Anyone have any suggestions for a good Japanese Sake? I don't want/can't afford high dollar, but it is for a friend of mine as a gift. I've never had any, so I have no basis as to what to look for or shy away from.
Re: Sake anyone?
Habu Sake.
Habu Sake.
Re: Sake anyone?
Habu isn't something I'd get for someone who isn't a real sake fan. It's a specialty sake that could go over like a fart in a phone booth. (Also, it's not a true sake; it's Okinawan.) Some people really like it, some don't, and if you don't know your friend's tastes, it might be something to try during a different occasion. You'd be mighty hard-pressed to find it in Alabama, much less the USA. The dead snake in the bottle doesn't get past the USDA and customs very well.
A nigori sake might be something within reason--it's easy enough to find on the West Coast, and maybe the Northern seaboard. I've seen it in a Gulf Coast liquor store (to my amazement), so finding it might be possible. It is a different type of (chilled) sake--it's sweet, not expensive and you might be able to find it in Alabama. Nigori is a different type of sake--"unfiltered"--there is some rice pulp contained in this sake, where other sakes are completely filtered and translucent in color. Generally, it's usually regarded as just a tad higher quality than the most publicly-favored mass-produced fare.
Sho Chiku Bai seems to be the big name here in the USA, but it's pretty ordinary unless you can get some of their better-distilled examples. If Alabama is anything like Mississippi, it could be hard to find anything truly refined. Most likely you'll find the main Japanese "Budweiser - Miller - Pabst" brands--Sho Chiku Bai, Gekkeikan, Hakutsuru, and Ozeki.
Most of the sakes I've seen in liquor stores in the Deep South are meant for warm serving; a nigori is supposed to be chilled-- I've not seen the better-quality warm sakes on the local shelves from Sho Chiku Bai, Gekkeikan, or Ozeki. The Southern following of Japanese liquors isn't very robust.
Royboy's suggestion could work if you're willing to order online.
Habu isn't something I'd get for someone who isn't a real sake fan. It's a specialty sake that could go over like a fart in a phone booth. (Also, it's not a true sake; it's Okinawan.) Some people really like it, some don't, and if you don't know your friend's tastes, it might be something to try during a different occasion. You'd be mighty hard-pressed to find it in Alabama, much less the USA. The dead snake in the bottle doesn't get past the USDA and customs very well.
A nigori sake might be something within reason--it's easy enough to find on the West Coast, and maybe the Northern seaboard. I've seen it in a Gulf Coast liquor store (to my amazement), so finding it might be possible. It is a different type of (chilled) sake--it's sweet, not expensive and you might be able to find it in Alabama. Nigori is a different type of sake--"unfiltered"--there is some rice pulp contained in this sake, where other sakes are completely filtered and translucent in color. Generally, it's usually regarded as just a tad higher quality than the most publicly-favored mass-produced fare.
Sho Chiku Bai seems to be the big name here in the USA, but it's pretty ordinary unless you can get some of their better-distilled examples. If Alabama is anything like Mississippi, it could be hard to find anything truly refined. Most likely you'll find the main Japanese "Budweiser - Miller - Pabst" brands--Sho Chiku Bai, Gekkeikan, Hakutsuru, and Ozeki.
Most of the sakes I've seen in liquor stores in the Deep South are meant for warm serving; a nigori is supposed to be chilled-- I've not seen the better-quality warm sakes on the local shelves from Sho Chiku Bai, Gekkeikan, or Ozeki. The Southern following of Japanese liquors isn't very robust.
Royboy's suggestion could work if you're willing to order online.
Re: Sake anyone?
Only sake I ever tried was in Mountain Home AR. I'd rather cut PGA with goat piss in the future.
Bob
Only sake I ever tried was in Mountain Home AR. I'd rather cut PGA with goat piss in the future.
Bob
Re: Sake anyone?
I'm a huge fan of Taisetsu Ice Dome Sake, it was my first non-hot and still to this day remains my favorite. Very smooth, sweet but not overly-sweet like some plumb wines. Serve it chilled, room temp or warm is a little "eh" and takes away from the crispness.
Only about $20 for a 1.5L
I'm a huge fan of Taisetsu Ice Dome Sake, it was my first non-hot and still to this day remains my favorite. Very smooth, sweet but not overly-sweet like some plumb wines. Serve it chilled, room temp or warm is a little "eh" and takes away from the crispness.
Only about $20 for a 1.5L
Re: Sake anyone?
i was given two bottles of hakutsuru sake by two japanese friends of friends that came to visit the states so i was enrolled to let them shoot a bunch or guns during a range day.
