Another cozy night of drinking alone today.
I’m thinking of starting to drink sake again after a long break. The price of sake has gone up quite a bit. It’s become harder to buy it on a whim. But I’m going to buy it anyway—for everyone’s sake… or rather, just because I want to drink it myself.
Kirakucho Dry Junmai Ginjo
I bought it because the label looked interesting. Plus, I love the word “dry.”
The color of the bottle is lovely, isn’t it? A muted blue. It says “Sake Meter Value +14” on the label. The Sake Meter Value is a measure of the specific gravity of sake relative to water, and it serves as a guideline for distinguishing between sweet and dry sake. With water as the baseline (0), a negative value (sweet) indicates a higher sugar content and greater density, while a positive value (dry) indicates lower sugar content and lighter density. This is merely a guideline, however; it doesn’t determine the flavor on its own, as other components also influence the taste. Furthermore, since personal taste can vary depending on one’s physical condition, it’s best to use this as a general reference.
There’s no mark on the bottle cap.
Opening
It’s colorless and transparent. It doesn’t have much of a scent.
No color at all, huh? Well then, gulp.
Evaluation of Kirakucho Dry Junmai Ginjo’s Taste
It has a distinctive character. It’s not fruity; instead, the acidity really stands out. However, this acidity is also unique, giving it a distinct flavor that’s different from what you’d typically expect. That said, I tried pairing it with some food.
Today’s snack is Grilled Mackerel with Grated Daikon and Ponzu Sauce
This time, it’s a snack from 7-Eleven: grilled mackerel with grated daikon and ponzu sauce. I eat this snack often, but when I pair it with this sake, something magical happens—the fishy odor disappears, leaving only the umami of the sake behind. This is what’s known as “pairing.” It happens from time to time, but especially when paired with raw fish, grilled fish, or foods that tend to have a strong odor, the sake’s power eliminates the fishy smell, leaving only the sake’s delicious flavor in your mouth and doubling the enjoyment. This sake has that power. Tonight is a truly wonderful night.
I wonder what I’ll drink tomorrow.
