Kikusui Brewing Company Reviews

beastiefan2k	3.1 Funaguchi Kikusui Ichiban Shibori Jukusei Ginjo Nama Genshu Sake English can. Alcohol on the nose. Dirty flowers. Flavor is similarly a dirty alcohol and water. I asked for a can at a sake store and this was recommended as pretty decent. I guess that’s what is decent for a can. But not that good overall. Sunday, March 24, 2024
mmmbeer	3.6 Kikusui Nigorizake Gorohachi Sake 180 mL can served in a tumbler- served an opaque creamy color with a very slight brown tint when held to a light source, nose of plum, yeast, and various light fruit esters. Hits the mouth with a light body, alcohol is straight forward but is not as harsh as it could be, middle combines with finish that has a creamy and very slight bitterness to it. Very interesting… and 21% ABV? Well, I’m going to have a great day! Saturday, February 10, 2024
onceblind	3.6 Funaguchi Kikusui Ichiban Shibori Sake Clear as water with a slightly grainy bready aroma with light alcohol heat phenols. Smooth clean flavor that’s gently boozy, with a honeycomb/waxy sort of flavor and warming alcohol. Otherwise kinda delicate and lacking depth of flavor. But a sneaky-as 19% that’s for sure. Thursday, January 25, 2024
mcberko	3.2 Kikusui Setsugoro Shuppin Sake Bottle sample at Narita Airport duty free, pours a cloudy white. Nose is boozy, with lychee, booze, and earthy muddled notes. Flavour has a sort of liquorice and star anise character, with soft lychee and boozy white wine. Lots of liquorice and booze on the finish, almost like a weak absinthe. Odd. Thursday, August 3, 2023
mcberko	3 Beni Kikusui Ume-shu Bottle sample at Narita Airport duty free, pours a hazy orange. Aroma is very sweet, with sweet plum juice, light lychee, and some boozy white wine. Flavour is like sweet plum juice, soft rice notes, light lychee and very gentle booze. Way too sweet for me. Thursday, August 3, 2023
mcberko	3.3 Kikusui Mukantei Junmai Daiginjo Sake Bottle sample at Narita Airport duty free, pours a hazy white. Nose brings out gentle lychee and a touch of booze. Flavour is sweet and lightly boozy, with lychee, sweet rice and moderate booze. Pleasant and not too harsh. Good. Thursday, August 3, 2023
Sledutah	3.7 Kikusui Junmai Ginjo Sake Taster at Benihana in SLC. Translucent. Rice, sweet fruit, dry finish. Tasty Friday, July 21, 2023
ClarkVV	3.4 Funaguchi Kikusui Ichiban Shibori Jukusei Ginjo Nama Genshu Sake 200mL canned Jul 2, 2021, drunk 9/23/22. Yellowish tinged. Hot, mushy rice, very nutty and sweet yet not boozey in aroma. Certainly not very fruity or subtle, either. Sweet and nutty with intense rice character and a bit of spice and mineral on the end. Not sharp/hot alcohol yet it's still there, inevitably. No real complexity, though maybe a bit of overripe melon. It's definitely interesting and certainly different than the soft, delicate, fruity ginjos and daiginjos, but ultimately just a bit too simply ricey-sweet, I think. Saturday, September 24, 2022
BeerandBlues2	3.8 Funaguchi Kikusui Ichiban Shibori Jukusei Ginjo Nama Genshu Sake Can at home. Pours clear translucent white gold with sheeting legs. Medium-high banana and pear esters, medium sweet vanilla, moderate spicy alcohol and a sweet finish. Full body, moderate acidity. Friday, June 10, 2022
hawthorne00	3.3 Kikusui Junmai Ginjo Sake Style tick. Bottle. Only the behaviour of bubbles and the slight legs lets you know it's not water. Aroma of rice richness, some honeydew melon. Smooth with a rich, round mouthfeel that ends with a gentle spiciness. Slightly fruity - melon, older lemon. No overt alcohol. One of those that tries to make a virtue of plainness. And fair enough. Tuesday, May 24, 2022
