Seasonal Sake – The Great Winter/Spring Nama Sake Overlap
Welcome to the great seasonal sake overlap known as Winter/Spring Namas! Yup, it’s that time of year again when our shelves are filled with both Winter and Spring unpasteurized sakes that are fresh, fabulous, and fun! The point is freshness, and these are some of the freshest sake outside of Japan. We are very lucky to be considered a good landing spot for these temperamental brews that require extra refrigeration and better handling. One of my importer buddies calls it her “cold chain” from brewery in Japan to the end user via an importer, distributor, and retailer that knows how to handle unpasteurized sake.
As you’ve read for two decades, True Sake has been instrumental in laying the foundation for unpasteurized sake in the US. We helped build the market from the ground up. We worked with distributors and importers to change to refrigerated containers on ships to get the freshest and “rawest” sake on our shelves. We’ve seen it all from day one! Just remember that when we opened True Sake, there was only one true “nama nama” available in the US from Japan. And look at today! In all honesty, we carry more namas from more prefectures than most liquor stores in Japan. It’s a simple fact, we have the largest and freshest sake selection in the US and outside of Japan. And it’s been brought to our attention that you can physically call our store where you can speak to Nama Professionals, unlike other online sake businesses!
Emishiki Sensations White 2025
From Shiga Prefecture. Junmai Nama. SMV: N/A Acidity: N/A
The nose on this seasonally released Nama version of our usual Sensations White is a very cool collection of green apple, green grape, citrus icing, tangerine, lime zest, bamboo, white chocolate, and powdered sugar aromas. Are you ready for a Nama Junmai that drinks more like an unpasteurized Ginjo? This brew is a good old-fashioned “user friendly” raw sake that is fresh, smooth, plump, round, creamy with a medium body that drinks with a flavorful glide across the palate with a delicious sea water finish. Look for apple, pear, rock candy, clementine, strawberry, candied lime, cucumber, sage, lemongrass, and mineral water flavors that are mouth watering, juicy, plush, ripe, and very slick. This is a great Gifting Nama at a great price point! WORD: Juicy WINE: Plump Reds/Chewy Whites BEER: Fruity Ales FOODS: American sushi, crab, lobster, shrimp, comfort street fare, tacos, burgers, cheese plates, fruit plates, dishes with citrus.
From Miyagi Prefecture. Tokubetsu Junmai Nama. SMV: +1.5 Acidity: 1.6
The nose on this store's favorite seasonally released unpasteurized brew is a rich collection of oatmeal, sourdough, chestnut, muffin, pound cake, black berry, green grape, cherry blossom, peach mango, and sweet koji rice aromas. Made with Miyagi consumption rice milled to 60% and House yeast, this sake is like tasting Miyagi in the Spring. Round, smooth, soft, slippery, and silky. This brew drinks full-bodied but light and fresh with a very excellent integrated acidity and a quick dry mineral finish. Look for flan, brown sugar, whole grain bread, breakfast cereal bar, chestnuts, mochi, and oatmeal that mingle with melon, daikon, green apple, persimmon, and pumpkin flavors. In the realm of red wine drinker’s and those who like more rich and complex nama sake. WORD: Lively WINE: Deep Reds/Rich Whites BEER: Creamy Belgians FOODS: Sukiyaki, grilled crab, grilled white fish, carpaccio, spinach dishes, pastas with basil and thyme, and American sushi.
From Nagano Prefecture. Junmai Ginjo Nama Genshu. SMV: ±0 Acidity: SMV: 1.4
The nose on this popular Nagano “nama” or unpasteurized seasonally released brew is a bright collection of peach, Muscat, cinnamon butter, green apple, grilled pineapple, blueberry, honey, pear, and cookie dough aromas. Crisp, lively, fresh, and fun, this brew drinks with light spritziness, zestiness, and friskiness for a delicate fizzy mouth-feel that is refreshing and layered. Look for berries and cream, melon, rock sugar, sugarcane juice, toasted rice, Hawaiian rolls, Asian pear, brioche, fresh herbs, flavors that conclude in a mineral water finish that is uplifting and bright. WORD: Refreshing WINE: Zesty Reds/Crisp Whites BEER: Crisp Ales FOODS: Grilled white fish and chicken, foie gras, Chinese stir-fry, roast pork, butter sautéed mushrooms, pork cutlet, and spinach salads.
From Yamagata Prefecture. Tokubetsu Junmai Nama. SMV: ±0 Acidity: 2.0
The nose on this seasonally released Spring Nama (unpasteurized) sake is a vast collection of lychee, peach, mango, nectarine, ginseng, cucumber, honey tea, persimmon, and chive aromas. This Shiboritate sake is bottled immediately after pressing in order to keep it fresh for when you open your bottle. This makes the sake drink more fresh, brisk, crisp, tingly, lively and bright. It’s water-like, smooth, and juicy in texture with a playful refreshing acidity and tangy crisp finish. Look for tangerine, lemon peel, nectarine, yuzu, celery, rock sugar, grape, cucumber, daikon, papaya, and pear flavors with a really cool tomato-water and umami commingling that come forth as the fluid warms in the glass. Best served chilled and get ready to taste the essence of a Yamagata Spring with the Yamagata rice varietal called Dewanosato milled to 60%. WORD: Lively WINE: Zesty Reds/Crisp Whites BEER: Crisp Ales FOODS: Sushi, sashimi, Yakitori, shrimp gyoza pot sticker, fried chicken, tempura, karaage, deep-fried seafood & vegetables, and chicken hot pot.