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Hassaku Sake
About Hassaku Sake
One of my personal goals this year is to try more spirits from other countries and cultures. And it seems like Emmeline was on a similar wavelength, since she gifted me this bottle of Hassaku Sake during the holidays.
Hassaku Sake is produced in Wakayama, a Southern prefecture in Japan that borders Osaka. Wakayama is famous for the citrus fruit hassaku, a fruit similar in taste to an orange but the size of a grapefruit.
While it’s branded as a sake on the bottle, Hassaku Sake might be closer to a liqueur in taste and proof. But the base spirit is high quality sake produced by Sekai Itto Co. and then blended with locally sourced hassaku.
Bottle Specs
❖ Spirit: Flavored Sake
❖ Distillery: Produced by Sekai Itto Co., LTD
❖ ABV: 8% (16 Proof)
❖ Lower Moderate Price
Tasting Notes
❖ Color: Orange
❖ Nose: Sweet citrus, sake
❖ Taste: Tastes very similar to a mimosa, orange juice with a bit of funk from the sake
❖ Finish: Medium, Slightly tart, Plum
Cocktail
Hassaku Spritz
1 1/2 oz Hassaku Sake
3 oz Sparkling Wine
❖ Add the sake to a champagne flute and top with sparkling wine
❖ Garnish with a lemon slice
Since Hassaku Sake already has a nice balance of sweetness, citrus and alcohol flavor, I was looking for a cocktail that wasn’t overly complicated and easy to throw together. And since I was already getting a strong mimosa vibe from the flavored sake, why not lean into it and make a spritz?
I was pretty happy with the ratio of ingredients, and the orange juice flavor from the sake balanced well with the sparkling wine. I would recommend a cheaper and less flavorful sparkling wine so the sake’s flavor isn’t over shadowed. And, you can garnish with any citrus you have on hand, but I liked how the lemon slice added a slightly more tart citrus flavor on the nose.
Bottom Line
While I don’t think Hassaku Sake is the most versatile spirit, it’s still very much worth trying if you are looking for a refreshing citrus flavored liqueur. The hassaku and sake flavors are well balanced so it tastes great on it’s own or mixed in simple cocktails.
However, unlike other liqueurs I’ve sampled, Hassaku Sake’s flavor has a pretty strong alcohol flavor, so it’s a little bit harder to mix in more elaborate cocktails. But this only lessens it’s versatility, and doesn’t change the fact that it’s still a tasty and easy to drink flavored sake.
As always, drink responsibly.
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