UPDATED: DEC 1, 2020 Bottle. No head (still). Body is almost colorless (very faint yellow). Aroma is notes of banana skin, honeydew, alcohol, pineapple, grain/rice. Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly acidic. Finish is lightly to moderately sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter. Medium body, watery/silky texture, no carbonation, moderately to heavily alcoholic, lightly astringent. Quite nice, esp. the aroma and mouthfeel.

UPDATED: DEC 11, 2019 A couple of cups from a magnum bottle @ Intercontinental Hotel Nantong. Lovely apply fresh and inviting nose. Subtle vanilla, apple, rice and umami flavors. Really mellowed in a good way. Never edge sharp or annoying - as some sakes sometimes can be. Like it has been stored to cut all edges. Smooth fruity and delicate long finish. A delicious sake paired with some fantastic Japanese food. 11.12.2019

UPDATED: OCT 28, 2019 Note, in late 2019 Dassai 50 was superseded by Dassai 45 (using rice milled down to 45% of its original size), this review is for Dassai 50: Clean, soft and silky, this best-selling sake has dreamy honeydew melon on the nose. Supremely balanced with mild acidity and a tropical party on the tongue; special guests pineapple and mango dancing on the tables. An excellent and reliable introductory sake, but you do pay a small premium for the brand.

UPDATED: SEP 6, 2019 Robe translucide, pure. Nez typé sur des notes florales, des prunes, un coté floral et fruité, tout en puissance. Bouche à l'attaque ample et riche, puissante et opulente, avec un alcool un peu trop marqué en bouche pour être au-dessus du lot.

UPDATED: AUG 29, 2019 Dassai is one of the most famous Sake in the world.. Any Sake list has it in the internet.. Dassai Junmai Daiginjo has 3 qualities.. 23 % Rice milling, 39% and 50% (this one).. I never taste the other 2 qualities yet but i have taste undrer 40% Sake.. This one has the ordinary Sake Aroma.. Is like all Sake smelling great.. The taste is awesome but you feel is more thick and warm.. I guess is a balance Sake but hasent the something more to hit my month and my brain.. Overall is a decent Sake to drink with a logical price but some other higher quality 'Junmai Daiginjo' is one a different level to me..

UPDATED: AUG 10, 2019 300ml bottle. Pours clear, with no head and aroma of rice, melon, fruity. Taste is rice, fruity, melon, citric, with hints of aniseed, and grassy boozy. Oily mouthfeel, medium bodied, low carbonation, semi-dry boozy finish with some lingering sweetness. Nicely drinkable.

Sampled at Disney EPCOT Mitsukoshi. I learned it's supposed to be sipped slowly. Not having had any sake before, it reminds me a little of vodka. It doesn't have much burn, so it would be easy to consume it more quickly than intended.

Bevuto freddo. Il colore è un accenno di giallo. L'intensità olfattiva è elevata e la persistenza olfattiva è apprezzabile. Il gusto al naso - aroma riconosce riso maltato Koji. Il gusto al naso - aromi secondari ritrova melone, pera e anice. La prima impressione di intensità in bocca è di sake potente. L'aroma alla lingua è mediamente secco. L'umami è presente in forma minoritaria. Il corpo è strutturato. L'intensità gustativa è elevata e la persistenza gustativa è buona. Il gusto è piacevole. Le sensazioni boccali finali sono di pronta beva. In bocca l'aroma porta note di riso maltato Koji, vaniglia, melone, frutta, pera, ananas, anice e pepe.

From the bottle at KYOU, Sapporo, Japan. Pours transparent white. Aroma is light of anise. Body is fairly dense. Taste is fairly sweet in the end, with some bitterness. Finish is fairly long and sweet.

187 ml bottle from Kinoshita. Aroma: Clean light rice and black licorice, pear and melon. Flavor: Clean slightly sweet ripe pear and melon, warming alcohol, rice, vanilla and moderate bitter note on the finish. Comment: Mostly fruit driven.