperature and higher alcohol content as the fermentation progresses in the tank. The master brewer, Touichi Takahashi is keep researching sake yeast and touching sake koji, therefore his hands are still soft youthful skin.

Akita Pure rice Sake Bar Tokyo station ~秋田純米酒処~東京駅店
It may be hidden gem in a far corner of the second floor of Tokyo station’s building (near the Yaesu north exit). You can taste Akita sake and Akita food in Tokyo station.

2F, 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku.
Nearest station: Tokyo.

Akita Pure rice Sake Bar Tokyo station Google map

Akita Pure rice Sake Bar~秋田純米酒処~東京駅店

Non-smoking establishment

SAIYA SHUZOUTEN Co.,Ltd. Home page

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Yuki no Bosha Junmai ginjo 雪の茅舎 純米吟醸 (秋田) 720ML 1本

 

Saiya Shuzouten Co.,Ltd. Home page


Koshinohakuro (HAKURO SHUZO co.Ltd.)

Since its foundation in 1751, HAKURO SHUZO has been playing a part of sake culture surviving rapid changes in history in Echigo-Nagaoka, present Nagaoka city, Niigata prefecture. In 1882, given over a brewery owned by the lord of Nagaoka clan, the MAKINO family, it started to use the family’s crest, “Mitsu-Kashiwa” and succeeded a brand name “HAKURO”. As time goes by, people engaged in sake production have changed, but our posture to “produce delicious sake to please many people” has been maintained till now.

Beyond the peaks of the Iides, the Mikuni mountains, and the peaks of the Tateyamas, our rich field spreads. The snow melts to flow on this rice producing area in spring and summer, wets Echigo Plain and brings about a rich harvest in autumn.

HAKURO SHUZO now has introduced modern methods of sake production. While maintaining the merits of traditional Japanese sake, for further improvement, they always strive to research on new technology to apply to the change of times and to develop new products as well as to maintain the quality control. A good combination of matured techniques of the local Echigo-Toji and young craftsmen’s energy in addition to the modern facilities, produces high quality hand-made “HAKURO”.

Niigata Prefecture has over 90 sake breweries. With 17 of those in Nagaoka, the city has the most breweries in the prefecture and second most in Japan.

Inside JR Nagaoka station, Ponshukan is a sake “theme park” where you can sample leading local sake brands, purchase sake-related goods. In the sake tasting corner, for only ¥500, you get five coins, each of which gives you a full shot of rice wine. Simply insert the coin into the small sake vending machines, press the “start button,” and watch the wine flow. Ponshukan offers over 100 different brands of sake produced by renowned breweries all over Niigata. Don’t miss it!

Ponshukan Nagaoka Google map

Open: 9:00~20:00

HAKURO SHUZO co.Ltd. Home page

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Koshinohakuro Chotokusen Daiginjo 越乃柏露 超特選 大吟醸 720ml

 

DATE AND TIME

2018/11/28 (Wed)~2018/12/04 (Tue) 10:00~20:00

You cannot go? Check out ichibansake Event Calendar

LOCATION

Seibu Ikebukuro B1F

〒171-0022 Tokyo, Toshima, Minamiikebukuro, 1 Chome−28−1

Google map

Access

Directly connect
Ikebukuro Station South Exit, Exit 38, Exit 36

Web site

For more information visit, 今週の酒と肴

“Zuiyo” & “Benten” In-store tasting event @ Ikebukuro


You can taste Zuiyo, ZUIYO CO.,LTD. from Kumamoto prefecture, and Benten, Goto Shuzoten from Yamagata prefecture.

Zuiyo (ZUIYO CO.,LTD.)

Zuiyo is founded in 1867, in Kumamoto. Kumamoto is a city on the Japanese island of Kyushu. The brewery is in Kawashiri, the south of Kumamoto city.

Sake can be enjoyed at a various range of temperatures. Each temperature has a different name, and you can enjoy unique aspects of the same sake when you try it at different temperatures.