MicroGrog	3.6 Funaguchi Kikusui Ichiban Shibori Kunko Kunko! Says it right there on the can. Grabbed this @WholePaycheck when I saw that the cider selection was flat that day. Why can't everything be in 200ml cans for me to sample? Remy dram glass @home. Clear, but not bright. Minerally/solvent-like, still, with just a twinge of yellow. Strong scent of mixed nuts, dark chocolate & floral perry of sorts. Maybe some plastic. Interesting. Taste is softly sweet & nutty like amaretto, faint apple liquor, mellow chocolate-banana, with easy oxidation. Slightly too sweet maybe? Tiny twinge of acidity & bitter irritation on the finish. Flat malterative similarities. Super smooth. Warming. Surprisingly easy. Good. Thursday, February 24, 2022
SudsMcDuff	3.4 Kikusui Nigorizake Gorohachi Sake small silly CaN made for silly times .. . THANKSGIVING 2021, 7:02pm, pours like some kind of milky licker .. . ooo! my ass . .. BIG alcohol punch, hard to get the subtle melon, steamed rice, nut shell flavours .. . overly gritty .. too hot to enjoy .. . . the chicken is resting, it's been a trying day! Friday, November 26, 2021
SudsMcDuff	4.1 Kikusui Junmai Ginjo Sake a 4in tang you say?? .. . light plum skin, flowers, light rice, easy sweetness, melon flesh .. . clear, legs for days .. mild and very succulent, delicious Sake! .. . . We evaluate, measure, and describe this world from our own point of view, but how does a tree see the world? ..as a soon to be coffee table?? Friday, November 5, 2021
SudsMcDuff	2.8 Funaguchi Kikusui Ichiban Shibori Sake I am making notes, Captain, and your name will go on the list; and when we win the war you will be brought to account. Your name will also go on the list! What is it? Pours with a slight pink hue .. fruity plum and sharp alcohol burn in the nose .. follows into the taste, quite cutting but still fruity. A messy Sake but overall; it is half decent for the price .. . .. Pike!! Thursday, November 4, 2021
BeardedAvenger	3.7 Funaguchi Kikusui Ichiban Shibori Sake 200 ml can from Whole Foods, Richmond. As 'Funigashi Nama Genshu Original Gold.' Aroma is fruity, nutty and boozy. Completely clear. No head. Medium sour. With a boozy edge. Fruity. Gluey. Slightly veg umami. Medium bodied. Slick verging on creamy. Flat carbonation..Long warming astringent finish. Actually makes me think of a Barley Wine. I like this. Tuesday, June 1, 2021
AndySnow	3.2 Funaguchi Kikusui Ichiban Shibori Sake How: Can. Where: Had at home. Appearance: Clear colour with no head. Aroma: Rice, fruit, alcohol. Body: Medium body, flat carbonation. Flavour: Rice, fruit, alcohol. Friday, January 8, 2021
jcod	3.4 Kikusui Junmai Ginjo Sake Friday, May 22, 2020
Quick3Beers	3.2 Funaguchi Kikusui Ichiban Shibori Jukusei Ginjo Nama Genshu Sake Pours clear from a can, slightly yellow. Sweet cooked rice and faint plum aroma. Rather sweet and very alcoholic in the mouth, slight burn in the throat. Not familiar with the style to be honest, but a good sake. Thursday, April 9, 2020
rumore	3.6 Funaguchi Kikusui Ichiban Shibori Sake 20cl can at Hashimoto, Rimini, Italy. Pours fully transparent. Aroma is mild anise. Body is average. Taste is medium sweet, with some real bitterness coming up later, and some acidity. Final is long and pleasant. Thursday, November 28, 2019
Carlisle	4.2 Funaguchi Kikusui Ichiban Shibori Sake Can (200 ml). Light, sweet fruit aroma. Sweetness balances alcohol. Creamy, viscous mouthfeel. Very good. Tuesday, November 5, 2019
KyotoLefty	4.2 Kikusui Setsugoro Shuppin Sake 720 ml bottle from Furusato Nozei. Picked it up after seeing the ratings of my German friends. Big, spicy, fruity nose. Lots of ginjo-ka, western pears, melon, cedar. Mellow, viscous, clear. Slightly sweet flavor of ripe pears, rice, a touch of vanilla, melon, apple. Very rich and spicy, not the typical ethereal fruitiness of a refined daigin, but more solid. Silky, lovely body. Peppery, prickly finish with some alcohol heat. Fantastic stuff. Wednesday, October 30, 2019
