Mr.Chow Introduces Japan’s National Drink

Last updated: 6 June 2023

[All you need to know about Sakes & the top 3 brands you should try; available on Mr.Chow Online Liquor Store.]

When an alcoholic beverage has as much cultural and religious significance as sake does, it’s only fitting that Japan made it its national drink.

It is common for all types of sake to be grouped as one despite its wide range of varieties. Making your way through different varieties until you find the best sake can take up a lot of time and effort. Hence, Mr.Chow wants to enhance your sake-drinking experience by properly introducing sake, or more accurately - nihonshu, in the shortest time possible. 

After we cover the fundamentals of sake, let us take you through the express lane, straight to the good stuff - Dassai’s Junmai Daiginjo. 

What is Sake

Referred to as ‘Nihonsu’ in Japan, sake is an alcohol derived from fermented rice. 

The term ‘sake’ is actually just a general term for alcohol and not a specific drink.

The key to good sake is using clean water, koji mould, yeast, and quality rice to be polished; the more polished the rice, the more flavourful the sake. 

These elements are combined and put through a fermentation process that took centuries to refine. 

The sake produced can be either filtered or unfiltered depending on the desired smoothness or grittiness/richness in texture and flavour.

Making Sake Traditionally

Before technology became so advanced, sake was fermented through human chewing. Yerrrrr, geli! 

But it’s true, this ‘mouth-chewed sake’ was called kuchikami-zake. People would chew grains of rice to be spat in a container so the enzymes in their saliva, along with natural yeast, would be left for fermentation to occur. 

It was not until years later that koji-kin mould was specially cultivated in place of saliva enzymes to convert the rice starch to sugar, resulting in the sake we know and love today.

Sake: Simplified

Ingredients

To boil it down, creating a good sake requires quality rice grains (typically sakamai), clean water, koji mold, and yeast. All these are combined to be fermented in a highly refined and precise process perfected over the centuries, resulting in a clear to pale yellowish rice wine with an ABV of approximately 16%.  

Production

Sakes are categorised based on their rice-polish ratio and the addition of brewer’s alcohol. The starch left in a rice grain after polishing away its fat and protein influences the sake flavour - less polished rice grains contain more impurities and will not result in the best-tasting sake. 

For premium sakes like Ginjo and Daiginjo, 40 and 50 per cent of the rice grains need to be polished away respectively whereas the regular sakes only require at least 30 per cent. 

Addition of Alcohol

Many sake breweries practise adding large volumes of distilled alcohol to their sake to save on production time and cost. Fortunately, premium sakes namely Junmai and Honjozo, have strictly no alcohol additions or only minimal amounts added as a flavour enhancer. 

Flavour

Sake has relatively mild flavour profiles that can range from light and crisp, to rich and fruity. Its mellow flavours complement most foods but pair best with the delicate flavours of traditional Japanese cuisine.

Ginjo and Daiginjo are considered premium sakes and are generally the richest and most flavorful types. This makes the two sakes great aperitifs or as a drink alongside heavy-tasting dishes as being paired with delicate dishes may overwhelm the food flavours.

Types

One type of sake Mr. Chow has to emphasise though is Junmai Daiginjo - Premium of the premium. The craft and meticulous detail in producing a bottle of Daiginjo is not going to land you a cheap price, but believe that every cent you spend will be worth it.

Sake in Japanese Culture and Religion

In contrast to most Western drinking practices, drinking sake is a legacy deeply rooted in Japanese culture and goes beyond building social connections but also religious ones. 

In Japan, you are bound to see bottles of sake at wedding ceremonies, festivals such as Otsukimi (equivalent to our mooncake festival), and even at funerals. 

There are also sakes dedicated to the four seasons, which the Japanese would sip as they witness nature’s transformations. 

This is why sake is seen as an essential bond between the Gods, mortal beings, and the living realm itself.

Very profound, almost touching, right? Meanwhile, Mr.Chow drinks for uh… um….Let Mr.Chow get back to you on that with something more meaningful. 

Japanese Drinking Culture

Sake is usually poured from a tokkuri, a tall ceramic flask into a sakazuki, a small porcelain cup. 

