A mouthful of Japan’s #1 selling Nigorizake “Perfect Snow” leaves a perfectly excellent impression. "Impact" is the main idea, coming from a flowery, full body, a crisp and dynamic sweetness, and the delectable aftertaste of steamed rice from the coarsely filtered rice mash particles - not to mention the amazing 21% ABV! It's no wonder there is no Nigorizake that can share the spotlight with this tasty sake giant.
Food Pairings: Spare Ribs, Spicy Korean Cuisine, Strongly Seasoned dishes, Sushi, Yakitori.
Rice: Gohyakumangoku
Rice-Polishing Ratio: 70%
With 130 years of history on their shoulders, the Kikusui Sake Company of Niigata prefecture built themselves up from the bottom. The name "Kikusui" is a reference to a Noh theatre play, wherein the dew (Sui) from the petals of chrysanthemums (Kiku) grant eternal life.
In 2004 they established the Kikusui Sake Research Institute in an effort to both raise the bar on the quality of their offerings and wrestle with concepts such as enjoyment of sake, and sake culture. They are proud to produce "Funaguchi" - Japan's first commercially available Nama (unpasteurized) sake.
