KJ

Hello! My name is KJ, I am a wine & sake sommelier and educator here in the Bay Area. I first learned the ways of nihonshu at True Sake in 2016 while taking a hiatus from wine. I have to thank sake guru Beau Timken and the Jedi-level True Sake team for leading my sake education, which continues to this day! 

Since my first stint at the shop, I’ve become a certified sake and wine educator for the WSET, I teach Sake Sommelier Association courses through Fifth Taste and have written articles on the topic of sake for outlets including Sake Tips! and Sake Times International. I have run beverage programs for multiple SF institutions and now host my own private events/classes called Sip Somm - Sake & Wine Tasting. 

I like to say that wine is my first love, and sake is my soulmate. Unlike real life partnerships, I can happily keep both! 😜

Senkin ‘Snowman’ Junmai Daiginjo Nigori Genshu 

I put this sake first on the list because it may very well be my favorite sake in the entire store. A brewery that takes their sparkling nigori to the next level by making it a Junmai Daiginjo using 100% Yamada Nishiki rice shows their serious commitment to quality. I discovered this sake way before realizing that Senkin Shuzo from Tochigi Prefecture was responsible for its production. They have since become an international sensation and their sake is sometimes very hard to come by. Grab a bottle of Senkin (skip the 300ml, go straight to the 720ml) and saber it for fun. With a touch of sweetness; its vivacious character, smooth lees and lively bubbles will not disappoint. 

Tenzan ‘Mount Tenzan’ Junmai Genshu 

This sake is nothing short of mastery. There is absolutely no sake like it and it tastes exactly as I remember it from my first week working at True Sake years ago. Besides the pure nostalgia this sake evokes, it can be enjoyed at any temperature. When cold, it tastes like fresh cantaloupe; reminding me of a late summer essence with long days and warm breezes. At room temp, the sake reveals graham cracker notes with a miso backbone that melds seamlessly with the brew’s 18.5% abv. When this sake is warmed, it is all about robust umami and length. Tenzan Shuzo also makes the superb Shichida brand. I am a huge fan of all of their products, but this classic sake has no equal. 

Gakki Masamune ‘Sacred Offering’ Nakadori Honjozo 

Every year I hunt for my new annual sake favorite. This year it’s Gakki Masamune Honjozo. It is a sake that captures the precious nakadori press fraction, which is considered the highest quality and most flavorful. This is a perfectly balanced sake with aromas of pineapple, melon and unripe banana on the nose, followed by key lime, vanilla and celery on the palate. It has a touch of sweetness and some zippy bubbles that give it a refreshing cream soda vibe. How this sake is $26 is a mystery to me. I almost don’t want to include it in my staff picks because I want it all to myself!

Kokuryu ‘Crystal Dragon’ Daiginjo 

Okay, I have a slightly controversial secret to admit. As the resident wine nerd on staff, I tend to shy away from highly polished brews. When I am in the mood for fragrant and refreshing, I usually grab a bottle of one of my favorite aromatic white wines (gasp! I know…). BUT, some sake in the Daiginjo category (whether they are Junmai or not), make it so worth skipping my go-to whites. These include Senkin Snowman and the ethereal Dassai Beyond (both featured on this list), but one of my absolute favorites is Kokuryu Crystal Dragon. It has the faintest aromas of blueberry and melon, but its real expression comes through its fleshy, yet water-like texture. It slips past your palate in the most elegant and deliberate way. I encourage you to try this sake and appreciate its subtlety. 

Dassai ‘Beyond’ Junmai Daiginjo 

Let’s all stand up and give a round of applause for the gateway drug that is Dassai! This is the brand of sake that got me into sake and that desire has not ceased since. Some people like to poo-poo on Dassai due to its likeability and reach. We all like to take down a superstar in their prime, but we should remember to appreciate their contribution to the sake industry. They were one of the first sake brands to convince wine drinkers that sake was worth exploring. They have also made the incredibly bold choice to bottle ONLY Junmai Daiginjo across the board. Therefore, on your next special occasion (or startup sale), kanpai to the trailblazing brand that has influenced us all. Dassai Beyond is the most epic and expensive of the Dassai brand offerings and only once was I lucky enough to taste it. It was subtle and silky on the palate, but about two seconds into my sip, I suddenly felt as though a lilac was blooming in my mouth. So save up and taste that Dassai Beyond magic! (*Disclaimer! If Dassai Beyond is out of your price range, I highly recommend Dassai 39, my other beloved brew in their lineup).

Yamamoto Yuzu Omoi ‘Citrus Dream’ Tokubetsu Junmai Yuzushu 

I am not ashamed to admit that I love Yuzu Omoi SO MUCH, that manager Mei Ho and I planned a yuzu-fueled extravaganza where multiple yuzu sake went head to head. In my opinion, all of the yuzu-shu at True Sake are extremely good, but the ultimate balance of sweetness, tart acidity and pristine yuzu aromas belongs to the winner: Yuzu Omoi! Try it super cold or over ice with a sparkling wine float to crush your summer spritzer cravings. 

Kenbishi ‘Zuishou’ Koshu 

When it comes to sake, I am an umami fiend at heart. That being said, no brewery harnesses umami like Kenbishi Shuzo. Kenbishi is arguably the most successful and sustaining company in the sake business; with a brand that has existed since 1505. With mottos like, ‘be a still clock’ and ‘if you are chasing the trend, you are already late,’ they have managed to make mind-blowing sake for over 500 years. In this rendition, 5 to 15 years of aged Kenbishi sake is blended to silky, caramel perfection. Using solely Yamada Nishiki, the king of sake rice, this is the most sophisticated and powerful koshu I have ever encountered.