Junmai & Honjozo
These dependable categories of sake are the workhorses of the sake world.
The Junmai category is historically the “way sake was.” These brews can have their rice milled to many different levels from 80% with 20% removal to 65% with 35% removal as long as the milling percentages are on the label. The old norm was Junmai sake had to be milled to at least 70% remaining and 30% removed, but this is no longer the case. The result is that some Junmai can drink very rich and full-bodied, and some drink lighter and more elegant. Just remember that Junmai also means “rice and water only,” and it’s a great center of the plate food pairing sake that is perfect for most cuisines from salty and savory to rich and robust, fried and grilled to baked and steamed, and from spicy to complex. Good for chilled, room temperature, warming and heating.
Honjozo sake has the same rice milling standard that Junmai sake used to have 70% remaining and 30% removal. The difference with Honjozo is that the makers add a little “brewer’s alcohol” to lighten the sake and clean things up. Honjozo sake is not fortified sake – it is not made stronger by the added alcohol – in fact it makes a sake lighter and more refreshing. This category of sake is perfect for easy drinking and easy food pairings. Good for chilled, room temperature, warming and heating.
Urakasumi Honjozo Genshu "Misty Bay"
rich, dynamic, caramel.The nose on this dynamic genshu (19% ABV) has a collection of aromas from grains, steamed rice, and minerals, to butterscotch, burnt sugar, and roa...
View full detailsTsukasabotan Senchu Hassaku Junmai "Great Plan"
round, dry, creamy."Great Plan" is one of those sake that break the mold. It's quite a dry brew, but doesn't have the typical sharp, staccato profile of a dry sake. R...
View full detailsMutsu Hassen Tokubetsu Junmai 2024 Brown Bottle "Red Label"
technical, spritzy, juicy.The nose on this super popular Junmai sake is a lively collection of red apple, grape, blueberry, and mango aromas. Some sake breweries are known f...
View full detailsShichi Hon Yari Junmai "The Seven Spearsmen"
ricey, oatmeal, classic.The nose on this classic Junmai sake is a vibrant collection of earth, nuts, butter, wheat, crushed leaves, and steamed rice aromas. In a word, th...
View full detailsChoryo Tokubetsu Junmai "Omachi"
umami, funk, polished.The nose on this special “one of THOSE sakes” is a killer collection of cocoa, butter, salt water, earthy, nutty, leather and hot chocolate aromas....
View full detailsZaku Ho no Tomo Junmai "The Artisan"
tangerine, elegant, quick.The nose on this very popular Japanese sake is a gentle collection of mineral water, pear, vanilla, citrus, and stone fruit aromas. This is a “cra...
View full detailsSohomare Tokubetsu Kimoto Junmai "Heart and Soul"
cereal, roasted grains, elegant.The nose on this traditionally made special brew is a gentle collection of toasted rice, wheat, nutty, earthy, cereal, vanilla, and lemon peel arom...
View full detailsSenkin Organic Junmai Kimoto Genshu Kioke "Nature"
wild yeast, technical, amazing.The nose on this one-of-a-kind organic and throwback sake is a stupendous collection of marmalade, Italian bread, salted butter, raisin bran, peach...
View full detailsEmishiki Junmai Genshu "Sensation White"
green apple, crisp, sensational.The nose on this “New World” Junmai is a great collection of green apple, lemon peel, cut grass, and floral aromas. Today’s Junmai category has to ...
View full detailsOnda 88 Junmai
hefty, wild, umami.The nose on this hefty brew is a wild collection of leather, earthy, nutty, creamy, and musky aromas. Made with a rice varietal called Ippon-Jime m...
View full detailsGakki Masamune Junmai "Junjo"
66%, bright, great with yakitori.The nose on this extremely hard to get Junmai has a vivid collection of melon, Asian pear, grape, apricot, blueberry, and cantaloupe aromas. Are yo...
View full detailsTatsuriki Kimoto Tokubetsu Junmai
layered, creamy, nutty.The nose on this traditionally pole-rammed sake is a nice collection of nuts, nougat, cream, and steamed rice. What is a pole-rammed sake? It’s a b...
View full detailsIsojiman Bessen Honjozo "Pride of the Seashore"
peach, sourdough toast, professional.The nose on this Honjozo made with spring water from the Minami Alps, is a solid collection of mineral, cherry, peach, grapefruit, green bamboo, an...
View full detailsIne Mankai Junmai Genshu “Ine’s Full Bloom”
ancient red rice, layered, round.The nose on this "one-of-a-kind" brew is a vast collection of beets, orange, black olives, cherry syrup, prosciutto, kombu, winter spices, and bone...
View full detailsFukumimi Junmai Genshu TRUE SAKE EXCLUSIVE
true sake selection #3!The nose on this two year aged sake is a superb collection of butter rum, cooked apple, cocoa, orange, peach, caramel, shiitake mushroom, malt, and...
View full detailsTenbi Tokubetsu Junmai
expressive, zesty, pear.The nose on this very popular "new world" Junmai is a clever collection of cherry, kiwi, young melon, raisin, cotton, cucumber, and steamed rice ar...
View full detailsAbe Junmai
bright, fresh, new niigata.The nose on this modern brew from Niigata Prefecture is a wonderful collection of lemon lime, grapefruit, peach, cereal milk, caramelized sugar, pe...
View full detailsHeavensake Junmai Label 12 "Konishi"
ricey, gentle, compact.This private label sake made by the ancient Konishi Sake Brewery has a very gentle nose of hay, butterscotch, nougat, and steamed rice. The methodo...
View full detailsJozen Junmai “Honey Yeast”
gentle, easy, low abv.Jikon Tokubetsu Junmai
the flagship jikon sake.Limit 1 bottle per household per customer. Any attempts to obtain more than 1 bottle per household per customer will be refunded immediately. This ...
View full detailsHojo Biden Yamahai Junmai "Pastoral Beauty"
brown sugar, burnt vanilla, silky.The nose on this Yamahai sake made with Yamadanishiki brewing rice is a wicked collection of butter, honey nuts, forest floor, grains, and fig arom...
View full detailsShimeharitsuru Tsuki Honjozo
dry, subtle, brilliant.The nose on this extremely cool Niigata sake is a gentle collection of steamed rice, vanilla, mint, hay, toast, and nougat aromas. Stop the presses...
View full detailsSuigei Tokubetsu Junmai "Drunken Whale" 1.8L
best selling dry sake.All 1.8L bottles are for Store Pick Up. If this item is in your cart, you’ll only see the local pick up option—shipping will not be available. This...
View full detailsSOTO Junmai
soft, light, cooked apple.Soft, light, and dry on the palate with flavors of stewed apple, banana, and toasted cashews. Pairing recommendations: Yakitori, grilled vegetables...
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