Gohyakumangoku Rice * 72cl * 15% ABV * Akashi, Japan
The history of Akashi-Tai Brewery stretches back to the end of the Tokugawa period (1600-1867), when the company produced soy sauce and traded in rice. Since 1918, they have been crafting artisanal sake from only the choicest ingredients, brewing it in small batches by hand.
The Tokubetsu Honjozo is a lighter-bodied sake with a clean and savoury character, created by the addition of alcohol prior to filtration. Delicately floral, lemony and slightly straw-like aromas lead into soft citrus fruits on the palate, followed by a robust and long-lasting finish.
Quite a versatile drink, this sake can be served anywhere between 6-50°C, either to complement a meal or to whet the appetite beforehand. With its higher acidity and subtle fruit flavour, it would pair well with scallops in Miso butter, or a rich cheese like Comte or aged Cheddar.