Ichinokura Junmai Taru "Ace Brewery"

This Junmai Taru cedar-kept sake from "Ace Brewery" is a terrific example of how sake used to taste way back in the day. The nose is a blend of Japanese cedar and apple blossoms, with a faint hint of tropical citrus. It has a very subtle start despite the robust nose, and is filled with a savory middle-mouth of dried apples and overripe pears. There is a hint of thickness that makes the viscosity dance in a salty aftertaste. It is slightly chewy and syrupy, and changes flavors as the fluid warms in the mouth. WORD: Apple WINE: Cedar-Aged Whites BEER: Smoky Ambers FOODS: Stews, dumplings, cooked veggies, pâtés.