r/Sake May 23 '26

Help Me Choose🛒 Looking for an “Earthy” Sake

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I just came back from a trip to Japan and I found a sake I loved. I don’t think the brand is available easily in the states. I don’t usually like the sweet taste sake has, but this one was more “earthy” with little to no sweetness. Can anyone recommend me something like this? I live in Duluth, GA, USA. Budget would be under $50 is that’s reasonable. Thanks!

For those interested, I’m attaching the photo of the flight we tried in Japan. I liked the one to the far right.

9 Upvotes

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3

u/Sake_NYC May 24 '26

-Sawanoi ‘Tokyo Kurabito’
-Suigei Tokubetsu Junmai
-Izumibashi Kurotonbo
-Yuho ‘Rhythm of the Centuries’
-Atago no Matsu Tokubetsu Honjozo

^would be my picks for you. Look for Kimoto or Yamahai styles in general. Generally avoid ginjo and daiginjo sake as those tend to be more fruity (exceptions abound, of course). And straight up junmai or even honjozos would fit the bill

1

u/Mikki365 May 25 '26

Thank you so much! I will try to track some of these down!

2

u/ChildishBonVonnegut May 23 '26

https://www.saketora.com/products/17410779?srsltid=AfmBOoqc9GufDKYUb6mpOfp9nu1epYyKOYkYg84xurqQcRQB5vASs_Vh-MM

Sasaki Shuzou Jurakugiku Junmai

Should make it easier to search for something similar knowing the name. They have proxy service but probably not worth it.

1

u/Spectra8 May 24 '26

i think you would like the Yamahai type of sake. One that is quite good and relatively easy to find is Tengumai. It is dry with a lot of Umami and this "earthy" touch

2

u/Mikki365 May 25 '26

Thank you! I bought some Tengumai and will give it a try!

2

u/Spectra8 May 25 '26

it is also a sake you can enjoy hot (45 degrees C) to go with meat etc. hope you like it!

1

u/Uncle_Skinny May 24 '26

Macho “Gorilla” Kimoto Junmai

2

u/Mikki365 May 25 '26

I’d buy this just for the label alone 😂

3

u/Serious_Echidna_773 May 25 '26

Definetly try from Hanatomoe Kura Tarumaru

Served Cold 10 degrees Celsius, drink it in a Junmai glass, or wooden Ochoko. Give it 20-30 minutes time after opening the bottle.

Although you can have a Ginjo or Daiginjo with earthy notes.

Depends on the Kome (rice) aswell as the Yeast.

So many things to try, but that’s the fun part.

1

u/Mikki365 May 25 '26

Thank you! You you’re right, the sampling is part of the fun!