SAKE DAY – Introducing the “Welcome Sake” – Shirataki SEVEN
We are extremely excited to announce that this year’s Welcome Sake for the 19th Anniversary of SAKE DAY is an amazing Ultra Junmai Daiginjo from Niigata Prefecture’s outstanding brewery called Shirataki Shuzo.
Yes, you know this brewery by other names as well, as they created the Jozen “Mizunogotoshi” phenomenon line of sakes called Jozen (Aqua, Pink, White, and Cobalt) that come in those beautiful beveled bottles. The original Jozen Mizunogotoshi Junmai Ginjo was one of the earliest sakes that we sold at True Sake that incorporated the concept of making sake that was appealing to women and younger drinkers. (I used to love the box this sake came in because it had an image of a woman sitting on the floor watching TV at home with a bottle beside her – really groundbreaking marketing for sake.)
And yes, we did have one of those tasting Jozen’s as a Welcome Sake many years back, which makes this year’s Welcome Sake a very historical event, as we have never used the same brewery’s products twice. Likewise, this is the first year that we have featured an Ultra Junmai Daiginjo as the Welcome Sake. For those who are counting, SEVEN uses brewing rice milled to 25%, which means 75% of each grain of rice has been milled away.
To share more information about this remarkable brew is Daijiro Hosaka (born into a rice farming family in Niigata) who is the International and National General Manager of Sales for Shirataki and will be at SAKE DAY 2024 to pour you several other stellar sakes from this market-leading brewery. Here in his words is Daijiro:
SEVEN
Can't we heal people using the clean snow melt water of Echigo-Yuzawa?
(At the time of establishment in 1855)
Can we increase the number of people who love sake with beautiful SAKE like clean and soft water? Sake is unfamiliar to young people and women, so let us be the door opener to the sake world with our new brand JOZEN.
(When JOZEN was developed by previous owner.6th in 1989)
~Enriching the connections between people. ~
For the smiles and emotions that naturally arise from a sip of sake.
In 2018, when both the brewer and the Toji(brewmaster) became the seventh generation, they launched the SEVEN brand with this in mind. At the time, the brewer (Shintaro Takahashi) was 40 years old. The Toji (Takaki Matsumoto) was 29 years old.
The characteristic of Shirataki's sake comes from the “snow melt water” that can only be used in this region, which is known as Japan's snow country Echigo-Yuizawa in Niigata. The snow that falls during the winter is transformed into groundwater over a period of about 50 years. The resulting groundwater has a soft, clear taste. This gives it an overwhelmingly clear and gentle flavor to our sake.
SEVEN 25% is Shirataki's pursuit of “high quality”.
Our top-notch production technology has enabled us to create a clear flavor with no cloying taste, an elegant aroma reminiscent of strawberries and pears, and a beautifully extended aftertaste. Because it is very labor intensive, the annual production is about 2,500 bottles.
Bottled products are stored in a snow-refrigerated warehouse where the temperature is kept at 0°C throughout the year. We have thorough quality control from production to delivery in order to minimize changes in sake quality caused by storage and transportation environments and to ensure that the sake is always at its best.
(Tasting Notes）
Elegant aroma of ripe strawberries and Japanese pear.
The mouthfeel is silky, delicate, and smooth.
In the mouth, lush sweetness like pear or peach and a full flavor spread out on the tongue, and the gentle acidity extends. The finish has a nice bitter aftertaste. It disappears gently in the end, just like a mouthful of light snow.
It is recommended to be enjoyed at temperatures between 5°C and 10°C. (41°F and 50°F)
(Food Pairing)
Seafood, vegetables, white meat, and other dishes that are not overly flavorful are recommended.
Steamed oysters, Dungeness crab, boiled octopus, chicken breast, Tabbouleh (salad),
fresh spring rolls, Sautéed asparagus
Other note
Both 7th generations strive to bring a refreshed standard to the world of sake again.
Like JOZEN was before, but more with a modern way of thinking.
“Everything's better with a little funk. “
The yeast changes a little bit every year.
(Beau, I will also send you a picture of the two new SEVENS that will be poured at our Shirataki Table at SAKEDAY’24, and a message card to attach to them. The two swallows were drawn in the image of the president and Toji. One swallow is holding an ear of rice in its mouth. The two swallows (two 7th) weave value through rice. I imagined such an attitude. The string is an indigo-dyed thread from Niigata. I myself pick up the threads one by one. And the bags are made from rice bran.
Also a portion of the proceeds from this brand will be donated to the disaster relief efforts. Compared to when we were young, there are more and more disasters in the world, and the number of disasters is extraordinary. Do you remember when you came to Niigata SAKENOJIN?
In times of emergency, sake and sake breweries are very helpless.People do not want to drink sake, and sake by itself is of no use to those in need.However, if a portion of the proceeds can be permanently allocated to support those in need, then making this sake will be more meaningful than ever before.
To drink sake well and enjoy it.
To enrich the connections between people.
And to contribute to society.
This is what we want to achieve through the SEVEN brand. This is what I want to spread to everyone in the company while I am working at Shirataki.
I am the one who launched this new brand within the company,
Sake is not made for profit, but for the sake of our customers and the world.
We want to make sure that the smiles on people's faces will eventually become our own joy.
If such work is the life work of everyone in the company, we will be happy.
That is how we feel.)
How cool is that? Thank You Dai-san, and thank you Shacho-san for donating the Welcome Sake at SAKE DAY 2024. Also, Thank You Julie Bath of Sake Tangoku who is the importer and distributor for Shirataki. You may say hello to Julie at her Table and of course don’t forget to visit the Shirataki Table to say hello to Daijiro and taste those other SEVEN products that we haven’t even tasted yet! You SAKE DAY guests are so lucky again!