From Wismettac Asian Foods I’m reviewing a Junmai Daiginjo Sake – a very finely milled sake rice, a strawberry-flavored Nigiri sake – unfiltered and milky in appearance, and a rice wine with natural Yuzu juice – think of lemon-orange and other citrus fruit flavors. All are brewed and bottled by Homare Sake Brewery Co.
All of these bottles I received at the recent Bar and Restaurant Expo for review. There were other alcoholic beverages on their table – including some fine whiskies – and I hope to have the opportunity to taste more from their brewery in the future.
Tasting notes
Junmai Daiginjo Sake:
The distinction “Junmai Daiginjo” represents the highest of all the milled sake rice, so I expected a very refined taste. The color was the same as water, clear and clean; on the nose I noted honeydew melon, umami, lemon slice, and sweet pear; on the mouth I got sweet fruits, umami again, and a lingering finish with a hint of spice.
Strawberry Nigiri:
Not a fan of creamy Nigiri as it’s generally too sweet for my palate, but the light pink hue was welcoming. Shook the bottle to move all that lovely strawberry throughout; the color changed to a milky deep pink to brown, clean and opaque; the aroma reminded me of strawberry yogurt at first, and then notes of strawberry hard candy, red berry jam on toast, and strawberry pie; the taste was all mixed red fruit, very sweet, a mild amount of whipped cream, and spice.
Yuzu flavored rice wine:
I had tasted a version of this at the recent Wine and Spirits Wholesalers convention and really liked it, so I was anxious to review this one I found at the Bar and Restaurant Expo. The color of homemade lemonade – as if there was some pith in it – clean and not completely opaque; Italian lemon ice, umami, sweet Meyer lemon, Mandarin orange, and lemon tart all on the nose; the taste was exactly what I remembered: both sweet and tart, orange and lemon, refreshing and long. If I didn’t know it was a rice wine, apart from the mild umami I found on the nose, I would’ve guessed it to be a mild lemon liqueur. Very satisfying.
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Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in the first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Proof Awards since 2022 (submit via https://proofawards.com) Cellarmasters, LA Wine Competition, Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits. Follow on Instagram and Facebook.
