Harushika Arabashiri Ichiban

Nara is known for it's deer. It's deer everything! And even the local sake brewery has a deer in it's logo and in it's name. Last year I first stepped into this brewery, and I was very happy with the price and qualitiy of it's sake. This year, I again decided to do their tasting, and this sake stood out for me.

This sake is a shiboritate (freshly squeezed) nama (unpasiturized) genshu (undiluted) sake. And with it's 19% alcohol, it's packs quite a punch! Yes, it does, but it's also pretty sweet, and that sweetness takes the edge of of the high alcohol percentage. And the freshness from the fact it's unpasturized makes it pretty easy to drink. Maybe also a bit dangerous, since it's still 19%! The flavors of the rice are rice are present, as well as flavors of cereal, milk, yoghurt and the nama gives it a bit of bubblegum.

I really like this sake! Even if you prefer more fruiter sake, the freshness of this sakes makes you want to drink more of it. But be awere that it's still a genshu!