Norman

9.0

Kubota Suijyu (翠寿) Daiginjo Nama — Asahi Shuzo, Niigata, Japan

Technicals: Daiginjo • Nama (unpasteurized) • Gohyakumangoku koji rice / Niigata-grown kakemai • Seimaibuai: 50% koji rice / 40% kakemai • SMV: +4 • Acidity: 0.9 • ABV: 14% • Brewing alcohol added • Yeast: not disclosed • Amino acid: not disclosed • Low-temperature storage • Seasonal release: April–September • Recommended serving temperature: ~10°C / 50°F

90 pts. Light-bodied with a touch of sweetness. Delicate and clean through the palate with little weight or coating texture. A mild bitter/astringent note emerges toward the finish, creating a mouth-filling sensation along the cheeks rather than richness. The finish is long and persistent despite the sake’s light body. Aromatics are restrained when served cold. Happy that these are all pretty fresh. Brewed 05/2026 — 22 days ago

Samuel Wong

10

Asahi has a dry, crispy taste. Good to have it with ramen or meaty dishes. — 2 months ago

Matthew Cohen

9.4

Elegant t yellow flowers.

Palate: hint of spritz. Elegant fruit.

Long — 2 years ago

Chris Haywood

10

Light, floral, pineapple, creamy, single pasteurisation doing its business — 2 years ago

Norman

9.2

Large/magnum-like sake bottle. — 3 years ago

Norman

9.4

Dessai 23 Shinsei — 5 years ago

Mark Stevens

9.0

Excellent Larger crisp light and refreshing. Clean on the palate — 7 years ago

Norman

9.7

Dassai Beyond (獺祭 Beyond)

Brewery: Dassai / Asahi Shuzo, Iwakuni, Yamaguchi, Japan
Classification: Junmai Daiginjo
Rice: Yamada Nishiki
Polishing: Undisclosed
ABV: 16%

Brewer description: Dassai created Beyond to surpass what could be achieved simply by increasing the rice-polishing ratio. The brewery does not disclose the polishing ratio, emphasizing that the sake’s quality should be judged by the finished expression rather than a polishing number. Dassai describes it as having a complex, elegant aroma, delicate sweetness and a long finish.

Tasted at Sake Day SF — 9/26/2026. Rating is limited since the same glass was reused throughout the tasting, making it difficult to get a truly clean tasting and accurate read on the aromas.

Excellent. This is one of Dassai’s flagship luxury bottlings and was one of the expensive bottles in this group. Had before and it’s amazing. The others so are very close. Are you swayed by the name? Maybe but there’s a difference. The temp may have played into it. — 4 days ago

Norman

9.3

It’s a classic. I thought it got better as it chilled off. It was a bit syrupy and sweet at first. Cooled off it was delightful for me. Interesting as the other bottle was the opposite. — 4 months ago

Norman

9.0

Sake World 2024 Had to judge given it’s the same glass throughout the tasting but these were nice. Actually had the 35 which was fun to try. I would probably lean towards the Japan based ones unless this is substantially cheaper and I could try head to head. Blue is made in NYC. — 2 years ago

Charles Duncan

9.1

Gift from Toshi for J&v welcome party. — 3 years ago

Aura Novembre

9.7

11th Anniversary Dinner with Bernie and Jason — 3 years ago

Gina Puente

9.3

Full pear, enjoyed it!! Would order again $138 — 5 years ago

Norman

9.6

Dassai Hayata (獺祭 早田) Junmai Daiginjo 23

Brewery: Dassai / Asahi Shuzo, Iwakuni, Yamaguchi, Japan
Classification: Junmai Daiginjo
Rice: Yamada Nishiki 100%
Polishing: 23%
ABV: 16%
Process: Hayata rapid-heating pasteurization

Brewer description: Uses Dassai’s Hayata method, in which the sake is rapidly heated and immediately cooled to minimize heat exposure during pasteurization. The goal is to preserve the freshness, aroma and delicate character of the sake while providing the stability of pasteurization.

Tasted at Sake Day SF — 9/26/2026. Rating is limited since the same glass was reused throughout the tasting, making it difficult to get a truly clean tasting and accurate read on the aromas.

Excellent. One of the high-end Dassai bottlings from this group. — 4 days ago

Christina Burnham

9.6

Rob and Laura brought back from Japan for me. — 2 months ago

TH

9.4

香り、甘味、キレの融合。
米の香りが鮮やかで、上質な純米大吟醸@Tanabe offsite小売価格2100 — 6 months ago

Naoki Kondo

9.0

Asahi-taka from the brewery making the 14th generation(jyuuyondai). Junmai. Fruity and Fukuyama-
— 2 years ago

Gerald Montoya

9.2

Light with an oiky texture. Floral aromatics and palate with hints of fruit and a honeyed tones. Delicate yet palate coating. — 3 years ago

seiya

9.0

kamonishiki asahi jyunmai daiginjyo oct 2022 one of my favorites. asahi rice 80% — 4 years ago

Chris

9.8

Incredible nose and length on the palette, honeydew and apple with rich yet light mouthfeel. — 5 years ago