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warajiglossary & notes

To guide you along the way…

Rare & Exceptional

Can be served heated upon request

High test! Sakes with higher Alcohol by Volume

All sakes noted as are only made with Rice, Water, Yeast & Koji. Junmai Non-Junmai sakes have small amounts of additional spirit added for richer avor & a lifted, clean nish. Non-Junmai sakes are very popular in Japan!

Our list is in order from driest to sweetest in each category. The sweetness-scale numbers noted indicate dry (positive numbers) or sweet (negative numbers) style sakes. The higher the number, the drier the sake!

Ginjo sakes are made with rice that must be polished down to a minimum of 60% of its original size.

Daiginjo sakes, the highest grade, are made with rice that must be polished down to a minimum of 50% of its original size.

Nigori sakes are cloudy, with rice solids left behind, purposefully, for added avor, richness & texture

Nama sakes are unpasteurized, with richer, nuttier avors persisting

Yamahai & Kimoto sakes are made through old-fashioned, traditional brewing techniques that enhance acidity & richness of avor. These sakes are often tangy with more earthy notes.

Genshu sakes are undiluted, maintaining their original, high ABV.

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hot Traditional, Warming, Wonderful

Shichi Hon Yari Junmai | | Shiga SEVEN SAMURAI 24.99 (10oz)Dry, earthy & umami-rich, a very traditional style of sake. Round in the mouth with hints of citrus & toasted rice.

Sho Chiku Bai Junmai| | USA 6.00 (4oz.) • 10.00 (8oz.) CLASSICClean tasting with soft hints of baked apple & pear.

fustuu-shu, junmai & honjozo sakes

Up to 40% of the rice must be polished away before brewing, showing richness, umami, rice & earthy complexity!

Ozeki Junmai | | USA 6.00 (6oz) • 13.00 (25oz) FANCY DRYRich, very dry & smooth with vanilla & caramel crème brulee notes.

Tozai Junmai | | Kyoto 16.50 (10oz) • 34.00 (24oz) LIVING JEWELSlightly sweet avor with a hint of fruitiness and light tartness.

Hideyoshi Namacho Honjozo | | Akita 18.75 (10oz) THE GENERALNotes of toasted nuts, fresh bread and lychee.

Sho Chiku Bai Junmai Organic Nama | | USA 16.50 (10oz) MIDORI Very dry, rich & bursting with hazelnut avors & earthy umami! Try with traditional hot Japanese dishes!

Suehiro Kira Honjozo | | Fukushima 42.90 (24oz) FOLDING FANVery dry & light with aromas & avors of toasted nuts, owers & hints of star anise.

Amabuki Junmai Yamahai | | Saga 42.50 (24oz) MARIGOLDMade with special yeasts from Marigold blossoms and heirloom Omachi Rice. Floral, lemony notes and rich, full avors, also fabulous when warmed!

Naraman Bin Hiire Junmai Muroka | | Fukushima 15.75 (10oz) SINGLE FLAMEAmazingly smooth and slightly spicy with hints of clove, candied almond and toasted rice.

Tentaka Junmai | | Tochigi 25.00 (10oz) HAWK IN THE HEAVENSSlightly yeasty with roasted walnut complexity; crisp and dry the avors are dominated by mixed nuts, fresh cut grass and earthiness.

Dewatsuru Junmai Kimoto | | Akita 49.50 (24oz)DANCING CRANERustic yet mellow, with tangy acidity. Not just for sushi!

Kurosawa Junmai Kimoto | | Nagano 16.50 (10oz) BLACK RIVEREarthy, nutty, rich & full with a dry nish.

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warajiHatsumago Junmai Kimoto | | Yamagata 16.50 (10oz) FIRST GRANDCHILDPineapple, anise, tart green apple & vanilla notes.

Tenzan Janmai Genshu | | Saga 35.90 (10oz) BANANA LEAFRich and medium-dry with avors of honeydew, pear and a slight hintof banana.

Minato Harbor Nama Genshu Futsuu-shu | | Akita 55.00 (24oz) SILVER HARBORA big, bold and powerful, undiluted, genshu sake.

Kikusui Kunko Honjozo Nama Genshu| | Niigata 19.50 (7oz) BLACK CANFortied with shochu from the yellow can!! Elegant, balanced, very complex & rich!

Kikusui Funaguchi Honjozo Nama Genshu| | Niigata 11.25 (7oz)YELLOW CANRich and high octane! Fantastic thick texture and sweet, nutty taste.

tokubetsu junmai sakes

Tokubetsu means special. These sakes often boast a higher rice polish than their grade, a special rice type or exceptional yeast. Some of our best values & most unique bottles are Tokubestu!

Suigei Tokubetsu Junmai | | Kochi 36.99 (24oz) DRUNKEN WHALEVery dry, light, complex & clean tasting. Perfect with sashimi.

Kinshihai Yukikage Tokubetsu Junmai | | Niigata 24.50 (10oz) • 48.50 (24oz)SNOW SHADOWDry yet full bodied. Lightly nutty & oral with hints of sticky rice.

Gekkeikan Tokubetsu Junmai| | USA 14.00 (12oz) HAIKULightly herbaceous with hints of pear & apple. Good acidity with a medium-dry nish.

Asabaraki Shuzo Tokubetsu Junmai | | Iwate 19.00 (10oz) • 49.50 (24oz)ZENMedium-dry with a light, refreshing taste & hints of fresh fennel.

