Harushika Sake Tasting

Harushika Brewery

It’s been a while since we’ve had a Brewery President stop by the shop and do a tasting.  Well my friends the wait is over as we welcome Mr. Kiyotaka Imanishi of Harushika Brewery back to the shop this Saturday (03/10).

We thought it appropriate since Harushika does mean “Spring Deer” in Japanese and it is still Spring.  That and Mr. Imanishi makes some really tasty sake.  His Junmai Daiginjo has always been one of our favorites!

We’ll be sampling FIVE of his sake, including a repeat of his Spring Namazake along with a special SPARKLING SAKE called Tokimeki.  All of you dry sake drinkers will want to be sure to sample his Chokarakuchi which means “Extra Dry” in Japanese.

So stop by the shop this Saturday to hi to Mr. Imanishi and try some of his delicious sake.  Ms. Mariko Yamazaki from Japan Prestige Sake Association will also be here. See you Saturday!

HARUSHIKA
COMPLIMENTARY SAKE TASTING & SALE
Saturday, March 10, 2012
5:00pm to 8:00pm

Here is the lineup for this Saturday.

HARUSHIKA
Junmai Daiginjo

One of our favorites at the shop.  This premium sake begins with floral and rice aromas that harmonize nicely together.  The flavor is soft, silky smooth and nicely balanced, ending with a refreshing aftertaste.


HARUSHIKA CHOKARAKUCHI (EXTRA DRY)
Junmai

Extra dry sake with medium body.  Fresh new green leaves aroma with a hint of Jasmine flower.  Mild citrus fruit flavor with a slightly minty crisp finish.  Chokarakuchi means “Extra Dry” in Japanese.

HARUSHIKA UMAKUCHI YODAN
 Junmai 

Using a special Four Stage brewing process as opposed to the standard Three Stage produces this rich, full bodied, medium dry sake.  Begins with a moderate aroma of rice and fruit.  Expansive savory flavor and fruity aftertaste.

HARUSHIKA SHIBORIBANA
Junmai Ginjo Nama

For those of you who couldn’t get enough of this at our Spring Namazake tasting, we’re bringing back Harushika Shiboribana.  This unpasteurized seasonal sake is one of our most popular at the shop.  Flavorful, light and clean aroma with a hint of strawberries.  Perfectly balanced fruity flavor with soft texture. Only available during this time of the year.

HARUSHIKA TOKIMEKI
Junmai Sparkling Sake
For those of you who haven’t tried sparkling sake before you don’t know what you’re missing.  Refreshingly crisp like a champagne but with softer flavors of fruit and rice, sparkling sake really gives you the best of both worlds.  It has a lower alcohol level than most sake (6 – 7%) and most people are surprised by a pleasant nutty finish.

So please join us this Saturday for our Harushika Sake Tasting!  Meet Mr. Imanishi and try some of his wonderful sake.

Kanpai,
Malcolm & Nadine Leong
The Sake Shop

HARUSHIKA
COMPLIMENTARY SAKE TASTING & SALE
Saturday, March 10, 2012
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Harushika Brewery

Harushika Brewery was founded in 1884 and is located in the Naramachi quarter of Nara prefecture.  Harushika means “Spring Deer” in Japanese.

The first capital of Japan was established in Nara prefecture approximately 1,300 years ago in 710 AD.  Nara is also said to be the birthplace of Japanese sake.

Today Harushika is a very well established brewery.  They continue to brew their sake using the Nanto Morohaku method which originated in Nara prefecture.  Their sake is highly sought after and they currently export to 10 different countries.

Their production philosophy is “Polish the rice, polish the water, polish the technique and polish the mind.”

Kasuga Taisha or “Kasuga Shrine” is a Shinto Shrine in the prefecture of Nara.  Originally established in 768 AD it has been rebuilt several times over the centuries.

The path to Kasuga Shrine goes through Deer Park, where the deer are allowed to roam free.  The deer are believed to be messengers of God and are revered and respected.

Harushika Brewery has been brewing sake for Kausga Taisha since 1884. They originally began as the official sake brewery of the Kasuga Shinroku or “Deer of the Gods” and later became known as Harushika.

The name Harushika comes from one of the kanji characters in the shrine’s name “Kasuga” and the other from the word for “Deer”.

The Imanishi family has been brewing sake for the Kasuga Taisha Shrine since the 10th Century.  Mr. Kiyotaka Imanishi is the family’s 48th generation brewer.  Mr. Imanishi stopped by the shop last year to pour his sake which was was very well received.  His Junmai Daiginjo quickly became a shop favorite.

Polished Sake Rice
The Nanto Morohaku method of brewing sake that Harushika Brewery still uses originated in Nara prefecture way back in the day.  The method produced a better tasting sake that was superior to the other sake being produced at the time. Nara was also known as “Nanto” or Southern Capital.

Morohaku or “all white” refers to the fact that this brewing method uses only polished white rice and no unpolished brown rice as other methods of the time normally did.

Another important aspect of this brewing method is the use of three seperate batches of rice being added during the brewing process which is called Sandan Shikomi.

Prior to this most brewers added only two batches of rice (Nidan Shikomi) when brewing.  The Sandan Shikomi method of adding three seperate batches of rice has since become the standard method of sake brewing  used by almost all sake brewers today.

Todai-ji
Todai-ji Temple is home to the Great Buddha Hall which is designated as the largest wooden building in the world.  Located in Nara prefecture, this temple was originally constructed in 752 AD as the head temple of all provincial Buddhist temples in Japan.

The temple became so powerful that the capital of Japan was moved from Nara to  Nagaoka prefecture in 784 AD in an attempt to decrease the temple’s influence on government affairs.

Todai-ji houses the world’s largest bronze Buddha and it’s expansive grounds cover most of Northern Nara Park.  It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.