The first thing that will help you when choosing an aged sake is the typical taste differences between each category.
At Jyuku to Kan, matured sake is divided into four categories: vintage sparkling, low-temperature stored, mid-temperature stored, and special taste. Among the room temperature stored sakes, those that are particularly suitable for warming are labeled as "Kan Kouteki Shu."
First, let's look at the typical taste differences between low-temperature and mid-temperature storage.
As the name suggests, it is sake that has been aged at low temperatures below 10 degrees, and most of this is ginjo or daiginjo, which means that more rice is removed from the sake.
When brewers use a lot of shavings, they usually design the sake to have a thinner structure, a so-called "clean sake." By aging this "clean sake" at low temperatures, the slightly rough parts of the new sake are mellowed out, resulting in a "clean and round" sake.
It has a pale color and a typical taste of delicious new sake with a mellow flavor.
Very rarely, there are sakes that develop complex layers of flavor through aging (our original "Tenju Junmai Ginjo 1997" is a prime example).
◇ Tenju Junmai Ginjo 1997 (Jyuku to Kan Original) 720ml
Price: 33,000 yen (tax included)
On the other hand, mid-temperature storage is sake that is aged at room temperature inside a brewery or storage facility, and most of it is stored in an environment of just over 15-20 degrees.
The quality of the sake is also designed not to be reduced too much, and it has a complex flavor due to the amino acids contained in the rice and the various organic acids produced by fermentation.
Many types of alcoholic beverages are finished with a beautiful golden color due to the Maillard reaction between amino acids and sugars, and they have an appealing complexity of aroma and flavor.
Due to their complexity, most of these drinks pair well with French or Italian cuisine, enhancing the enjoyment of the meal.
Personally, I think the combination of grilled duck and "Daruma Masamune Over 5 Years (Jyuku to Kan's Original)" is a surefire hit.
◇ Daruma Masamune Over 5 Years (Jyuku to Kan Original) 720ml
Price: 5,000 yen (tax included)
The easiest way to pair this with food is to have a slightly chilled low-temperature stored sake at the start of the meal to go with the appetizers, and then enjoy a mid-temperature stored sake at room temperature as you approach the main course.
Please give it a try.