Houjun Junmai Zuiyo is awarded Grand Gold in Kan sake contest in 55 ℃ good value category.

55℃ is called Atsu-kan which is vapor rises from the tokkuri (larger sake jars). The tokkuri and choko (small sake cups) are hot to the touch. The sake’s aromas are sharpened and it tastes dry, with a clean finish.


Generally speaking, Atsu-kan is suited to hot pot (“nabe”) dishes and foods made with a lot of oil and fat. The fat from the food coats your tongue and palate, which desensitizes your taste buds. As a result, your second bite is less tasty than first. Your food would taste better if you washed your mouth between mouthfuls. Sipping Atsu-kan is an easy way to wash away the fat deposits.

How is sake heated?

To warm up sake, place the tokkuri containing sake in a pot of hot water. The tokkuri gradually heats up and the heat is transmitted to the sake. It is heated to a temperature before alcohol begins to evaporate, so that the aromas do not dissipate.

What’s Tokkuri?

The server of a sake set is a flask called a tokkuri (徳利). A tokkuri is generally bulbous with a narrow neck, but may have a variety of other shapes, including that of a spouted serving bowl (katakuchi).

Cat tokkuri and choko, Sake set サンアート かわいい食器 「 だんらん酒 とっくり 」 三毛ねこ 徳利・お猪口セット 白 SAN2524

ZUIYO CO.,LTD. Home page

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Houjun Junmai Zuiyo 芳醇純米酒 瑞鷹 720ml [熊本県]

 

Benten (Goto Shuzoten)

Based in Okitama, Yamagata Prefecture, Goto Shuzoten is a jizake brewery dedicated to the small-lot production of high-quality sake since 1788. The current president is the eighth-generation owner, and his successor works at the brewery among the kurabito (brewery workers) during the winter sake-making months.

Primarily using rice grown by contracted producers, among them the brewery’ s own kurabito, Goto Shuzoten brews junmai-shu and junmai ginjo-shu, among others.

Its preferred rice varieties are sake rice such as Dewasansan, Tsuyahime, Kamenoo and Yamada Nishiki, especially those produced locally in Yamagata. Small-lot production and Yamagata’ s natural blessings ensure the excellent quality and great taste of Goto Shuzoten’ s sake.

 

Benten (辯天)

Their flagship brand Benten was named after the goddess of music and performing arts, Benzaiten (Saraswati), who is one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune.

Benzaiten has traditionally been worshipped by musicians, dancers and other artists.

The International Wine Challenge (IWC) was established in 1984 and has now firmly positioned itself as one of the most respected blind wine tasting competitions in the world. The IWC sake competition was introduced in 2007 and has grown tremendously over the past 10 years with sakes entered from Japan, Canada, Norway and the USA in 2016. As such, the IWC employ a vast number of international sake experts to judge the competition each year.

Goto Shuzoten’s sake is awarded many times in IWC.

Goto Shuzoten Home page

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Benten Gokujo Junmai Daiginjo Genshu Yamadanishiki 後藤酒造 辯天 極上 大吟醸原酒 山田錦 720ml

This is awarded Sake Trophy 2017 in IWC.

TASTING NOTES

Medium+ intensity of fruity aromas such as apple, banana – fruit basket, floral, some quality rice, mandarin orange. Soft mouthfeel, sweet front palate but good savoury astringency, so refined long finish with good precision.

DATE AND TIME

2018/10/18 (Thu)~2018/10/24 (Wed) 10:00~20:00

You cannot go? Check out ichibansake Event Calendar

LOCATION

Ikebukuro Tobu Department Store B1F

1 Chome-1-25 Nishiikebukuro, Toshima, Tokyo 171-0021

Google map

Access

Directly connected to “Ikebukuro station”

Web site

For more information visit, 東武百貨店 池袋店 日本酒催事スケジュール

“Oyama” & “Kuroemon” In-store tasting event @ Ikebukuro

You can taste Oyama, Kato Kahachiro Shuzo, Co., LTD. from Yamagata prefecture, and Kuroemon, Yukawa Sake Brewery co.,ltd. from Nagano prefecture.