You can find sake sets like these in the event of a nomikai, meaning having drinks and conversations with colleagues. 

Japanese people frequent nomikai as they believe it instils a sense of togetherness and honesty. 

In fact, drinking with your colleagues in Japan is important for work relationships, and career progression and not attending may be seen as rude. 

Dassai’s Junmai Daiginjo Collection at Mr. Chow Liquor Store

Asahi Shuzo Company, the producer of the Dassai is renowned as one of the top sake brands and even has its sake described as ‘like sipping liquid jewels.’ 

Sake has gained new popularity throughout recent years and Dassai’s sake range has definitely contributed to the growing worldwide love for this alcohol.

At last, Mr.Chow is going to bring you through three of our best Dassai Junmai Daiginjo picks. Each product contains a number in its name, signifying the level of rice grains left and used after polishing. The lower the number, the more polished it is and the higher the quality of the sake.

1. Dassai 45 Junmai Daiginjo

The smooth and refreshing Dassai 45 has the strongest aroma out of the Dassai 23 - 39 - 34 range. It is a full-bodied sake with fruity notes and subtle sweetness from grapes and berries that warms your palate, with hints of anise and a mild veggie aftertaste that creeps on at the finish. It is best enjoyed on its own and chilled at a desirable temperature of 4-5°C.

TASTING NOTES

Nose: 

• Full, slightly dry and relatively acidic

• Floral and fruity aromas of cantaloupe, grapes, almonds, white flowers and a hint of lemonade

Palate: 

• Full-bodied

• Hints of oranges, cloves and toasted malt

• Notes of apple, pear, ripe peach, grapes and blueberries

Finish: 

• Soft and clean finish

Food pairing: 

• Barbequed meat, honey-glazed chicken, sushi or sashimi

Shop:   

Dassai 45 Junmai Daiginjo (720ML)

Dassai 45 Junmai Daiginjo (1800ML)

2. Dassai 39 Junmai Daiginjo

The Dassai 39 places in between Dassai 23 and 45, providing the best compromise of both its siblings in this range. It's no wonder why Dassai 39 is the best-selling among the three. 

Dassai 39 is velvety and plush with lively fruit flavours and acidity similar to wine. Compared to the more premium Dassai 23, the 39 has a gentler aroma and juicer body despite not being as highly polished as the 23. Enjoy the Dassai 39 best warm or at room temperature.

TASTING NOTES

Nose: 

• Rice, apple, honeydew, and strawberry fruit with hints of koji rice

Palate: 

• The taste of ripe golden delicious apples, pears, blueberries, and honeydew fills the mouth

Finish: 

• Long and lingering finish

Food pairing: 

• A cold salad, feta cheese, and pizza

Shop:   

Dassai 39 Junmai Daiginjo (720ML)

Dassai 39 Junmai Daiginjo (1800ML)

3. Dassai 23 Junmai Daiginjo

Loved by many around the world and known as one of the best sakes made,  the Dassai 23 is made from Yamada Nishiki genmai brown rice and milled down to the maximum standard of commercial sake at 23%. It is sweet but gentle, clean and plump, and possesses complex flavours encapsulated within a layered structure.

This high-quality sake should be enjoyed either on its own or chilled to 10-12°C in order for its delicate aromas to break through.

TASTING NOTES

Nose: 

• Luscious aromas of melons, peaches, grapes, strawberries, and mineral water

Palate: 

• Fruity, clean, and plump

• Incredibly smooth and light, yet deep with structure

• Flavours of muscat grapes and marshmallows coat the palate

Finish: 

• Elegant, long, and dry finish

Food pairing: 

• Seasonal vegetable dishes, dashi stock/miso-based dishes, fish, cheese, and tofu.

Shop:  

Dassai 23 Junmai Daiginjo (720ML)

Dassai 23 Junmai Daiginjo (1800ML)

Get A Taste of Japan with Mr.Chow

It’s up to you now, will you have some sake or not? Hint: The answer is ‘yes’. Enjoy a fine glass of Junmai Daiginjo sake now when you visit and order from Mr.Chow’s Liquor Store online!