SinH4	4.2 Kikusui Setsugoro Shuppin Sake Bottle. Looks like Saké. Aroma is lovely melon, pineapple, polished rice, very fruity and lovely. Taste is rice dough, complimented by lots of fruity flavours, melon and yuzu. Very full oily mouthfeel, it's crazy, flat. Really excellent Saké! Monday, September 23, 2019
Ritzn	3.9 Kikusui Setsugoro Shuppin Sake Looks like water. Aroma is melon some fresh floral ricey stuff other oily fruit and licorice. Taste is sweet and bitter vineous with some boozy floral. Oily rich. Very complex Saturday, September 21, 2019
one51	4.2 Kikusui Setsugoro Shuppin Sake Bottle from Japan, apparently their Competition Sake, thanks Andy! Very light yellow straw; not carbonated. Cantaloupe, flowers in the nose. Smooth rice coming in on the tongue, nice sweetness, alcohol taste is not overpowering considering it's 18%. Very clean flavor. Saturday, September 21, 2019
jonas	4.1 Kikusui Setsugoro Shuppin Sake Bottle. Funky melon and pineapple aromas. Smooth soft mouth feel, very round. Broad tropical, honey melon, light marmelade, very impressive, the most well rounded Sake I have had. Saturday, September 21, 2019
rolickstamp293	3.1 Kikusui Mukantei Junmai Daiginjo Sake Botella. Clear colour. Strong rice fruity alco aroma. Flavour: Rice fruity sweet with alcohol and light marcipan. Wednesday, September 4, 2019
danlo	3.3 Kikusui Junmai Ginjo Sake 300ml bottle from Japan Centre. Chilled. Pours clear with no head and aroma of rice, melon, grassy. Taste is rice, fruity, melon, vanilla, boozy. Oily mouthfeel, medium bodied, low carbonation, dry boozy finish. Quite sippable. Saturday, August 3, 2019
Cimbasso	3.2 Funaguchi Kikusui Ichiban Shibori Sake Colourless liquid with aroma of alcohol. Sweetish taste with notes rice and preserved plums. Oily mouthfeel and quite a big alcohol hit. Pleasantly dry finish. Sunday, April 7, 2019
rotaman14	2.6 Sakamai Kikusui Sake Clear liquid, looks like water. Smells like rice and glass cleaning agent. Tastes sweet upfront, which then turns into an intense spicy alcoholic finish that lingers. Saturday, March 16, 2019
MaltChamp7	4 Funaguchi Kikusui Ichiban Shibori Jukusei Ginjo Nama Genshu Sake Sunday, December 16, 2018
tomer	1.8 Kikusui Junmai Ginjo Sake At a tasting, thanks, quite pale and transparent, aroma of rice, candy and ethanol, same ethanol flavor with graphite, very light sweetness. Unpleasant, not my thing. Thursday, October 25, 2018
DSG	2.1 Kikusui Junmai Ginjo Sake Bottle sample at a tasting at troubles' place. Thanks kerenmk. Clear water color. Rice, fruitiness, alcohol, a bit floral, sweet, boozy. Not my thing. Friday, October 12, 2018
berrynice	3.5 Kikusui Junmai Ginjo Sake Monday, October 8, 2018
zvikar	2 Kikusui Junmai Ginjo Sake At Dror's place, pours clear water like with no head, aroma of apples, alcohol, floral, flavor is flat with apples, alcohol, medium bodied Wednesday, September 26, 2018
kerenmk	3.3 Kikusui Junmai Ginjo Sake Bottle at Yamatoia Hod Hasharon. Clear and greenish. Sweet and slightly toasty aroma, tastes sweet and a little alcoholic. Syrupy mouthfeel and medium body. Thursday, August 30, 2018
donandres	3.2 Kikusui Junmai Ginjo Sake Sunday, August 05, 2018 8:19 PM Bottle 300 mL from QFC- poured to wine glass Sight: Clear, water like Smell: fragrant, fruity Taste: sweet Mouthfeel: good follow through, long finish Overall: Good Sake, good value, will repeat but not look for Tuesday, August 7, 2018
one51	3.6 Kikusui, Shibata-shi, Nigata-ken Uncrowned Emperor Yoshinori Kiyoshi Dry Bought a bottle at Takashimaya near Osaka Namba. Crisp and refreshing smooth dry sake, with less alcoholic bite than many sakes. Medium complexity aroma with delicious floral overtones. Tuesday, May 8, 2018