 

Oyama (Kato Kahachiro Shuzo, Co., LTD.)

Founded in 1872 in Oyama, Tsuruoka city, Yamagata. It is a famous brewing district, and has been called “Little Nada of Tohoku.” Although it is small district, there ware 40 – 50 breweries at peak. However, at the present time only 4 breweries are all that remains including Kato Kahachiro Shuzo.

Designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2014, Tsuruoka is blessed with a diverse food culture thanks to the nature’s bounties brought by an ideal environment and irrigation in the Shonai region.

Thanks to local cuisine such as the local vegetarian Shojin Ryori favoured by the Yamabushi at Dewa Sanzan and the living cultural assets of almost 50 types of heirloom vegetables passed down through the generations, Tsuruoka’s UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) membership in the field of gastronomy is thanks to how its unique, singular food culture has evolved and survived in parallel with other cultural assets, such as Kurokawa Noh and Dewa Sanzan’s mountain area.

Oyama Shinshu Sake Brewery Festival

Every February sees 4 sake breweries (Haneda, Dewanoyuki, Fuji and Kato) in the Oyama area of Tsuruoka open their sake brewery doors to visitors hoping to imbibe the latest batches of sake on offer at each brewery. These include Food stalls ensure there is plenty to eat too for those making the trip.

 

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Oyama Tokubetsu Junmai Tomizu 大山 特別純米酒 十水 とみず 720ml

Kato Kahachiro Shuzo, Co., LTD. Home page

 

Kuroemon (Yukawa Sake Brewery co.,ltd.)

Founded in 1650. Yugawa is located in Kiso Village, Nagano. Kiso Village sits in a valley surrounded by 2,000m tall mountains.

The location of the brewery is at 936 meters above sea level, first or second in Japan depending on how you measure it. This freezing environment is hardly ideal for brewing where the temperature drops to minus 18 degrees Celsius during the intense cold of December to February. However, here and only here in the village of Kiso, sake overflowing with hardiness and kindness is made possible from being cultivated by the tough in the cold brewing technology and know-how.

The village of Kiso is located at the mouth of the Kiso River which flows all the way to the Pacific Ocean. This bountiful well water used in the early processing stage is a valuable asset blessed by the nature of Kiso and is still preciously used today.

Yugawa Naoko, the 16th generation current family owner, defines their craft as, “tradition that changes with the times and connects us all.” Basing their sake around the flavor of delicious, well-rounded rice with a pure, nimble aftertaste, they produce two brands: Kisoji and 16th generation Kurouemon. Kisoji’s concept is together with the ancient days of Kisoji and from now and into the future, the name remains the same. Kurouemon aims unforgettable sake staying in your memory along with the sensibility of the creators who made it.

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KISOJI Junmaidaiginjo Yamada-nishiki 35 720ml 木曽路 純米大吟醸 山田錦 株式会社湯川酒造店 長野県 杜氏と蔵人の技が凝縮された極上の純米大吟醸

The ginjo aroma is fluity and taste is well-rounded rice with a pure. Nimble aftertaste as well as clear is so great!

Yukawa Sake Brewery co.,ltd. Home page

DATE AND TIME

2018/09/27 (Thu)~2018/10/03 (Wed) 10:00~20:00

You cannot go? Check out ichibansake Event Calendar

LOCATION

Ikebukuro Tobu Department Store B1F

1 Chome-1-25 Nishiikebukuro, Toshima, Tokyo 171-0021

Google map

Access

Directly connected to “Ikebukuro station”

Web site

For more information visit, 東武百貨店 池袋店 日本酒催事スケジュール