Sake Holiday – True Sake Elves Help Your Holiday Gift Giving

Some holiday gift-givers are just a little bit better than other gift-givers, especially when they gift sake! In the spirit of the gift-giving season, we have asked the True Sake Team (aka Elves) to recommend several sake gifts that they feel captures a little bit of that holiday magic in rice and water form. 

Elf Mei  –

Katsuyama Junmai Daiginjo "Akatsuki" - I often get asked what I want to drink. If you're looking for something luxurious, luscious, layered, and impactful in flavor and packaging, it's going to be the Katsuyama Akatsuki. 

Mimurosugi Kioke Bodaimoto - Are you shopping for someone who has everything or is a little difficult to shop for? Get them the Mimurosugi Kioke Bodaimoto. You won't find another sake in the US that is brewed in the Bodaimoto style and is also Kioke. 

Elf Chris –

Dewazakura Tobiroku Sparkling Nigori “Festival of Stars” - This is a staple that must be in stock at our house at all times. We always have to make sure we have coffee beans from Brazil, dark chocolate from Vietnam, and this fantastic Sparkling Nigori from Dewazakura Shuzo in Yamagata Prefecture. I'm typically not a Nigori guy or a Sparkling guy, but "Festival of Stars" is simply easy to drink. Not too sweet, with the right amount of dryness. Easy-peasy! 

Kamoizumi Shusen “Three Dots” - I have fond memories of stumbling into a sushi bar called Keima in Onomichi, Hiroshima. No English menu, but with our limited Japanese, we managed to order a delicious set lunch with a glass of the chef’s favorite sake: Kamoizumi Shusen “Three Dots”. We had this Junmai slightly chilled to room temp, and it paired beautifully with the meal. I’ve also had this warmed with tremendous results.

Elf Matt  –

Akabu Junmai Daiginjo "Gokujo no Kire" - I rarely splurge on “top-shelf” sake, but if money were no object, I would stock my sake cellar with Akabu’s Gokujo no Kire. The label is beautiful and the sake inside is even better. If you’re looking to "wow" a sake aficionado this Christmas (especially if it's yourself), it’s hard to find a more elegant sake than this.

Katsuyama Junmai Ginjo "Ken" -  A few months ago, I held a blind tasting with my sake novice friends. After trying over 10 bottles of various styles and price ranges, the overwhelming winner was Katsuyama Ken. It’s balanced, it’s approachable, and simply put: it’s delicious. The engraved bottle and red label also add to its holiday gifting potential. 

Elf Jason  –

Kikusui Junmai Daiginjo "Kuramitsu" - This bottle has the smooth, rich sweetness of kuromitsu, a traditional Japanese sugar syrup used in many desserts and confections. But it drinks even better—starting with a delightful sweetness and then finishing clean, with a subtle minerality. The flavor profile includes hints of honeydew, gardenia, and brown sugar. It’s perfect for those who enjoy sweet beverages, yet sophisticated enough to appeal to sake connoisseurs.

Zaku Junmai Daiginjo Genshu "Selection N" - The first time I tried this sake, it set the standard for the kind of sake I enjoy. It’s packed with vibrant fruit notes—grape, orange, and pineapple—balanced by an underlying umami. What’s remarkable is that despite the bold fruitiness, it finishes remarkably clean with a delicate touch of shibumi (astringency). This makes it an excellent pairing for sushi, sashimi, or even a refreshing fruit platter after dinner.

Elf KJ  –

Daruma Masamune Jukusei Koshu Set - Pick up this handy-dandy jukusei koshu set made by the masterful brewery Shiraki Tsunesuke Shoten from Gifu Prefecture. They specialize in aged sake and this set contains 3yr, 5yr and 10yr old renditions of their delicious umami-laden goodness. Look for notes of salty broth and dark chocolate on the 3yr, toasted barley and pecans on the 5yr and maple syrup and tobacco on the 10yr. Treat yourself or get this for a family member or friend looking to expand their sake drinking repertoire.

Niwa no Uguisu Doburoku - Have a taste of history with the OG unfiltered rice beverage doburoku! Many people mistakenly call nigori unfiltered, when it is actually made in a coarsely filtered, cloudy style. With doburoku, you can experience the wonder of thick rice porridge in a glass. Nearly 2/3rds of this beverage is sake kasu and it has to be viciously shaken to integrate with its liquid. While no longer illegal in certain zones, you can now drink this fruity and sweet rice fantasy without fear of the po-po. It is lovely both chilled with dinner or warmed on a cold winter’s day.

Elf Zoe  –

Stella Junmai Daiginjo Shizuku Muroka Genshu - Looking for a special bottle for a special person or occasion? This one has everything you’re looking for. It’s an unfiltered (muroka) sake made using the drip (shizuku) method. Without using any pressure, only the sake that drips freely is collected, and it’s aged at a low temperature. This bottle has an elegant, silky, fruity, and ricey flavor with a smooth, quick finish; perfect with any kind of seafood.

Matsumidori Junmai Ginjo "S.tokyo" - This is a fun bottle that will surprise both sake and wine lovers! It’s made using the second-oldest yeast strain in the history of sake. Sip it from a wine glass to enjoy the fruity aroma, with a round and well-balanced sweetness and acidity, with a smooth finish. It pairs perfectly with cheese plates and charcuterie boards.

Elf Beau  –

Tenko 35 “Heavenly Grace” – In a word, who needs to reinvent the wheel when this sake already looks like Holiday gift wrapping in a box? Add to that it’s an absolutely stunning Junmai Daiginjo that has been milled down to 35%, and you have the perfect gifting sake that appeals to ALL sake drinkers as this smooth and complex sake tickles the mind and the senses. 

Hanahato Kijoshu “Gorgeous Bird” – This sake has won more gold medals and trophies at the International Wine Challenge since 2007 than any other sake on the market. It is a world-class sake made in a world-class method and then aged for 8 years. If you have a giftee who loves Ports, Sherries and is new to sake, then this brew will rock their world, and for those who like sake to pair with chocolate then capture this Gorgeous Bird.