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Sho Chiku Bai Premium Ginjo Sake
About Sho Chiku Bai Premium Ginjo Sake
Sho Chiku Bai Premium Ginjo Sake is produced by Takara Sake USA Inc. – a Berkeley, California based spirits company first established in 1983. They are part of a larger, Japan-based corporation called Takara Group, which was originally founded 1842 and produce a variety of spirits such as sake, shochu, and others. Their branding places an emphasis on harmony with nature.
Each Sho Chiku Bai sake utilizes rice sourced from the Sacramento valley and snow melt from the Sierra Nevada mountains. This particular bottle of Premium Ginjo Sake is made from Calrose rice, which is polished to 50%, washed, soaked, and steamed. 20% of that steamed rice is then made into Koji Rice, which is rice that has been sprinkled with mold to propagate it in preparation for fermentation. It is made into a yeast starter and then a mash, which undergoes a complex fermentation process that includes a multiple parallel fermentation. It is then pressed, filtered, and pasteurized before bottling.
Bottle Specs
❖ ABV: 15%
❖ Distillery: Takura Sake USA
❖ Aging: none
❖ Price Point: low price
My Tasting notes
I took a whiff of this sake, and the scent was slightly sweet, with a light and airy feel to it. The sweetness had a fruity quality to it. There was also that classic fermentation smell and a whisper of rice.
My first sip was very smooth and mellow. This sake is sweet and light in the front, with a burst of gentle and fruity sweetness in the finish. I was surprised by the lack of heat, and the mouthfeel felt like fresh water.
Cocktail
Sakura Martini
Ingredients
- 2oz Gin
- 1.5oz Sake
- 5ml Maraschino liqueur
- 2 drops Saline solution 4:1
Instructions
- Add the ingredients to a mixing glass with ice, and stir until chilled
- strain the mixture into a chilled glass
I really enjoyed this sake inside of a cocktail. I felt that it brought out the botanical flavors of the gin nicely, balancing them with a bit of sweetness. Similar to my straight tasting, I found the mouthfeel to be water-like and somewhat buttery. It created a nice alternative to a classic martini that is more gentle in flavor and with less heat.
Bottom Line
RATING: 5/5
Overall, I was pretty impressed with this bottle of Sho Chiku Bai Premium Ginjo Sake. For the low price point, I honestly wasn’t expecting much, but ended up really enjoying the flavor and smoothness.
I think it’s an excellent budget choice, and I would absolutely recommend it for that purpose. Other times, you might want to pay a little more for something fancier. However, if you’re looking for a solid affordable option for a casual evening, Sho Choku Bai Ginjo will do the trick.
As always, drink responsibly.
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