夏の吟醸にごり酒: Hakuryu

Some may call this type of sake the pino colada of the sake world. Nigori sake is unfiltered, hence the milky color. In this picture you can see the limited summer edition of this delicious milky colored unfiltered Ginjo nigori sake made by Hakuryu in Niigata prefecture. On a side note. I’ve been to Niigata over 40 times in the last five years. I have travelled extensively through-out that region and have sample not only sake but food and have soaked in many onsen.

In Japan there’s something called Mondai Selection which grades the quality and taste of a products. The brewery that brews this sake has always been a gold standard winner for many years.

In ginjo type sakes 40% of the outer layer of rice has been polished away putting it in the premium class. You can stop over at esake for more tidbits on comparisons.

Up close and personal with the bottle. I feel you baby!

Flavor characteristics are good:

Smooth! Most nigori sake people drink is very thick and heavy whereas this one is very light and smooth, now that I think about it this nigori is the best I have ever had. A good nigori shouldn’t be too heavy. It should be light, silky, and smooth. and also sweet. This is summer! It shouldn’t feel like a meal. If it’s too heavy than that taste profile is representative in a lot of nigori type sake. Not this one. What’s being drank, or I’m being drank, is a smooth, light, and clean unfiltered nigori sake that works well with sashimi or pork dishes.

Sushi works well with this. And so does this dish below.

The dish you are looking at now is called “sanma” in Japanese or “pike” in English. This sanma is from Hokkaido, the largest prefecture in Japan, located up North. Sanma has a taste all of its own. Sometimes it can be fishy….when served raw, but delicious nevertheless and especially with this type of sake.

Okay. Next let’s drink it with me!

You can also watch this in HD ( high definition ). The description that some people may get according to other websites is dark, rich, and sweet. I find it sweet, but not necessarily dark and rich. Smooth and full! The perfect summer nigori over ice!