Hatomasamune Shuzou Co, Ltd. Reviews

KyotoLefty	3.4 Hatomasamune Hanaomoi 50 Junmai Ginjo Sake Bottle from Yamamoto. Clear, somewhat oily. Mild, fruity nose, lightly spicy and floral, rather bland though. Sweet, fruity flavor, peaches, pears, spice. Not bad, but not all that interesting. Some peppery burn in the finish. Kind a boring. Too sweet and easy. Monday, April 28, 2014
robochops	3 Hakkoda Oroshi Ginjo Sake Wednesday, March 12, 2014
IslandHaole	4.1 Hakkoda Oroshi Junmai Namachozo Genshu Sake I assume this is sake that has been partially frozen and had the ice removed, leaving thicker, more potent sake behind. Clear with a hint of golden color. Has a rich smell, like a good Junmai. Sweet, grainy, lightly fruity, Kiwi perhaps. Great feel, thick and a bit oily. Similar in flavor to their Junmai-Ginjo but with more fruit and less koji. This is delicious and I wish it came in larger bottles! Wednesday, November 8, 2006
BückDich	3.6 Hakkoda Oroshi Junmai Ginjo Sake 300mL Bottle: Pours a fairly yellowish beige color, like the color of the box under the rating notes box. The nose had a bit of a husky grain and koji note along with a full and complex sweet fruity note. The flavor is a bit more alcoholic with some light buttery notes. Less umami than with the regular Ginjo. I’m not sure why it is, but I’m finding Honjozo better than Junmai and Ginjo better than Junmai Ginjos. Perhaps it’s the added alcohol to extract more of the smells and flavors, but it seems like a much better beverage overall. Not bad, but just not as all wrapped together as the regular ginjo. Still quite good for what it is though. Tuesday, September 26, 2006
BückDich	4.2 Hakkoda Oroshi Ginjo Sake 300mL Bottle: Pours a clear egg shell tinge of white color with nice legs and a bit of frostiness. The nose is sweet and pungent with anise, apricot and wonderful umami laden wildflowers. The melon and kiwi notes on their own are abound and abundant. Wonderful nose. The flavor is very balanced. Nice sweet character despite the +4 nihonshu-do. Light mineral and alcohol in the mouthfeel but very subtle. The finish is a bit tangy and the tail is long and whimsical. Awesome sake, tons of umami, wonderful smells, perfect mouthfeel and finish and very little alcohol notes. Top notch! Arigato gozaimasu Dan-san! Tuesday, September 26, 2006
BückDich	3.4 Hakkoda Oroshi Junmai Sake 300mL Bottle. Thanks Dan! Pours a light beige color with decent legs. The nose is floral with some bright melon and kiwi; koji notes and alcohol are there in small numbers as well. It’s not too floral though. It has a nice dry spritsy character on the mouthfeel. Finishes a bit buttery with some umami. Decent sake with some nice tastes. I could drink this daily. Tuesday, September 26, 2006
BückDich	3.1 Hakkoda Oroshi Junmai Namachozo Genshu Sake 180mL Bottle: Light tinge of beige with a clear body. Light droplets forming thin spider web legs. The nose has a bit of alcohol and chemical with a sweet creamy bananas foster note along with some light grainy koji. The flavor has a huge impact with a moderately dry overall mouthfeel and a tingly, alcohol feel in the mouth, but light on the throat. As it warms, the alcohol is very up front. Very little nama or umami in this one but it does have a semi-decent nose and a thick body along with that dry alcohol burn.Thanks Dan for this strong Aomori sake! Thursday, August 3, 2006
Sham	3.6 Hakkoda Oroshi Honjozo Sake Clear with a slight yellow hint to it. Nose is of koji, citrus melon and a touch of coconut. Flavor has light notes of koji with a little heat. Some of the citrus trails over. Tail is smooth and a little warm. Tuesday, May 2, 2006
BückDich	3.2 Hatomasamune Kinpaku-Iri Omiki Sake 180mL "合" Bottle: Light straw beige color, mostly clear. The gold flakes make this a luxurious gift, as is a common social function in Japanese culture. Although the gold is inert an won’t impart any flavor, I’ve heard that usually it is added to "average" sake because it would detract from the otherwise high-end super premium sakes. A bonus point for the gold, but no more. Anyways, the nose is lightly dusty with a semi-sweet melon, banana and a touch of koji. Moderate alcohol burn in the nose as it warms. The flavor is a bit anti-climactic. You’re a surfer out in the ocean waiting for a wave. You see a large wave coming up on the horizon, you get ready, it gets closer, then it crashes and dissipates before reaching you. Metaphorically, that’s what the flavors are doing here on my palate. A bit of distant plum and cherry but mostly a moderately acidic buttery flavor. The alcohol squashes any umami that tries to surface, but it’s not overly offensive. Nice neutral tasting nihonshu-do. A clean finish with a zesty soapy tail. It’s near the edge of sake that I wouldn’t enjoy, but close enough on the premium side that I still can. A nice go of kinpaku-iri. Thanks to IslandHaole for this jizake! Thursday, February 9, 2006
