[B496] Kakurei Gin-Nama 鶴齢 吟醸 生酒 青木酒造 新潟県 720ml

The frosted bottle, which looks incredibly cool, prominently features the Kanji for "Nama" (raw/fresh)—a character many here in Hong Kong can easily read—instantly making it look mouthwatering.

Of course, the flavor fully lives up to its striking appearance. Brewed with Koshi-Tanrei, Niigata's highly esteemed sake rice, this Ginjo Nama reveals a beautifully clear yet rich profile. The lively acidity sharpens its umami, creating a crisp, well-balanced sake with a clean finish. While it shines as a refreshing chilled drink during the winter months, here in Hong Kong, it feels absolutely perfect for the hot summer days.

While Aoki Shuzo is located in Niigata—the heartland of Tanrei Karakuchi (light and dry) sake—the brewery is actually best known for its Nōjun Umakuchi (rich and savory) style. However, this Gin-Nama is uniquely crafted to be Tanrei Karakuchi. Furthermore, while Tanrei Karakuchi sakes are typically pasteurized (hiire), Aoki Shuzo’s true craftsmanship shines in their ability to deliver this crisp, dry style as an unpasteurized (namazake) sake.

Interestingly, Gin-Nama is not a seasonal product. Thanks to Aoki Shuzo’s specialized snow chamber storage facility (Yukimuro), this label can be supplied year-round. However, because distribution is heavily focused within its local region of Niigata, it has rarely, if ever, been offered to overseas markets. By a stroke of luck, we discovered it and imported a small quantity to try—and it exceeded all our expectations! Thanks to its low-temperature aging in the snow chamber, this namazake has become beautifully refined and tastes spectacular when chilled close to zero degrees Celsius.

>>>Read more stories at the News Archive