[A443] Bokushi Daiginjo Black Bottle 牧之 限定 大吟醸 青木酒造 新潟県 1800ml

"Bokushi" is Aoki Shuzo's premium Daiginjo, a masterpiece that crystallizes Japan's highest level of brewing craftsmanship. It features top-tier Yamada Nishiki sake rice from the Toku-A (Special A) district in Hyogo, polished down to 37%, along with rigorous Ginjo brewing, the alcohol addition technique known as "aruten," water dilution (kasui), pasteurization, and snow-cellar aging (Yukimuro). This prestigious sake is perfect for special occasions. It is ideal for the New Year, Spring's Beginning (Risshun), celebrations, entertaining important guests, or as a gift.

With its majestic aroma, dense yet weightless elegance, flawlessly clean crispness, and a lingering finish, it is an utterly gorgeous, ultra-premium sake.

The name "Bokushi" comes from Suzuki Bokushi, the author of "Hokuetsu Seppu," a best-selling book in the Edo period that depicted life in the deep snow of Echigo (the historical name of Niigata). Aoki Shuzo shares a deep connection with Suzuki Bokushi; his second son, Yahachi, was adopted into the family as the seventh-generation head of the brewery. Furthermore, the name of Aoki Shuzo's current flagship brand, "Kakurei," was bestowed by Suzuki Bokushi himself.

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Yamada-Nishiki

The sake rice used is the well-known Yamada-Nishiki, which boasts the largest production volume in Japan today. When people get deeply into sake, most tend to chase rare rice varieties—and we, too, were no different. The same is true for wine; drinkers are often attracted to stories of rare grapes grown only in specific regions, or the revival of extinct varieties. In that context, major varieties can sometimes be dismissed as lacking rarity, and therefore seen as boring. However, those who drink sake over the long term eventually come to understand the true greatness of Yamada-Nishiki.

In the wine world, Château Latour and Dominus are crafted from Cabernet Sauvignon, Pétrus from Merlot, and Montrachet from Chardonnay. These world-class wines are made from the most popular grape varieties on earth. (Though it might be more accurate to say that it was precisely because such legendary wines existed that these grape varieties came to be cultivated globally.) Similarly, the finest sake is born from Yamada-Nishiki, the most dominant variety. Its flavor profile is spectacularly gorgeous.

Yamada-Nishiki grows to about 130 cm tall, making it fragile and prone to falling over in the wind. It takes a long time to mature and is vulnerable to diseases and pests, making it difficult to cultivate. Yet for sake brewers, it is highly manageable and considered the ultimate canvas. It is perfectly suited for high polishing rates, making it ideal for brewing Ginjo-style sake.

YK35

Since the debut of Yamada-Nishiki, sake brewed with this rice has dominated the top ranks of the National New Sake Appraisal. In the mid-1980s (the late Showa period), a brewing formula known as “YK35” became a phenomenon. It proved that using Yamada-Nishiki (Y), Kyokai No. 9 yeast (also known as Kumamoto yeast, K), and polishing the rice down to 35% or less would almost guarantee an excellent appraisal score.

Because of this, competition for quality intensified at the top tier, sparking the creation of many renowned sake brands. Aoki Shuzo is a premier brewery in Niigata. While they are naturally masters at brewing with the local Koshi-Tanrei rice, their highest-grade premium sake is crafted using Yamada-Nishiki sourced from the prestigious Hyogo Special A district.

Over a Century of Yamada-Nishiki

The sake rice celebrated as the finest ingredient for Ginjo-shu was born in 1923 by crossing Yamada-ho (mother) with Tankan-Wataribune (father). It was officially named “Yamada-Nishiki” and registered as a recommended variety in 1936. This undisputed king of sake rice has maintained its crown for generations, cementing a legacy that now spans over a century.