The “Beau Zone Layer” – HEAVENSAKE Junmai Ginjo
To celebrate the 200th Beau Zone Layer I wanted to pick a brew that has several meanings to the growth of sake in the US. And that I enjoy drinking it! This Beau Zone is first and foremost a shout out to one of my mentors in the sake industry – Mr. Koichi Saura who is the owner of Miyagi Prefecture’s Urakasumi Sake Brewery. He has been a dear mentor and a true friend as I navigated opening the first sake store outside of Japan. He is a calm cool dude who had daughters when I had mine, and we bonded as sake and children lovers. But wait! Why Urakasumi? It says HEAVENSAKE. And that’s the second point of this Beau Zone to draw attention to a very successful private label endeavor in the sake industry. I’ve seen many efforts come and go, but HEAVENSAKE has legs and it’s great sake. This is a very tasty Junmai Ginjo that feels like Urakasumi, but is also uniquely flavored to express the HEAVEN way. At the price point and for what this is, it is one of the best buys in the store and makes a great gift giving present as well.