Sake Spotlight – IWA 5 Assemblage 6 Hits The Market And We Are The First To Order It
We are very excited to share the great news that Assemblage 6 has dropped! Working with our friend Bill Rieger Senior Area Manager for ABCK Corp, who is our direct contact for IWA 5, we have the first cases of Assemblage 6 in the Bay Area. Thanks Bill! For his efforts I asked Bill to write some thoughts about Assemblage 6 from the IWA 5 team’s perspective and his alone. Then we added the comments about Assemblage 6 from the U.S. Brand Director for IWA 5, Denise Barker, so you get all the looks and likes from the entire IWA 5 family.
IWA 5 Assemblage 6 (2024): A Seamless Expression of Clarity
We're excited to share the release of IWA Assemblage 6 (2024), a defining new assemblage from Richard Geoffroy, former Chef de Cave of Dom Pérignon and Founder/Maker of IWA.
The release of Assemblage 6 (2024) closes IWA's first creative cycle with elegance and precision. Drawing from the diversity of previous Assemblages, it distills years of exploration into a composition that is assured and exacting — paring back, preserving the essential, and sustaining a pure line from first to final note.
Assemblage 6 (2024) is all poise and precision — a refined, linear expression that holds its note from the very first impression to a seamless, lingering finish. The nose unfolds with pear and plum, green foliage, and toasted rice, enriched by layers of nori and a hint of cacao. Sleek and somewhat drier than Assemblage 5, the palate reveals natural integration and depth, leading to a resonant, enduring finish.
From Bill Rieger, Senior Area Manager:
"I think Assemblage 6 is the most precise and focused IWA to date. It's incredibly clean and pure, with a slightly drier profile than previous Assemblages. There's still a touch of sweetness, because without it the balance disappears and the food pairing falls apart, and IWA has always been designed with cuisine in mind. It's linear, polished, and seamless from start to finish, with a sharper, more defined structure that really highlights the precision of the blend. At IWA, we talk less about the rice and more about the blend, and I think Assemblage 6 expresses that philosophy better than ever."
Assemblages 1 through 5 were an extraordinary period of experimentation. Richard was constantly adding, adjusting, and refining to fully understand the potential of assemblage in sake. Each release pushed the boundaries of what sake could be.
With Assemblage 6, the philosophy shifts from addition to removal. It is about peeling back the layers to reveal the essentials: rice, water, and koji in their purest expression. The result is more linear and refined, with less perceived sweetness, more pronounced acidity, and IWA's hallmark sense of balance.
Assemblage 6 is remarkably versatile at the table. It's bright and balanced enough for lighter dishes, yet structured enough to stand up to deeper, more layered flavors.
From Denise Barker, U.S. Brand Director of IWA:
"With Assemblage 6, the lift is striking. It's bright, seamless, and quietly powerful. The finish is what really stays with you. Richard often says the finish is what creates memory and emotion, and here, you understand why. It lingers beautifully, yet drinks with such ease that you find yourself reaching for another sip without thinking. It works especially well with richer, layered flavors and truly shines with caviar."