Komaizumi Tokubetsu Honjozo Namachozo Sake

Brewed by Morita Shuzo Inc.
Style: Tokubetsu
Aomori-Ken, Japan

300mL Bottle: Pellucid clear with just a touch of sea green color. Thick viscous legs. Nose is strong with bright melon, kiwi fruit, licorice and that characteristic nama smell with a ton of umami. Smell is awesome! Almost no alcohol, just a full bouquet of delicate scents that tease the nose with complexity. A background of alcohol and koji once it warms a bit. Even though on the bottle this is called a soshu, which usually has a "clean aroma" and is a "light and smooth" type, I found the nose to be very pronounced, but also delicate, maybe that’s what they mean. The flavor has a bit of estery bandaid and sweet medicinal notes right up front, but then mellows into a neutral minerally taste. A bit of alcohol, but at this low of a strength, it’s ironically noticably hidden in the background. The finish has a starchy soy flour taste and a smooth wet tail that’s fairly brief. The fruitiness that’s initially up front in the nose is the last thing I feel on my palate after each taste. This brings a nice conclusion to this sake, which IslandHaole graciously provided.

Clear, no color....well, might be my old eyes, but there seems to be a touch of blue-green to this sake. Mild koji & anise in the nose. Light and aromatic, has a sweet light licorice flavor up front, a mild alcohol warming middle and some paste and almond flavors at the finish. Nice feel, not cloying or to thin, just right. Not a top notch sake but one I’d be happy to drink again.