Sparkling & Nigori
Sparkling -
The sparkling sake, Awa, category is one of the fastest growing segments in the sake industry. Sparkling Sake is not novelty or gimmicky sake. It is the real deal and many brewers are taking sparkling sake to new altitudes of clarity and elegance. If you are a Sparkling Wine or Champagne drinker, this category will speak to you. There are several different methods of production, and now there is even a “Japan Awasake Association'' that acts like a control agency for purity. Some brewers use carbonation, but most use a “secondary” or “lag” fermentation technique that sees the brew still active in the bottle thus creating good bubbles. There are definitely different styles from sweet with fat bubbles, to dry and very crisp with tight bubbles like a Brut. Also, Sparkling Sake usually has a lower alcohol content than typical sake with ranges from 5%-12%. And best of all Sparkling Sake works well in Champagne flutes to capture the bubble play, and pairs well with Champagne fare.
Nigori -
This popular category of sake represents the famous “cloudy”, “milky”, or “foggy” sake that has rice particles left in the brew and are not totally filtered out. Many Americans refer to “Nigori” sake as “Unfiltered” sake, but this is a misnomer as all sake is filtered to a degree. This is when we are speaking about filtering out all of those unfermented rice particles, but many brewers will coarsely filter their sake and then add back the unfermented rice particles. Nigori sake comes in all styles and thicknesses. From very creamy and thick to very light and almost misty, called “Usu-Nigori.” Coarsely filtered sake should always be served chilled and it’s always important to undulate or gently shake the bottle before serving. As for food pairings, Nigori sake goes well with spicy cuisines, fruit plates, cheese plates, and of course deserts.
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Sale
Hakutsuru Sayuri Junmai Nigori "Little Lily"
best selling nigori.from $8.00This unfiltered sake has a very light nose filled with cream, cherry blossom, and white grape elements. “Sayuri” is a very special Nigori – it is n...
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Sale
Rihaku Tokubetsu Junmai Nigori "Dreamy Clouds"
the connoisseur's nigori.from $17.00A complex aroma profile touching on steamed rice, cream, slight toffee and a hint of plum skin. This nigori is the complete package for those looki...
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Sale
Homare Strawberry Nigori
w.y.s.i.w.y.g.$10.00The nose on this incredibly popular infused Nigori is a very straightforward collection of strawberry, cream, honey, and rice aromas. A super fan f...
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Sale
Murai Family Nigori Genshu "Peach River"
very strong, very cloudy.from $14.00This unfiltered or "Nigori" sake has a plump nose filled with sweet cream, grape, honey and yogurt elements. At 19.9% alcohol one would expect a ma...
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Sale
Dassai 45 Junmai Daiginjo Nigori "Otter Festival"
soft and elegant.$30.00Wow! What a tasty nigori that is so flavorful and feels so good in the palate. The nose is made up of rose water, cream, apple, and melon aromas. F...
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Sale
Shirakawago Junmai Ginjo Nigori "Bamboo Leaf"
smooth, silky, clean.from $16.00Rice: Hida Homare milled to 55% This simple Ginjo nigori is a creamy coconut slide wrapped in a milky mouth with a great finish, fairly non-descrip...
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Sale
Kizakura Nigori "Yellow Cherry Blossom"
a kyoto classic.$9.00This unfiltered or "Nigori" sake has gentle nose filled with cherry, citrus and cream components. Wow! Looks can be deceiving as this fluffy lookin...
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Sale
Dewazakura Tobiroku Ginjo Sparkling Nigori "Festival of Stars"
a brut lovers bubbly brew.from $16.00This dryer sparkling sake has a unique nose filled with grape, tangy citrus, plum and yogurt aromas. Tight, crisp and dry this is a “Brut” lovers b...
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Sale
Suehiro Poochi Poochi "Sound of Bubbles Popping"
Sparkling$13.00A deep and rich aroma is filled with hints of lemons and candy. This Sparkling sake is a refreshing dance of small bubbles with a gentle sweetness....
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Sale
Ichinokura Suzune Sparkling "Chiming Bells"
discovered by true sake.$24.00This is the most celebrated sparkling sake in Japan and for good reason. The nose on this very limited released brew is a rich collection of yeast,...
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Sale
Dassai 45 Sparkling "Otter Festival"
Junmai Daiginjo$18.00The nose on this newly renamed sparkling sake has a clever collection of grape, melon, rice, apple, and cream aromas. Say Goodbye to Dassai Sparkli...
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Sale
Kamoizumi Nigori Ginjo Nama "Summer Snow"
Nigori Junmai Ginjo Nama Genshu$31.00*NOTE: This sake is unpasteurized. We can ship unpasteurized sake, however it is at the customer's discretion. It's best to avoid shipping unpasteu...
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Sale
Ninki Ichi Sparkling Junmai Ginjo "Natural"
Sparkling Junmai Ginjo$20.00This sparkling sake is the bubbly result of a second bottle fermentation and not carbonation, which makes it lively and super tasty. The nose on “N...
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Ichinokura Suzune Wabi Sparkling
Sparkling$29.00The nose on this sparkling sake that gets its bubbles from a 2nd fermentation in the bottle as opposed to being carbonated is a bright collection o...
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Fukucho Junmai "Seaside Sparkling"
Junmai Sparkling$33.00The nose on this secondary bottle fermented (not carbonated) sparkling brew is a tight collection of yogurt, cream, yeast, citrus, and Lemonhead Ca...
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Katafune Koshino Sesshu Junmai Nigori
Junmai Nigori$44.00The nose on this coarsely filtered or Nigori sake is loaded with minty, milky, yogurt and vanilla aromas. Say hello to a really cool sake. Why cool...
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Sale
Gokyo Ne Ne "Five Bridges"
Sparkling$24.00This luscious sparkling sake has a nose filled with sweet rice, minerals, mint and melon aromas. Use a Champagne flute to catch the most impressive...
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Sale
Harushika Tokimeki "Sparkling Heartbeats"
Sparkling$20.00The nose on this lovingly packaged sparkling sake is a gentle collection of yeast, dried fruits, peach, and cream aromas. Say hello to a very well ...
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Sale
Heiwa Shuzo Nigori
Nigori$31.00The nose on this very classy cloudy sake has a wonderful collection of vanilla, cream, ice cream, and steamed rice aromas. This is a great addition...
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Sale
Niwa no Uguisu Doburoku
Doburoku$33.00This sake is a throwback to when people used to make their own hooch or “moonshine sake” that was illegal, not approved by the government and wasn’...
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Sale
Gozenshu Bodaimoto Usu Nigori "Nigori of the Ancients"
Usu Nigori Junmai$32.00The nose on this misty “Usu” unfiltered sake is yeasty collection of creamy, sour, and ricey aromas. Talk about a cocktail drinker’s Nigori sake! T...
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Sale
Senkin Nigori Genshu Junmai Daiginjo "Snowman"
Nigori Genshu Junmai Daiginjofrom $16.00The nose on this cloudy sake is a mild collection of peach, rock sugar, cookie frosting, cherry, yogurt, and creamy aromas. A mischievous Nigori th...
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Sale
Homare Chocolat Nigori
Nigori$10.00The nose on this sister sake to the extremely popular Homare Strawberry Nigori is a collection of sweet, cocoa, hot chocolate, and chocolate powder...
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Sale
Chiyomusubi Junmai Ginjo Sparkling Sorah “Beautiful Aurora"
Junmai Ginjo Sparkling$81.00The nose on this sparkling sake that uses the technique of secondary fermentation is a gentle collection of yeast, rice, white grape, and mineral a...
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