Shichiken Hakushin Junmai Daiginjo "White Heart"

The nose on this sake that was created to honor the town and the people of Hakushu is a wonderful collection of powdered sugar, orange, lemon verbena, shiso, mochi, King’s Hawaiian rolls, and snowmelt aromas. It’s not too often that a brewery states that this sake represents the excellence and spirit of their hometown, and then it wins the Top Trophy for the Best Sake at the International Wine Challenge 2025. It did! And for good reason, like using local Yumesansui rice milled to 27%, and being “cold aged” for one year to bring out more depth, feeling, and flavor. Extremely limited, this sake drinks smooth, soft, elegant, slippery, buoyant, delicate, and redefines a silky premium sake. Look for strawberry mousse, ripe papaya, powdered sugar, longan, orange blossom, melon candy, sugarcane, and Mandarin flavors that dance playfully on a peek-a-boo shibumi that elevates the plump flow. Using a 750ml bottle, this is master class award winning sake. Perfect for that one of a kind haute cuisine evening. WORD: IWC Grand Champion WINE: Lush Reds/Plump Whites BEER: Creamy Ales FOODS: Omakase and Michelin fare.