I have no idea if it is cold or warm sake as they left the next day.
any advices from the experts would greatly appreciated.
i was given two bottles of hakutsuru sake by two japanese friends of friends that came to visit the states so i was enrolled to let them shoot a bunch or guns during a range day.
I have no idea if it is cold or warm sake as they left the next day.
any advices from the experts would greatly appreciated.
Re: Sake anyone?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: attherange</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i was given two bottles of hakutsuru sake by two japanese friends of friends that came to visit the states so i was enrolled to let them shoot a bunch or guns during a range day.
I have no idea if it is cold or warm sake as they left the next day.
any advices from the experts would greatly appreciated. </div></div>
Im no expert, but do enjoy sake chilled. Try some warm, try some chilled. No brainer...
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: attherange</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i was given two bottles of hakutsuru sake by two japanese friends of friends that came to visit the states so i was enrolled to let them shoot a bunch or guns during a range day.
I have no idea if it is cold or warm sake as they left the next day.
any advices from the experts would greatly appreciated. </div></div>
Im no expert, but do enjoy sake chilled. Try some warm, try some chilled. No brainer...
Re: Sake anyone?
Check out some websites and learn a little about Sake.
http://www.sake-world.com/html/types-of-sake.html
I like Junmai Daiginjo and Junmai Ginjo sakes. I never drink hot sake, it's usually the crappy tasting sake that they heat up.
Check out some websites and learn a little about Sake.
http://www.sake-world.com/html/types-of-sake.html
I like Junmai Daiginjo and Junmai Ginjo sakes. I never drink hot sake, it's usually the crappy tasting sake that they heat up.
Re: Sake anyone?
http://everything2.com/title/A+beginner%27s+guide+to+Sake
http://www.japaneseculturesociety.org/archives/514
Lived in Japan for 6 yrs, 3 Military and 3 as civilian in Tokyo. Drank a shitload of Sake and would say Atsukan specific Sake, if that's what ya want, is worth staying in that type category. Same would be said about a good mountain Sake that is made specifically for a chilled Sake. Anyhow, hope the two links help. Damn tasty stuff.
http://everything2.com/title/A+beginner%27s+guide+to+Sake
http://www.japaneseculturesociety.org/archives/514
Lived in Japan for 6 yrs, 3 Military and 3 as civilian in Tokyo. Drank a shitload of Sake and would say Atsukan specific Sake, if that's what ya want, is worth staying in that type category. Same would be said about a good mountain Sake that is made specifically for a chilled Sake. Anyhow, hope the two links help. Damn tasty stuff.
Re: Sake anyone?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: maggot</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: attherange</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i was given two bottles of hakutsuru sake by two japanese friends of friends that came to visit the states so i was enrolled to let them shoot a bunch or guns during a range day.
I have no idea if it is cold or warm sake as they left the next day.
any advices from the experts would greatly appreciated. </div></div>
Im no expert, but do enjoy sake chilled. Try some warm, try some chilled. No brainer... </div></div>
good point my OCD hates wasting a good thing but i'll try it both way, what is the prefered method of warming it, I assume microwave is a no-no.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: maggot</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: attherange</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i was given two bottles of hakutsuru sake by two japanese friends of friends that came to visit the states so i was enrolled to let them shoot a bunch or guns during a range day.
I have no idea if it is cold or warm sake as they left the next day.
any advices from the experts would greatly appreciated. </div></div>
Im no expert, but do enjoy sake chilled. Try some warm, try some chilled. No brainer...
good point my OCD hates wasting a good thing but i'll try it both way, what is the prefered method of warming it, I assume microwave is a no-no.
Re: Sake anyone?
Junmai Ume is a pretty good one that's not very expensive.
Junmai Ume is a pretty good one that's not very expensive.
Re: Sake anyone?
Here's a Sake foum:
http://www.sakeforum.com/
Here's a cheap Sake:
http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/114576028/KANOIZUMI_Kasen_Kinmon_1800ml_Japanese_Sake.html
Here's a brewery:
http://panjiva.com/Okunomatsu-Sake-Brewery-Co-Ltd/1620814
They make this:
http://en.creation.com.tw/product/content.asp?bid=164
Which is quite good - smooth, with a silky texture if I remember right.
Here's a Sake foum:
http://www.sakeforum.com/
Here's a cheap Sake:
http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/114576028/KANOIZUMI_Kasen_Kinmon_1800ml_Japanese_Sake.html
Here's a brewery:
http://panjiva.com/Okunomatsu-Sake-Brewery-Co-Ltd/1620814
They make this:
http://en.creation.com.tw/product/content.asp?bid=164
Which is quite good - smooth, with a silky texture if I remember right.
