Kadoguchi Hokko Masamune Sake

Volume: 0.72 litres | Alcohol content: 15% | Chill filtration: Yes | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Kinmon Nishiki rice from Nagano forms the foundation of this Hokko Masamune. This Tokubetsu Junmai sake combines a light, dry character with delicate fruitiness and peppery spice. It contains 15% alcohol and comes in a 0.72-litre bottle.

Its fluid, saline profile also includes notes of rice, grain and peppermint. This sake is best enjoyed chilled at 6 to 12 °C, in a wine glass or a traditional sakazuki cup, for example. It pairs well with oysters, salt-crusted sea bream and Greek salad.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: The nose reveals restrained fruitiness, with a clear, pure aroma.
• Palate: On the palate, the sake is clear and precise, with saline and bitter impressions. Delicate fruity sweetness meets a pronounced pepper note.
• Finish: The long finish remains smooth and ends with spicy, dry notes.

Distillery/Bottler:

Kadoguchi Shuzo Co., Ltd. has been brewing in Iiyama, near the border with Niigata Prefecture, since 1869. Nagano's northernmost sake brewery lies in a region where more than three metres of snow can accumulate in winter. Its founder, Hikozaburo Muramatsu, initially ran a rice trading business before turning to sake production. The name Hokko Masamune refers to the seven stars of the Big Dipper.

The brewery uses spring water from Mount Nabekura and sake rice varieties from Nagano, including Kinmon Nishiki and Miyama Nishiki. All of its rice is processed at the Alps rice-polishing mill. It maintains the traditional practice of winter production, brewing during the cold months for sale throughout the year. Master brewer Hiroya Muramatsu focuses on a clean finish on the palate and the individual character of each bottling.

Facts: