3. Juyondai Honjozo　十四代　本醸造

Premium sake, very hard to purchase retail. Often sold at much higher prices on E-bay (Sakamoto-san, the sake sommelier said that the bottle we had would go for 10,000 JPY even though the retail price is only about 2,500 JPY.)

From Yamagata prefecture.

http://www.yukinosake.com/juyondai.html　(sake brewery site in Japanese)

rice: gohyakumangoku (somewhat popular for sake making)

nihonshudo: +2

4. Denshu Tokubetsu Junmaishu 田酒　特別純米酒

Also a premium sake from Aomori prefecture. Very hard to find outside of restaurants like this. Also sold overpriced on E-bay.

rice: Fubuki (don’t see this too often)

nihonshudo: +3

http://www.densyu.co.jp/list-d07_1.htm (sake in Japanese)

5. Dassai Junmai Daiginjo 獺祭　純米大吟醸

From Yamaguchi prefecture.

This is a top sake that is imported to USA. Good to look for at restaurants, and it is at most Japanese restaurants with a good sake list. This is one brand that I highly recommend.

Dassai also makes a nice nigori (unfiltered) sake that is also sparkling. Very fun to try if you get the chance.

Dassai is also famous for milling the rice down to only 23% of the original size. Dassai 23.

rice: Yamada Nishiki

nihonshudo: +3

http://www.asahishuzo.ne.jp/en/ (brewery site in English)

6. Kokken Yamahai Junmai Nigorizake 国権 山廃純米にごり酒

From Fukushima prefecture.

Nigorizake is unfiltered sake.

This one is also in the yamahai style where the sake ferments with naturally occurring yeasts in an open tank.

rice: Miyama Nishiki

alcohol: 14.5%

nihonshudo: +3

http://www.kokken.co.jp/eng/top.html (brewery site in English)

http://www.kokken.co.jp/eng/makingsake.html (great info on sake making process in English)

http://www.kokken.co.jp/eng/products/pro20.html (sake in English)

7. Sake no Ana Daiginjo 酒の穴　大吟醸

A private label daiginjo sake made for the restaurant.

From Nagano prefecture by the Ozawa brewery.

Nagano is famous for its water. The bottled water they served here was also from this brewery.

rice: Yamada Nishiki

nihonshudo: +4

http://www.sakenoana.com/sake/nihonshu/index.htm (sake in Japanese)

8. Ryujin Daikoshu 1970　龍神　大古酒　３０年

From Gunma prefecture.

Aged 30 years.

alcohol: 18-19%

9. Kameizumi Junmai Ginjo Namazake 亀泉　純米吟醸　生酒

From Kochi prefecture.

Made with yeast that went into outer space called CEL-24.

nihonshudo: -8