One of my favorite local restaurants is Katana Sushi, and while I drink beer most of the time, I always enjoy Sake when we go out for Sushi. It’s become our beverage of choice when we’re enjoying sushi and I’ve managed to sample quite a few varieties. I’m no expert by any means, but I know a good Sake when I taste it.
Today I’ll be highlighting an award-winning Sake from Japan called HEAVENSAKE. Founded in Japan in 2016 and hitting the American markets in 2017, HEAVENSAKE is a Franco-Japanese collaboration (the first in the world) and it celebrates the “union between the traditional art of Japanese sake-making and Champagne assemblage techniques.” Co-founded by French Chef de Cave, Régis Camus (eight-time winner of Winemaker Of The Year at the International Wine Challenge), HEAVENSAKE currently makes four varieties or “expressions” of Sake:
HEAVENSAKE's four expressions are all of the prestigious Junmai sake class, which translates to "PURE" in Japanese, with 2x JUNMAI DAIGINJO, 2x JUNMAI GINGO and their unique creation "JUNMAI 12" a 12% Low ABV/Low Calories sake with 25% less alcohol and 25% calories than normal Junmai sakes.
HEAVENSAKE's four expressions include:
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JUNMAI DAIGINJO: MSRP for 1 bottle: $84.99 | 720ML | ABV: 16%
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Dassai Brewery (founded in 1890): Located in the Yamaguchi prefecture, Dassai has been brewing sake for 200 years and is renowned for only making Junmai Daiginjo using highly milled Yamana Nishiki rice.
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Begins with delicate floral, grape, apple, and lush tropical fruit on the nose. The palate is vibrant, rich, and aromatic with flavors of early summer pears, wild red berries, and muscat grapes. Recommended pairings: uni, lobster, pata negia iberico ham, Parmigiano Reggiano, ingredients with strong Unami, tiramisu, chocolate fondant, crème brûlée.
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To Camus, Daiginjo is like walking into a magnificent Japanese palace with a sense of joy and refinement.
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JUNMAI GINJO: MSRP for 1 bottle: $39.99 | 720ML | ABV: 15%
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Urakasumi Brewery: Located in the Miyagi prefecture, founded in 1724, Urakasumi has provided the sacred sake for the Shiogama Shrine. The 13th generation of the Saura family manages the brewery.
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On the nose are notes of lemon peel, cocoa, and crème brûlée, accompanied by a crisp, light, and refreshing palate with honeycomb, nougat, and white raisin. Recommended pairings: ceviche, raw oysters, tuna tartare, arctic char, sashimi, sushi, green salads, tempura vegetables, lightly spicy food, chicken.
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For Camus, Ginjo is like the first day of Spring with its warm rays of sunshine.
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JUNMAI 12: MSRP for 1 bottle: $29.99 | 720ML | ABV: 12.5%
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Konishi Brewery: Located in the Hyogo Prefecture, Hakushika is the oldest single-family brewery dating back to 1550. The 16th generation of the family is managing the business with Akiko Konishi as their first female CEO.
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The nose offers rich notes of salted caramel, cacao, kumquat, and almond, followed by a round palate, dry to off-dry, and pleasing pastry notes with a bright, fresh finish. Recommended pairings include ceviche, raw oysters, tuna tartare, poached fish, shrimp cocktails, sashimi, Margherita pizza, burgers, New York strip steaks. According to Camus, Junmai 12 is inspired by the rosés of Provence and the lightness of champagne – elegant and easy on the palate.
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SAKE BABY!: MSRP for 1 bottle: $19.99 | MSRP for a 3-pack: $59.00 | 300ML | ABV: 15.5%
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Hakushika Brewery: Hakushika became famous in the 1600s for its innovative sake brewing techniques. Hakushika means "white deer" in Japanese and symbolizes longevity.
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Floral on the nose with hints of jasmine and violet, featuring a fruity flavor with silky pear and white plum notes. Pairs well with sushi, pizza, pasta, rice, and raspberries.
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HEAVENSAKE has won the prestigious “Best Sake” at the San Francisco IWC in both 2019 and 2020 and I should also mention that the packaging includes a proprietary bottle shape that really makes HEAVENSAKE stand out. The bottles took over 18-months to design and develop and as HEAVENSAKE puts it, the bottle has a “shape that respected the traditionally understated elegance of Japanese culture while expressing the brand's modern personality.” These bottles and the HEAVENSAKE logo continue to celebrate the brand’s Franco-Japanese roots and they speak of elegance with approachability. The bottles are meant to evoke the “purity of water, champagne’s character and the timelessness of wine.
The HEAVENSAKE logo (above) includes a hexagonal shape representing France and the interior lines are inspired by Japanese Kanji with three hexagons to represent the main ingredients of Sake: water, rice and koji (yeast).The HEAVENSAKE varieties are meant to be very food-friendly and served cold in a wine glass (like champagne) and they will make the perfect companion to everything from sushi to spicy foods. Their brewing techniques and ingredients make HEAVENSAKE really unique in the Sake world and a great companion for dining and celebrations.
HEAVENSAKE varieties are all natural, gluten-free, sulfite-free, additive-free and they even have no sugar added.The bottle packaging elevates this Sake to a new level and the overall combination of ingredients, techniques and packaging make for a unique and exciting sake drinking experience.
HEAVENSAKE is available now in U.S. markets so get out there and try it for yourself…and when you do try it, be sure to let us know what YOU think.
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