SmileDayDream	2.9 Kikusui Junmai Ginjo Sake Odd flavors. In Sushi restaurant while waiting for food to go. So not with food. It is good and no harm. Not at all amazing. Negative is the taste after is like plastic. Some sips were very tasty like flower water with white rose petals. I can imagine that last flavor would be more like orange or tangerine if eating between tastes. I was purposely tasting it around my tongues with various amounts of air. The bad aftertaste is sort of like Bacardi white rum. Sunday, April 8, 2018
coil	3.1 Funaguchi Kikusui Ichiban Shibori Sake 200ml pull-top can from Cmart, Reading. Clear colour with no head. Big booze, pineapple squash, rice punch, light coconut milk Saturday, October 28, 2017
Travlr	3.5 Funaguchi Kikusui Ichiban Shibori Sake Can sample at Futo Buta in a flight with Red and Black cans. Clear, still. Light herbal aroma. Taste is rich, full mouthfeel for a sake. Tasty. Friday, October 6, 2017
Travlr	3.7 Funaguchi Kikusui Ichiban Shibori Kunko Side by side with the Yellow and Red cans in a flight at Futo Buta. Clear, maybe a slight yellow tinge, still. Big floral and light earth aroma and flavor. Lingering herbal finish. Very tasty, and my favorite of the three. Friday, October 6, 2017
Frank	2 Funaguchi Kikusui Ichiban Shibori Jukusei Ginjo Nama Genshu Sake Got a little can of this from Crossovert. Thanks! Or no thanks... This stuff is honestly pretty rough. It’s nearly clear w/ a hint of yellow to it and smells like cooked rice, overripe plum and alcohol. It’s a touch sweet and thick on the palate and really rather tough to drink. It’s got a slight tartness which brings out a fruity element which is actually pleasant but not pleasant enough to make this stuff really worth drinking overall. Monday, August 7, 2017
rocbyter	3 Funaguchi Kikusui Ichiban Shibori Jukusei Ginjo Nama Genshu Sake Sampled chilled. Mild medicine alcohol aroma. Clear in color. Moderate to strong sweet beginning with a strong alcohol finish. Wednesday, July 19, 2017
rocbyter	3.5 Funaguchi Kikusui Ichiban Shibori Sake Strong boozy apple aroma. Clear in color. Sweet beginning with a mild spicy middle that fades slowly in the finish. Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Ferris	3.1 Kikusui Nigorizake Gorohachi Sake Bottle - Light creamy yeast notes. Very thick and rich on the palate. Booze and creamy notes dominate. Almost milkshake like. Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Travlr	3.5 Funaguchi Kikusui Ichiban Shibori Jukusei Ginjo Nama Genshu Sake Sample at Enso. Clear, still. Huge stonefruit aroma. Taste is sweet fruit. Tasty. Friday, June 9, 2017
Ferris	3.2 Kikusui Junmai Ginjo Sake Bottle - Aromatic rice and yeasty notes. Light and creamy with a touch of sweetness and rice. Easy drinking. Monday, June 5, 2017
Cantabrian	3.4 Kikusui Junmai Ginjo Sake This is one of those few sakes in which there is a clear indication in English advising us that it is a Junmai Ginjo. You know how difficult it is to try to figure out from a non-export version, eh? And I’m not sure why people are so hard on this one. It is indeed sweet and milk and suave. Well, smoothness is a quality. It can certainly be a welcome feature. Thursday, March 30, 2017
John_hmstr	3.4 Kikusui Nigorizake Gorohachi Sake Very nice nigori sold at local Japanese markets. A little on the boozy side but wonderful rich mouth feel and sweet fruity undertones. Easy drinking. Wednesday, December 14, 2016
BeerandBlues2	3.5 Kikusui Junmai Ginjo Sake Bottle at home. Pours clear and still. Aroma is sweet rice, light vanilla and banana with soft alcohol. Flavor is sweet rice, light banana and vanilla, drying alcohol and a dry finish. Full body. Sunday, September 18, 2016