“BALLER” Sake – FUKUCHO HYAKUSHI SENKAI
This “Baller” Sake Introduction is brought to you by Chika Martino from Breakthru Beverage:
Hyakushi Senkai: My Birthday Bottle
I've decided that Hyakushi Senkai will be my birthday bottle. Before I tell you why, let me introduce the sake and the person behind it.
About the Sake and the Brewery
Hyakushi Senkai translates to "Journey of Continuous Improvement," and it's meant to be the ultimate expression of Miho Imada's pursuit of excellence. It's brewed from Hattanso, an heirloom Hiroshima rice that disappeared from cultivation for over a century until Imada brought it back. It's a Junmai Daiginjo Muroka Genshu with the rice polished to 28%, and it comes in at 15% alcohol.
The brewery is Imada Brewery, which makes the Fukucho label. Miho Imada is both the brewery owner and the toji, which is rare in Japan. Besides reviving that heirloom rice, she has created her own hybrid yeast starter and experimented with brewing sake using white koji. There are only about 30 female tojis in Japan, and when she started brewing there were far fewer. That curiosity and dedication come through in the bottle.
A Confident Woman in a Black Silk Dress
For me, Hyakushi Senkai feels like a confident, sexy woman in a black silk dress. She has an intense personality, with condensed melon and a splash of strawberry, but don't mistake her for sweet. There's a little salinity and an edge that lingers on the tongue, bringing out the melon while keeping the finish drier than when the liquid first lands on the palate.
Mysterious, and Timeless
She is also mysterious. On the palate, the sake feels confident, gorgeous, and almost seductive, like it's inviting you to take another sip, and you can't look away. Even after a month open, she's still sexy, just like a confident woman ages beautifully.
Still Waiting to Open Mine
These notes come from my memory of the first time I tasted this sake with Monica Samuels, Komé Collective President. I received one sample bottle, and I haven't opened it yet. The bottle is limited, so I'm waiting for the right moment to open it.