Happy New Year, Happy New Sake

Welcome to the new year of 2012! Fresh upon my calendar was a sake trade show in Portland on Martin Luther King Day. It's exciting to be surrounded by a hundred or more sake enthusiasts and promoters of this fine beverage. I did bring back to the shop a solemn vow to expand our offerings and keeping up with that pledge I'd like to introduce you to some new sake. In this pic left to right:

• Konteki or Pearls of Simplicity, Junmai Daiginjo, from the Higashiyama Shuzo Kura. This opulent sake is rich and complete with flavors of green melon, lemon and anise. It has one of the longest finishes I've ever had with amazing elegance.
• Yuri Masamune from the Saiya kura in the Akita prefecture. This is a very versatile sake as you could enjoy it warm or chilled. Its nutty and earth attributes are balanced by a long finish of white plums.
• Ginkoubai Hannya Tou, is a plum sake from Ippongi Kubo Honten and it is quite an amazing beverage as it hits all taste buds and senses full throttle! It is a sweet beverage with resounding acidity and a backbone of heat that helps to wrap the plums up into a tasty little package of flavor. Enjoy chilled or warmed and as a companion to foods that could appreciate accentuated heat and acidity!
• Yuzu Omai, Tokubetsu Junmai, is very fragrant and slightly sweet with a strong citru - lemony- profile from a little orange called a Yuzu, which is rarely eaten and mostly used to accentuate foods or beverages.
• Tonyu No Sake, Junmai blended with soymilk, is an amazing marriage that can flirt so very well with chocolates, spicy soups and mild-to-tangy cheeses. It has the consistency of a smoothy and the richness of a cream soup.

These are just a sampling of our new sake and if you come in we just might be convinced to share something with you!