Wine Blogging Wednesday #59: Homage to the God of Sake

July 8th, 2009

Once I figured out that saké doesn’t always have to be served piping hot, dunked into a pint of beer and chugged, I realized that I love it. If I’m not in the mood for wine, saké can be so refreshing and beguiling. And that extra boost of alcohol always makes for a fun evening ;) So I was delighted when I heard that Richard of A Passionate Foodie was hosting this month’s Wine Blogging Wednesday with saké as the theme. I had the pleasure of meeting Richard at TasteCamp EAST. Though we didn’t discuss saké that weekend, I’ve always admired his knowledge.

I had grand hopes of scoping out the selection at Sakaya, (an all-sake store in the East Village) but just like every other Wine Blogging Wednesday, time escaped me and convenience won out. I picked up a bottle from the tiny selection at Mount Kisco Wine & Spirits on my lunch break. My saké knowledge is slim but I do know that it’s made from rice and the premium types are labeled: Junmai Ginjo, Junmai Daiginjo, Ginjo, Daiginjo or just Junmai. It’s brewed like a beer and the rice’s polish has a lot to do with the quality of the final saké. Only a small percentage of the saké produced falls into one of these categories, while the rest is bulk production. This is the stuff that’s served hot for your saké bombs!

The bottle I selected is Kanbara Bride of the Fox Junmai Ginjo Saké. I enjoyed it chilled alongside some spicy tuna hand rolls and spicy crab stick salad. The aromas and flavors were tough to pinpoint but I got a lot of a sweet cereal aromas like a cream of wheat with layers of cucumber peel and a hint of orange zest. I think there was something floral coming through as well, it almost smelled like freshly folded laundry! It was lush and tongue-coating on the palate with a medium body but a slight viscosity that almost pushed it towards full. I got some yeasty flavors as well. It finishes dry but has some unbalanced heat to it. With a 16.5% alcohol content, I can understand why!

Unfortunately the store only had 2 premium quality sakés, so I feel robbed by the $40 (720 ML) I paid for it, though I did enjoy it. I’m sure Sakaya had lots of premium sakés in a lower price range. I never seem to learn my lesson! I need to venture there soon.

I hope everyone discovered some lovely sakés this week and I’m looking forward to reading the roundup! Thanks again Richard for hosting!

By the way, this post on Steamy Kitchen is a fantastic introduction to the world of saké. I didn’t bother get into it here, lest I regurgitate the same information. But if you’d like to learn more, check it out. There’s a detailed video on saké making there as well.

Related Posts:
Wine Blogging Wednesdays #37

Wine Blogging Wednesday #52: Chilean Reds Under $20

Wine Blogging Wednesday #49: Toast the End of Bush

Filed under , Wine Blogging Wednesday | Comments (3)

3 Responses to “Wine Blogging Wednesday #59: Homage to the God of Sake”

  1. Chef Shaya on July 9, 2009 10:40 am

    Great little Izakaya on East 11th b/t Ave B and Ave C (closer to C) called Kasadela. It’s cash only. They have a delicious Sake selection, and the food’s REALLY good too….

  2. Erika Strum on July 9, 2009 11:41 am

    Ohyea, I’ve been! http://www.strumerika.com/2009/05/20/quick-bites-kasadela/

  3. RichardA on July 9, 2009 1:38 pm

    Thanks Erika for participating in WBW #59. Sorry you did not make it to Sakaya, as it is a Sake lover’s paradise. You did pay the usual price for the Kanbara, so at least you did not overpay for it. Though you could find other, less expensive Sakes at Sakaya. Glad at least you enjoyed the Sake and will try more.

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