Japan
Japan is acclaimed for its high-quality whisky, with brands like Yamazaki and Hibiki gaining international recognition for their craftsmanship and distinct flavours. The country boasts a thriving sake industry, producing a wide variety of styles that reflect regional terroirs and brewing traditions. Japan’s craft beer scene has also blossomed, with breweries experimenting with unique ingredients and techniques to create innovative and refreshing brews.
Dassai Mirai Future with Farmers Sake
Vivid aromas of cantaloupe, white peach, green grape, pear and apricot rise from the glass, with softer notes of strawberry and rice beneath. The palate is velvety and layered, carrying ripe orchard and tropical fruit through a smooth, gently rounded texture. Lychee, stewed apple and a quiet mochi-like note shape the finish. Serve well chilled with sashimi, shellfish or delicate vegetable dishes.
Kirishima Melt Barley Spirit
Toasted grain and banana bread open a warm, inviting aroma, followed by caramel and soft vanilla. The palate is smooth and rounded, with barley sweetness moving into tropical fruit, gentle oak and a dry woody edge. A lightly floral lift keeps the richness composed, while the finish is mellow and clean. Serve neat or over a single large cube.
Nichi Nichi Our Rice Field Sake
A fine natural spritz lifts aromas of white grape, melon and apple, with a quiet fresh-herb note adding detail. The palate is refined and balanced, bringing gentle rice umami through bright, measured acidity. The texture remains composed and light despite good depth. A clean, soft finish carries with impressive length. Serve lightly chilled with sea bream, fresh chèvre, or simply seasoned poultry.
Kujira 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Ryukyu Japanese Whisky
Natural honey and sherry lead a rounded, sweet aroma, joined by coconut, vanilla and dried fruit. The palate is silky and warming, bringing molasses and caramel through a tart fruit note that keeps the richness in check. A light balsamic edge adds definition. The finish is long and gently spiced, leaving honey, dried fruit, vanilla and quiet tropical warmth.
IWA 5 Assemblage 3
Bright floral and vegetal aromas open with remarkable definition, slowly deepening toward white pepper and darker, quieter tones. The palate is poised and almost weightless, yet carries real intensity and energy. Sweet, bitter, sour, spicy and savoury elements move in balance rather than isolation. The finish is tactile, racy and mouthwatering, lingering with refined smoothness and a clean, composed sense of depth.
Mimurosugi Bodaimoto Sake 720 mL
A gentle, clean aroma introduces fresh rice and a softly rounded savoury note. The palate is light in movement but carries rich umami through a smooth, layered texture. Fine acidity gives the middle definition and keeps the richness poised. The finish gathers quiet power without becoming heavy, leaving delicate grain, fresh acidity and a clear, composed aftertaste.
Nabeshima Junmai Daiginjo Yamada Nishiki 35
Pure and finely detailed, with restrained floral notes opening over a clear, polished palate. Gentle umami adds depth without interrupting the sake's precision, while a firm, full-bodied structure carries the flavour with quiet authority. Bright acidity keeps the texture fresh and leads into a long, elegant finish. Serve well chilled with sashimi, delicate shellfish, grilled white fish, steamed chicken or lightly seasoned vegetable dishes.
Amahagan World Malt Edition No. 4 Yamazakura Wood Finish
Juicy orange, apricot and plum lead a bright, floral nose, with rhubarb compote, vanilla and light biscuit underneath. The palate follows with pear, orange peel, honey and gentle caramel sweetness, balanced by peppery cherrywood. Fresh and composed rather than heavy, it closes at medium length with sweet wood, pepper and a faint heathery note. Serve neat, with a few drops of water, or alongside roasted nuts and mild cheese.
Shinshu Meijo Takizawa Junmai Daiginjo 1.8 L
Fragrant and composed, with ripe orchard fruit, red berries and a quiet cereal note leading the aroma. The palate is smooth and rounded, showing generous rice flavour and a restrained sweetness that is kept lively by modern, fine-grained acidity. Despite its depth, the texture remains light on its feet and the finish turns clean and refreshing. Serve lightly chilled in a wine glass, alongside sashimi, grilled white fish, roast poultry or delicately seasoned mushrooms.
Senkin Issei Junmai Daiginjo
White peach, muscat and green apple lift from the glass, followed by winter melon and a quiet floral note. The palate is silky and clear, balancing gentle sweetness with lively acidity and a savoury thread of umami. Fresh fruit remains precise rather than lush. The finish is clean and graceful, leaving apple, melon, soft honey and a lightly mouthwatering edge.
