Sake Season – Let’s Make Some History with This Season’s “Hiyaoroshi” Fall Draft Sake Drop
Oh man, do I love the fall! It should be capitalized I think, because it’s such an amazing time of the year. Even
though it still feels like summer, I still get excited for the changing of the leaves and the changing of the foods! And this goes double in Japan, because who doesn’t love Japan in autumn? But, there is one other Fall
changing of sorts that you amazing True Sake Newsletter readers have been there for from the beginning and that is the changing of the seasonal sake known as “Hiyaoroshi,” or “Fall Draft Sake,” a term coined by Kazu
Yamazaki, who first imported these nama-zume sakes 15 years ago for Japan Prestige Sake. It was his passion to bring these once pasteurized then “aged for 6 month” brews to pair with western cuisines. And he had a certain friend selling sake in San Francisco who urged him on to get more and more offerings from his amazing breweries.
In the process, we once set a record for offering 17 different brands of Hiyaroshi sake in one autumn season. That is amazing really, and I am certain that this is larger than any retail offering in any sake shop in Japan! Yes, I said Japan. Please fact check that for me, but I am pretty darn sure that any regional sake shop from Kansai to Hiroshima would never carry 17 “Fall Draft Sake.” And in Tokyo, the largest offering I have ever seen was 12. In this context, you all are record setters! You did it! You provided us the market to support the sale of so many different versions of this seasonally released sake, and we say THANK YOU!
But wait, there is more! As a token of our appreciation, Mei, the team, and I want to offer you more than 17
different Hiyaoroshi brews this year! Yes, we will break our own record, and I know Kazu-San is looking down on us from heaven with a glass of Kikuhime Hiyaoroshi in his glass and saying “Sugoi,” as we currently have 16 different Hiyaoroshi in stock now and will be getting 3 or 4 more in the coming weeks. Woot! So what does that
mean to you? You are living a very charmed sake life outside of Japan, and you have access to liquid autumn in a bottle like never before. Time for you to get your “Draft” on. And you are shopping for Hiyaoroshi sake at a very interesting time, as there are certain trends emerging in terms of the flavor outcomes. Traditionally, Fall Draft Sake used to be more savory and umami-driven, but there is a trend now for brighter and fruitier versions that speak to those who like more wine-like offerings. Either way we have lots to choose from and it’s cool to explore all of the styles and builds. Give us a call and let the team share their Hiyaoroshi intelligence (HI), or we will see you at the store to talk Fall facts.