“A SAKE WITH NO BORDERS!”
I’m super excited to review this sake. I drink a lot of sake because I love that it is seamless, and easy to drink, despite being complex. It’s the least understood alcoholic beverage in the world when it stands against its counterparts. It’s not wine and it’s not beer, it stands proudly alone under its own category. You can even argue, sake is synonymously deeply rooted thousands of years in Japanese culture, it could be the oldest. Adding to all that, the beauty about sake, besides its crystal ball appearance, I believe it’s the most versatile alcoholic beverage in the world. Yes, I said it! So you ask why don’t we see it everywhere like the other alcoholics? The million-dollar answer is Brewers in Japan, respect their cultural practices so much, the majority of sake made there doesn’t get exported! However, Arigato “thank you” to brewers like Kigen is committed to changing that perception by maintaining past traditions while being relevant to consumers today.
TRADITION
Before I saw the bottles sent to me, I had the image of sake in its traditional wine bottle. Playfully referred to as a “Sake Cup” it comes conveniently in a 180ml cylindrical glass cup to appreciate its translucency, sealed with an EZ-Pop aluminum tab. I love it already! The label wrapped around it is marketing genius too. It’s a serious cartoon image of a Samurai with his sword standing in front of our planet ready to take the universe by storm. The Samurai era once held significant importance in Japan from the 12 century into the 1800s, known as the “Way of the Warrior”. Kigen classically captures it here with this sake honoring their faithfulness and gallantry and making it readily accessible to anyone who’s willing to experience it.
ORIGIN
Kigen Brewery comes to you from Fukushima Prefecture (Fukushima-ken), Japan. You might associate the area as a “disaster zone” between a major earthquake, tsunami, and worse the nuclear disaster of the early 2000s. However, there’s no disaster associated with this sake, and once more, radiation-free! You’re Welcome! Instead, Fukushima is Japan’s third-largest out of the island’s 47 prefectures. Located on the far Northeastern half, it is romantically dotted with historical castle towns adorned with cherry blossoms that impart a delicate perfume to the Sake. The volcanic landscapes add structural complexity to it. The high cool mountainous elevations give the sake crisp light crunchy texture. Further, and most essential that supports a Sake’s purity is the water source and Kigen Brewery has access to some of the best hot springs anywhere on the island. If you ever get the privilege to visit, an absolute must is to pair the sake with the area’s signature dish, Aizu Soba of the city Aizu.
TODAY
Introducing the real masterminds pouring the worldly Kigen Sake. Pacific International Liquor, Inc. AKA (PIL) is an international corporation whose focus is on the import and export of Japanese liquors such as sake, shochu/soju, craft beer, etc. They are based in charismatic Compton, California. The company may not be the image of premium style Sake, however, they have a respectable goal to close the gap of undiscovered Japanese alcoholic beverages at wallet-friendly prices to the masses.
TASTING THE PAST INTO THE PRESENT
The Samurai Sake Cup evokes the concept in the present era where we are searching to remove stress and embracing life. Convenience is a keyword today, and RTD’s (ready-to-drink) alcoholic beverages have been all the rage in cartons and cans.
CLICK HERE TO READ MY ARTICLE ”GETTING CANNED BY LA DOLCE VITA”
IN REFERENCE TO RTD’S
Yet, Sake in general is an alcoholic beverage with delicate nuances, and it does make sense to package it in a glass “cup” as with Kigen Sake. It’s brewed with Akita Komachi rice, no surprise rice with origins from Akita Prefecture. Understandably, it is used because it has a lightly perfumed taste and a slight tang off the tongue. Keeping the Sake bright and lively.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT ABOUT SAKE IN MY ARTICLE “SAKE 101”
Kigen Saké has less than 30% of the unwanted proteins milled away called Futsu-shu and PIL. I’d be remiss to our readers if I didn’t tactfully and truthfully point out it is “bulk saké”. Futsu-shu is not a regulated beverage by the Japanese government and most aren’t exported because noble brewers don’t want universal consumers to associate their heritage with cheap plonk. They can have a variety of additives including sweeteners, colorings, and head chain alcohol. These are not considered quality sake that has exact representation. These are the Sake that is linked to the “Sushi Bar Hot Sake Party Experience”
On the other side of the border, It’s a solid Sake for today’s culture. It’s a Sake that carries no pretension. It evokes an image of warming up for the pre-party, the present party, AND the after party! HELLO!
Sink your eyes into the transparent glass “cup” then dive your nose into the subtle sun-kissed orchard of anjou crisp pear, red delicious apples, white lilies, and crush volcanic ash. On the palate it remains shy and unspoken, with more crunchy tree fruit, a kick of cracked pepper on the mid-palate, the sign the Samurai is present, and the Samurai ends the mission with a flirty mouth coating of vanilla cheese danish. Such a romantic Warrior is Kigen!
With only 13.5% alcohol, I suggest enjoying Kigen several ways!: Cozy up to the fire and drink it warm like a tea in your favorite coffee mug, ice-cold on the rocks, or even in your favorite cocktail. If I’m feeling fancy, with these styles of sake I like to drink out of a champagne flute with my favorite bubbles! Hell, if you just can’t wait, pop open and drink it at room temp, who cares, no one is judging.
I’d love to witness the day when a Sake Brewery would formulate a CLEAR inert biodegradable paper bottle. It’s less weight to ship, cuts the margins down for everyone in the chain, appeals to the consumer and is ready for the earth to receive it once the party is over. Hey, Frugal Pac Limited is on the right path. Anyways, thank you PIL for the opportunity to savor and I’ll keep the party going for Kigen by spreading the word! … BTW readers, to add to your convenience, Ralphs Markets in the US sells Kigen Sake for $5 bucks….
“AN AMALGAM SAKE THAT REPRESENTS THE PAST YET ORIGINAL TODAY!”
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Thank you and remember Taste Small Live Big!
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