Nichi Nichi Tamasakae Sake
A gentle natural spritz opens into green apple and fresh pear, with a delicate rice-flour note adding quiet savoury depth. The palate is elegant and composed, showing good mid-palate weight without heaviness. Soft acidity carries the orchard fruit toward a clean, drying finish. The overall profile is restrained, precise and easy to pair. Serve lightly chilled with tempura, white fish, or steamed dumplings.
Toyo Bijin Ichiban Matoi Junmai Daiginjo Sake
Juicy apple and mango lead with melon, papaya and strawberry. The palate is soft and finely textured, balancing gentle sweetness with clean acidity and a savoury thread of umami. Slow, cool fermentation keeps the aromas clear and lifted. The finish is refreshing and polished, leaving ripe fruit, floral fragrance and a delicate, poised off-dry impression.
Hououbiden Yuzushu 1.8 L
Fresh yuzu opens with vivid lemon, mandarin and grapefruit tones, followed by the fragrant bitterness of the peel. The palate is concentrated yet refreshing, bringing sweet citrus pulp into balance with a clean sake-derived base. A gentle savoury edge keeps the fruit from feeling heavy. The finish is bright, lightly bitter and persistent. Serve chilled, over ice or lengthened with soda alongside spicy dishes or citrus-led desserts.
Nichi Nichi Akitsu Yamadanishiki Sake
A slight natural spritz introduces restrained aromas of melon and crisp apple. The palate is elegant and rounded, balancing gentle sweetness with lively acidity and a clear, dry line. Good depth builds through the middle without adding weight, allowing the fruit and rice character to remain precise. The finish is clean, drying and sustained. Serve lightly chilled with sashimi, grilled fish, or delicate vegetable dishes.
Takanome Hiire Junmai Daiginjo
A vivid pineapple-like aroma leads, joined by quince, golden raspberry and a gentle herbal lift. The palate is polished and concentrated, balancing ripe tropical fruit with clean structure and a smooth, finely drawn texture. A light savoury undertone keeps the fruit precise, while the finish stays fragrant and refreshing. Serve well chilled in a wine glass with scallop sashimi, crab, grilled prawns, mild curry or a softly seasoned poultry dish.
Sawaya Matsumoto Shuhari Ultra Junmai Daiginjo Sake
Rich and concentrated on the palate, with clear savoury umami framed by fresh, bright acidity. The texture is polished and generous without feeling heavy, allowing the rice character to remain precise and composed. A clean, crisp finish restores freshness and keeps the profile highly versatile at the table. Serve lightly chilled with grilled fish, roasted poultry, or simply prepared meat dishes.
Sohomare Kimoto Junmai Daiginjo Sake
Herbal notes, clove and orange peel lead into stone fruit and a subtle earthy savouriness. The palate is silky and layered, balancing honeyed richness with roasted nuts, clean acidity and a measured thread of umami. Traditional kimoto brewing gives the texture depth without making it heavy. The finish is composed and persistent, leaving citrus, cream, mushroom and a gently dry, food-friendly close.
Tamanohikari Junmai Ginjo Karakuchi 1.8 L
Fresh rice and delicate orchard fruit lead a clean, understated aroma. The palate is distinctly dry, with natural acidity bringing a brisk, refreshing edge and a gentle savoury note adding depth. Its texture is smooth but never heavy, allowing the rice character to remain clear through the middle. The finish is crisp and composed, leaving a subtle umami impression and a pure, lightly mineral aftertaste.
Tatenokawa 33 Junmai Daiginjo
Gentle but expressive ripe-fruit aromas open toward apple, white peach and honeydew. The palate is silky and graceful, combining pure fruit with a fine thread of rice sweetness and a clear, savoury umami core. Subtle herbal notes add definition without interrupting the smooth texture. The finish is long, polished and quietly persistent. Serve slightly chilled with sashimi, crab, scallops, grilled white fish or delicate vegetable dishes.
Mimurosugi Junmai Daiginjo Yamadanishiki 720 mL
Apple, pear and lemon aromas lead into a round, silky palate with bright acidity and measured rice umami. The fruit remains precise rather than sweet, and the texture carries smoothly toward a long, dry finish. Refined but not delicate to the point of fragility, it works naturally at the table. Serve slightly chilled with sashimi, grilled white fish, shellfish, tempura or lightly seasoned poultry.