IslandHaole	2.9 Hatomasamune Kinpaku-Iri Omiki Sake Clear with just a hint of color and the interesting addition of a few bits of gold flakes swirling around in the glass. I’m not sure if this is just for show or if there is another purpose for them (ie. medicinal, etc.) but it does make for a cool looking drink! It has a bit of the alcohol smell as is common with non-junmai styles and a dried apricot scent that also seems to be a common one for sake. Alcohol a bit strong up front but the flavors of slightly mildewed almonds and unripe honeydews (tastes better than it sounds) coat your mouth and leave it with the feeling as if you have had a shot of pepermint schnaps on a cold winter day. As you become used to the alcohol, you tend to look beyond it and taste the nutty sweetness in the aftertaste. You feel the warming alcohol follow all the way down. Not bad but the slight roughness and the gold flakes seem to be saying "Gimmicky" to me. Thursday, January 26, 2006
IslandHaole	2.5 Hakkoda Sake Clear but with a definite yellow tint. Mild koji and a bit of pepper with moderately strong alcohol in the nose. Some nutty flavors with a bit of mildew but the alcohol pretty much overpowers any subtle flavors. After spending the better part of 7 hours cruising & hiking around Lake Towada, I know that this sake (sold at a rest stop in the Oirase gorge) serves its purpose as an antifreeze but isn’t one I’d sip on routinely. Thanks BuckDich for taking the time to add this and all the other odd things I find here! Enjoy! Sunday, January 22, 2006
BückDich	2.8 Hakkoda Sake 200mL Cup - カップ!: Clear color. Thick buttery flavor with a medium acidic and alcoholic burn. Fairly burgeoning and thick on the palate. No nose, but also not too strong in the alcohol department. Once warmed to around room temperature though you can really taste the thickness that the added sugar and whatever joumiryou (醸味料) is. Thanks to IslandHaole for this fun little cup sake! Saturday, January 21, 2006
IslandHaole	3 Hakkoda Oroshi Junmai Sake Clear with just a hint of color. Light koji under what has become the familiar scent of almonds and honeydews. Nutty, slightly sweet front with that "white paste you used in Kindergarten" taste in the middle, a bit hot in the finish, slightly acidic and tangy in the follow. Though not bad, this has been my least favorite offering from this company. I found their Daiginjo and Junmai-Daiginjo today, but only in 720ml and 1.8L bottles, at $30 for the smaller and $60 for the larger bottles, I doubt I will get the chance to try them (Note to self, visit this brewery before you leave Aomori!) Friday, January 13, 2006
IslandHaole	3.5 Hakkoda Oroshi Junmai Ginjo Sake This is actually a Junmai-Ginjo. A pale golden color, aromatic with a sweet, rather strong, aromatic koji scent. Full bodied, oak barrel and a musty almond taste with a very smooth feel. Alcohol only noticeable in the follow, about half way down the throat it starts warming but there’s no burn. A nice sipper on a cold snowy night! Friday, December 2, 2005
IslandHaole	3.9 Hakkoda Oroshi Ginjo Sake A touch of straw color in this otherwise crystal clear sake. Slight pear scent and a trace of black licorice in the nose. Sweet, light and a bit fruity up front but leave this swishing lightly over your tounge to warm it and the depth of the flavor shows its true colors, almonds and a light kiss of citrus with a tart follow and a warming finish. Quite a tasty Ji-Sake! Wednesday, November 23, 2005
DocLock	3.5 Hakkoda Oroshi Honjozo Sake Big thanks to IslandHaole for this. I’ve been trying to find this listing for 3 months! My first sake! Slight yellow pour but mostly clear with some slight fruit and moonshine aromas. Tastes woody, with a tad of fruit and some ricy sensation as it goes down the throat. Warming effect, and it mellowed out my Macanudo cigar. I have 3 or 4 more sakes from Dan in my beer fridge, and I can’t wait to try them. Monday, May 16, 2005
IslandHaole	3.6 Hakkoda Oroshi Honjozo Sake This is my "Hometown" Sake! (Actually from 2 towns over, but who’s counting)? A touch of yellow this side of clear with a koji/herbal scent, slight wood middle and a warm alcohol finish. A nice flavorful little known sake. I’m looking forward trying a few more from this brewer! Thanks for adding it Josh! Saturday, May 14, 2005
Oakes	3.9 Hakkoda Oroshi Honjozo Sake Clear with only the faintest hint of green. Aroma of toasted rice, slight peach and a little bit of wood. The palate kicks off with a shot of alcohol and slightly more subdued toasty notes. Hints of peach and pears liven things up. The finish is dry with alcohol. Monday, May 9, 2005
BückDich	3.9 Hakkoda Oroshi Honjozo Sake 300mL Bottle: Clear, barely a hint of beige, long legs. Nose of ripe melon, sweet spring koji, blooming dandelions and a general fresh nasal opening smell. The body is rich with a subtle sweetness, not quite neutral but close. Finishes medium bodied, subtle and invigorating. The koji is a bit more pronounced as it warms and the tail is longer than I prefer.Thanks to Dan & Josh for this treat! Monday, May 9, 2005