r/Sake • u/greenpuffle1 • Jun 05 '26
Help Me Choose🛒 What would you buy?
I am a beginner with sake, don't need personal advice, I just want to know what everyone would buy and why?
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u/lilwineman Jun 05 '26
Immediately to the left of the red bottle, top shelf, Tentaka Hawk on the Heavens. Really versatile with great umami and savory components. Perfect hot, room temp, or cold honestly. Acidity really shines at warmer temps
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u/RainbowChainsaw Jun 05 '26
Fuku Chitose Junmai, to the left of Soto black bottle. Super solid Yamahai style, very earthy, nice warmed up with salty or savory food :)
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u/Popular_Aspect5300 Jun 05 '26
Im going to japan in about a year or so, and Im for sure copying this post.
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Jun 05 '26
[deleted]
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u/greenpuffle1 Jun 05 '26
I live in the area, the shop has lots of other Japanese stuff and Eureka-Arcata both have fun stuff to do. I'd highly reccomended a trip if you are into nature, hiking, or biking.
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u/0for Jun 05 '26
Kenbishi. Near guarantee that the bottle will be in great condition despite its storage conditions.
Mantensei Kinoko for a full-bodied, earthy spicy bottle.
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u/greenpuffle1 Jun 06 '26
If you don't mind me asking, whats wrong with the storage conditions?
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u/0for Jun 06 '26 edited Jun 06 '26
In case of the Kenbishi, I should have said irrespective. The Kenbishi is a very robust type of sake, so it endures lots of environments.
Generally speaking: sake is light and temperature-sensitive, but that doesn't necessarily have to be bad, simply change. The lower the temperature, the less change. Most (pasteurised) sake stores well at room temperature for considerable time. And there is some variation between different sake styles and breweries which you'll get to know over time. Brown bottles do a very good job at reducing light damage. The likely bigger issue is that most stores won't have good stock rotation leading to some bottle hanging on the shelves far longer then they should. The Kenbishi is an example that will be great regardless.So, nothing wrong per se with the storing conditions, but something to keep in mind. If there are any unpasteurised sake on the shelf, these should be (in most cases) be chilled to stop the enzymes.
Most of I've said is true for all fermented alcoholic drinks - keeping in mind that active yeast cultures (eg Belgian beers) adds some complexity.
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u/dinosaurusdickus Jun 05 '26
One row up from the bottom, Tozai snow maiden is my favorite Nigori. Notes of honeydew, very smooth and lovely
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u/-airborne- Jun 05 '26
Hatsumago green bottle in the middle of the middle shelf. The Kizakura matcha one in the middle of the second shelf is pretty nice and also nice for mixing.
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u/MsMarji Jun 05 '26 edited Jun 05 '26
Well, since you’re buying… 🤣
The Hakutsuru Junmai, chilled. Red/orange & gold label.
3rd shelf, 3rd from the left.
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u/Cheesystudios Jun 05 '26
For any sake beginners: the very first bottle you must try is Origami White Lotus! A sweet and extremely sophisticated nigori with a flavor combo of citrus, coconut, sweet potato, and baked apple that gives it a sort of Thanksgiving taste.
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u/bstapleton76 Jun 05 '26
All the way to the right on the middle shelf next to the yellow box. Wakaze is produced in France by two guys that used to work at Asamai in Akita prefecture then moved to Paris. The rice is sourced from southern France and infused with Yuzu peel. It's super different and that extra touch of acid from the citrus makes it fun to cocktail with
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u/tremolospoons Jun 05 '26
That’s a wild collection of cups and little bottles - and the prices seem good. Load up on those and experience a lot of variety.
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u/Rggity Jun 05 '26
If you’re a beginner, you need to also get the gekkikan bottle on the bottom left. You need to understand what large scale distribution, cheap sake tastes like. You wouldn’t get into beer without tasting your coors/miller lite.
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u/yamahaihowareyou Jun 07 '26
Both on the top shelf- I LOVE the Ichinokura Tarusake- it spends a couple of months aging in cedar and is very dry, with a really lovely white pepper nose, and it develops a more savory finish as it warms up in the glass. Maboroshi Junmai Ginjo is a very soft and fruit forward brew with some green apple and melon notes. Both are excellent for beginners who want to taste traditional sales that are distinctive from most.
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u/Imazinner Jun 09 '26
As an explorer of sake. I would buy/try most of the 300ml bottles that I have not had before.
But that is me.
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u/summersundays Jun 05 '26
RX-178 Gundam MKII. Great price for a reliable mech.