Sake Projects – The Takachiyo Next “Chapters” Are In!
I certainly hope that by now you have taken full advantage of a very tasty situation that True Sake has been luckily chosen for! The super popular sake brewery called Takachiyo in Niigata Prefecture selected True Sake to test their amazing product line called “59.” If I have to explain what “59” is then I totally know that you haven’t taken advantage of this extremely cool sake endeavor! Shame! Shame! Shame! Said in my best Game of Thrones bell ringing voice!
The Takachiyo “59” is a line of sakes that are made exactly the same way, using the exact same ingredients except for the rice! Each brew is a Nama Junmai Ginjo milled to 59%. Each sake uses the same water, koji, and yeast (#1801). The only difference is the brewing rice. Pretty cool stuff if you want to isolate just the flavor and feeling of rice! I would call the whole collection, made up of “Chapters,” an adventure into New World type sakes that look to mimic or draw features of the wine world. The sakes are all bright, bold, and very lively!
So, we finally have come to the end of the book, as Chapters 8 and 10 are now in the store! Where did Chapter 9 go? We have no clue! Beggars can’t be choosers. In this regard we also have several remaining Chapters that will go very soon, so I would get in gear if you want to have some fun with an amazing sake exploration exercise!
It is truly a one of a kind chance to get to know sake brewing rice, and how it works for sake!
Takachiyo Chapter VII “Ippon-Omachi”
From Niigata Prefecture. Junmai Ginjo Muroka Nama Genshu.
SMV: -1.0 Acidity: 1.5
The nose on this next “Chapter” in the Takachiyo 59 experiment has a collection of grapefruit, blue berry, melon, sweet nuts, and lemon custard aromas. Chapter 8 is a very unique and complex Nama that plays with the wonders of a sexy sour flavor profile. It is bright and zesty that drinks chippy with lots of minerals in a slightly sour crispness. Don’t take this the wrong way, because a touch of sour in sake is awesome. Frisky and lively with a very tank fresh feeling it has an exotic citrus flavor that is more sexy than sour. It has a very light fluid feeling, but it’s bursting with flavors such as lemon tart, tangerine, grapefruit, and Lemonheads. A wine glass makes all of these alluring flavors work the best and it highlights the “Kire” or quick finish. WORD: Citrus WINE: Tannic Reds/Crisp Whites BEER: Shock Top FOODS: You tell us!
Takachiyo Chapter X “Ai-Ippon”
From Niigata Prefecture. Junmai Ginjo Muroka Nama Genshu.
SMV: ±0 Acidity: 1.5
The nose on the last “Chapter” in this amazing series of sakes that explore the flavors of rice is filled with blueberry, rice cake, bubblegum, and wax teeth aromas. Talk about a perfect sake for Halloween this sake drinks like a candy bowl with lots of flavorful treats. Fresh and light, this sake that features Aiyama and Ipponjime rice varietals goes down with a tight and compact rush that speaks to those who like their tannic wines. Hints of melon, sweet corn, granny smith apples, and snow melt mix for a gentle sourness that is very drying on the palate. In a word this sake is unique and that’s what makes it so special. Each sip is a new verse of a favorite song, and each swallow is an adventure that all sake enthusiasts would love to explore. As this brew warms in the glass, more sweetness comes forth and that is part of the Halloween surprise. WORD: Unique WINE: Complex reds/Impact whites BEER: Crisp Ales FOODS: You tell us!