• Prefecture: Niigata

• Style: Tokubetsu Junmai

• Food pairings: Salt-grilled mackerel, oden, yudofu (simmered tofu), Hainanese chicken rice

• Taste: Soft, smooth, umami-rich, gently dry

• Alc.: 15.5%

Meisui Jikomi means 'brewed with renowned water', and this Tokubetsu Junmai is made with the ultra-soft Todonomori spring water of Nagaoka, Niigata, with a hardness of just 0.47. The result is a soft, smooth sake with a gentle aroma of steamed rice. A rich umami fills the mid-palate, before a lightly dry, clean finish in the classic Niigata style. Enjoy it chilled or gently warmed with simply prepared fish, tofu and chicken dishes.

SMV: +3

About the brewery

Morohashi Shuzo has brewed in Nagaoka since 1847 and is led by seventh-generation president Asaki Morohashi. Its flagship Koshino Kagetora is named after the youth name of the warlord Uesugi Kenshin, and is brewed with ultra-soft water from the brewery's own well and from the Todonomori spring, one of Japan's Top 100 Waters. The house style is the clean, gently dry tanrei character typical of Niigata.

不純物が 少 なく 、 蒸留水 の 様 に 綺麗 な 超軟水 は 、「 お 化 け 水 」 と 言 われるほど 発酵 が 難 しいが 、 長年 にわたって 名酒 「 越 の 寒梅 」 の 頭 を 努 めた 「 越乃景虎 」 の 杜氏 、 高橋孝一 さんにより 自在 に 操 られ 、「 杜々 の 森湧水 」 の 特徴 を 活 かした 、 柔 らかで 膨 らみのある 、 綺麗 な 淡麗旨口 に 仕上 げています 。