Nishide Shuzo Junmai "Kutani Yaki Porcelain"

The nose on this top gifting sake is a complex collection of roasted cashew, soy sauce, dashi, pickled radish, cocoa bean, seaweed, brown sugar, and steamed rice aromas. Yes, the bottle is amazing! A tribute to 17th century porcelain artwork which features a very special 100 year-old sake brewing yeast called Kuratsuki Kobo. It’s the perfect gift for red wine, natural wine, or beer drinkers who love complex aromas and flavors, and enjoy a Junmai Daiginjo that drinks very earthy and umami rich like a typical Ishikawa Yamahai-style sake. Silky, smooth, rich, bright, dry, water-like, with a soft dry finish, this brew is elegant umami-driven complexity. Look for dried apricot, persimmon, brioche, Hawaiian roll, herbs, barley tea, graham cracker, roasted cashew, daikon, oatmeal, toasted sourdough, raisin, and fig flavors that have a subtle yet tantalizing minty tone. A very well-balanced throwback sake that has a little golden color, and is history in a bottle. WORD: Umami WINE: Big Dry Reds/Crisp Earthy Whites BEER: Stouts FOODS: Sushi, sashimi, grilled silver skin fish, cured meats, dashi dishes, cheese boards, smoked fish and meats, steaks and chops.