Sawanotsuru Junmai Tarusake - Sake Review

Time for another drink!

Junmai Tarusake - another delicious Sake from Sawanotsuru Brewery

A bit about!

Made with Nada Miyamizu (water from the Rokko mountains in the Hyogo prefecture), and aged in wooden barrels, the Sawanotsuru Junmai Tarusake has 1.5 acidity, SMV +3, 1.4 amino acids, rice polishing ratio - 65% koji rice and 75% kakemai, 14.5 % ABV, and it is clear.

Sawanotsuru have been making sake since 1717, and they've been pretty great at it since then. After trying the Totonoi, Shushu Light, and the Deluxe Sake, I'm happy to say that this one has not disappointed either.

Time to try it

Lovely smell, great on the palate, very lightly sweet with a smidge of dryness toward the end.

I cannot fault it in any way. It's light, fragrant and somewhat savoury.

Best served warm, at around 45 °C, or at least at room temperature.

It's pretty ok at room temperature, but once you warm it up, all the beautiful and delicate aromas come to life.

Pros and Cons

Overall, rich and ever so slightly dry, I can see this pairing with pretty much any savoury dish, especially fish and cheese.

I paired it with takoyaki the first time I tried it, and it worked great.

The only downside I can see (as with most sake I discovered during my most recent trip to Japan), is that the Junmai Tarusake is not easily available unless you live in Japan.

In conclusion

If you manage to get your hands on a bottle of Sawanotsuru Junmai Tarusake, by all means, please try it, it's elegant, easy to drink and overall a delight to savour, but please warm it up to enjoy it in its best state.

A 180ml bottle was around 350 Yen at the gift shop after just visiting the Sawanotsuru Sake Museum, and unfortunately, so far, I have not seen it in any of the shops around me (in the UK)

If you want to discover any other type of sake, you can give these ones a try.

As always, please drink responsibly.

If you like this little review, please click on the little heart below, and if you've tried this sake, I would love to hear what you think of it, in the comments below.

I hope life is treating you well.

Take care.