Itami Onigoroshi, The demon killer from Itami, Japan, is a junmai sake.  This entry is a light and very dry sake.    It is pleasantly sweet without being fruity with a crisp clean dry taste that is slightly acidic.   It has no after-taste to speak of and would go well with other light food.    Unfortunately it is very difficult to find the 720ml bottle,  so you may only find the 1.8L bottle.   Even, with a large bottle this fine sake will not last long.   Should always be served chilled.

1.8L  $25.50

Hakutsuru (White Crane) is a Junmai Sake made in Kobe, Japan.    I  have sampled many different sakes from very cheap to very expensive, and Hakutsuru is I think the best value within the USA.   It can be served both hot and cold without losing it’s character.   It is a clean, slightly sweet without being a fruity sake.  It also has an acidity to wake up the senses with only a slight tail on the back end.   Because of it’s price per volume value, this is my standard drinking sake.

1.8 Liter  $16.00

A few nights ago, I sampled a recently purchased sake called Ai San San (“Love Brilliant”).  This sake is a Junmai from the Seiryo Shuzo Co. in Ehime Prefecture,  Shikoku Japan.    Upon opening it I could smell apple aromas coming from the bottle.   First sip revealed a smooth sweet drink with no tail.   The drink contained fruity and slightly sour flavors which mixed together give the drink an overall tangy flavor.  Unfortunately this was not at all to my liking so the bottle was left unfinished.

300ml $13.00

Otokoyama (Man’s Mountain) is a Jumani made in Hokkaido, Japan.   This sake lives up to its name, it is very dry and harsh.    The first sip started out smooth with some earth tones but quickly became  acidic and ended with a very harsh tail.   Following sips actually got worse because all I could taste was the dry harshness of the drink.    Some may like the harness, but I will pass on this bottle next time.

720ml $26.00  SMV +10.0

Tozai Living Jewel is a Junmai grade sake that is made in Kyoto, Japan.   This entry is named after the koi fish on the label which Japan considers living jewels.   The sake has a nice slightly fruity nose.   First taste was smooth with  tangy fruit flavors without being overly stated.   The first sip was mildly acidic and had a slight bite on the back end.    This sake should be served chilled, can be sipped alone or served with a wide array of food.

720ml $15.00  smv +6.5

Today’s entry is the signature sake of  Kubo’s Restaurant in Houston.  This sake is brewed and bottled in Nishinomiya, Japan.   Specifically selected and labeled for distribution exclusively in the restaurant,  it has no nose, everything is in the taste.   First taste reveals mellow, slightly sweet,  fruity flavors that are exceedingly smooth with no tail.   The smoothness and lack of an aftertaste is remarkable for a sake that is just a Jumnai.   This is must try for anyone visiting the restaurant.

180ml  $9.00