Norman

9.4

Ohmine 3 Grain Aiyama — 94/100

Brewery: Ohmine Shuzo (大嶺酒造), Mine, Yamaguchi Prefecture
Classification: Junmai Daiginjo specification
Rice: Aiyama (愛山)
Rice polishing: 50%
ABV: 15%
SMV: Not published
Acidity: Not published
Water: Benten spring water, Akiyoshidai limestone plateau
Bottle: 720 ml
Importer: Sake Suki, Bridgeport, Pennsylvania
Purchase: True Sake, $68
Bottling date: Unknown

Ohmine reopened in 2010 after a 50-year hiatus. Its soft spring water and minimalist brewing approach produce expressive, fruit-forward sake. Aiyama is prized for its ability to produce rich, rounded textures and pronounced fruit character.

My tasting notes: I may have found another rice varietal I really like besides Yamada Nishiki. Not as crisp or sharply delineated, but round, smooth and lush. Sweet with a distinct honeydew melon note. Very light effervescence with a subtle carbonic bitterness that adds some balance. Consistent with my previous tasting. Excellent sake, though probably better before dinner than with delicate sushi. 94 points. — 11 hours ago

Norman

9.1

OHMINE 3GRAIN OMACHI — 5 months ago

Norman

9.0

This was all part of our Sake Day 2025 experience. We only tasted 60ish sakes out of an estimated 450, so a small fraction of what was available. While I attempted to rinse the glass with water and stay hydrated it’s difficult to fairly rate in this environment and I use it solely as a time to try a wide variety and interact with the brands. Sweet. — a year ago

Mark Eastom

9.0

Fresh flowers, subtle pear, clean, precise, with medium acid. Really nice. — 3 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

Frank Chen

9.5

Probably best sake I’ve had…brand new to sake game…sources nishiki rice only to make this round balance green apple acidity sake ..amazing !! — 4 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. — a month 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

Steve Rura

9.1

Great sake, clean and clear. Medium body, a bit viscous. Melon, plum, and anise with sweetness, but followed by a dry, bitter shochu-like finish. — a year 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

Aura Novembre

9.7

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

Senator Tommelier

9.1

Plum wine from Japan. So good. — 5 years ago

Brian Boothe

9.0

Flexible and versatile. Fun pairing this sake with food. — 5 years ago

Gage Orion

9.1

Flowers and plums.. super tasty stuff. Had with sushi for my birthday Sunday! Fantastic. — a month ago

Abe Froman

9.9

They say it’s 48 but it’s really 45. Dinner with Henry, Sarah, Lorraine and Steve before we go see the Eagles at the sphere on Friday night. The 45 is on point like always… My favorite at Zuma!  — a month ago

Liu Yuezhang

9.2

Fruitful. NY. — 7 months ago

Matthew Cohen

9.4

Elegant t yellow flowers.

Palate: hint of spritz. Elegant fruit.

Long — 2 years ago

Norman

9.4

From “magnum”. Not sure what you call these for sake. — 3 years ago

Jason Li

9.3

sweet and attractive — 4 years ago

Jason Li

9.0

Very stable. Never disappoint — 5 years ago