Okunomatsu Tokubetsu Junmai | | Fukushima 17.75 (10oz)MT. ADATARALight and clean-tasting with strawberry, melon, sweet hay and mineral notes.

ginjo

A minimum of 40% of the rice must be polished away before brewing, creating a balance between high, oral aromatics & richer, earthy avors.

Hananomai Katana Junmai Ginjo| | Shizuoka 9.90 (6oz) JAPANESE SWORDFull-bodied, rich & dry. Fantastic with pork, mushroom & avorful meat dishes!

Koshino Tousetsuka Junmai Ginjo | | Niigata 56.50 (24oz)SNOW FLOWER Classic Niigata style. Incredibly clean with green apple & vanilla notes lifted by cherry blossom aromas.

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Hakkaisan Junmai Ginjo | | Niigata 25.50 (10oz)EIGHT PEAKSVery delicate, dry & complex with aromas of fruit, rose petal, vanilla and almonds.

Manabito Junmai Ginjo Kimoto | | Akita 30.90 (10oz)TRUE BLUEMellow, crisp, lightly oral and clean, with nice acidity.

Sho Chiku Bai Junmai Ginjo| | USA 11.00 (10oz)BLOSSOMSDelicate, oral, clean & dry. Perfect with sushi!

Kikusui Junmai Ginjo | | Niigata 28.75 (10oz)CHRYSANTHEMUM WATER A classic ginjo with oral, fruity & clean mineral notes.

Kikusui Junmai Ginjo | | Niigata 31.00 (10oz)ORGANICBold & rich with notes of freshly cut fennel & lilly blossoms. USDA Organic.

Mizbasho Ginjo| | Gunma 11.00 (6oz)PEACE LILYAromas of melon, pear & pistachios. Round, satiny mouth-feel with honeyed pear & apple avors.

Kikusui Funaguchi Ginjo Nama Genshu| | Niigata 13.00 (7oz)RED CANA super rich & full bodied ginjo that is undiluted, unpasteurized & aged one year before release!

Watari Bune Junmai Ginjo | | Ibaraki 31.25 (10oz) • 64.99 (24oz)55Made with rare heirloom rice, Watari Bune. Exceptionally balanced & complex, with aromatic fruit, hints of black tea, anise & bold umami.

Tenryo Hidahomare Junmai Ginjo | | Gifu 28.75 (10oz) • 72.50 (24oz)PRIDE OF HIDABold yet smooth, balanced with fruit overtones and ricey richness.

Kanbara Junmai Ginjo | | Niigata 27.50 (10oz)BRIDE OF THE FOXFragrant, crisp and pure with avors of nut and ripe honeydew.

Kiminoi Junmai Ginjo Yamahai| | Niigata 35.25 (10oz) • 62.00 (24oz)EMPEROR'S WELLAn earthy, mushroomy, umami-rich & tangy sake, fabulous with traditional Japanese meat dishes!

Nanbu Bijin Junmai Ginjo | | Iwate 69.50 (24oz)SOUTHERN BEAUTYSlightly woody spice with oral aromas and super ripe melon and mild acidity on the palate.

Kamenoi Kudoki Jozu Junmai Ginjo | | Yamagata 27.50 (10oz) THE PICK-UP ARTISTAromatic, mouth-coating & smooth with aromas of lychee, lilies & a hint of lingering sweetness.

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warajidaiginjo sakes

The pinnacle of the brewer's art! Higher rice polish, a minimum of 50%,

creates sakes which tend to be light, rened, smooth, fragrant & delicate. a

Okunomatsu Juhachidai Daiginjo Shizuku | | Fukushima 135.00 (24oz) 18th GENERATIONAn overall delicate avor with ne lines of fruity, crisp waves accented by a balanced

fragrance. Drip pressed!a

Hakuryu Daiginjo| | Niigata 44.00 (10oz)WHITE DRAGONExceptionally light & smooth. Perfect with traditional sushi & sashimi selections.a

Sesshu Otokoyama Junmai Daiginjo | | Hyogo 28.00 (10oz)MAN’S MOUNTAINSuperbly balanced, elegant and refreshing with melon, peach and delicate oral notes.a

Takasago Junmai Daiginjo Shizuku | | Hokkaido 99.00 (24oz)DIVINE DROPLETS Spice, minerality and green banana on the nose with avors of melon, herb and

vanilla. Drip pressed in an ice igloo like dome rebuilt every year at the brewery!a

Kirinzan Junmai Daiginjo | | Niigata 100.00 (24oz) KIRIN MOUNTAINAromas of ripe peach, strawberry, pomegranate & cotton blossoms. Very clean with

citrusy avors & a crisp nish.a

Chokaisan Junmai Daiginjo | | Akita 77.00 (24oz) BLUE RIBBONA unique yeast derived from owers gives this exceptionally elegant sake a

pronounced oral bouquet. Tones of licorice and fresh herbs.a

Dassai Junmai Daiginjo | | Yamaguchi 27.50 (10oz)50Very fruity, rich & smooth with soaring aromas & avors of lilies & lychee.a

Kamotsuru Tokusei Daiginjo | | Hiroshima 17.00 (6oz)GOLD BLOSSOMSThe veryrst Daiginjo ever made. Soaring oral & tropical aromas with tiny gold sakura blossoms in every bottle.a

Gekkeikan Junmai Daiginjo | | Kyoto 26.00 (10oz) • 60.00 (24oz)HORINMild fruity aroma with delicate notes of over-ripe cantaloupe, honeydew &

honeysuckle.a

Yuki no Bosha Daiginjo | | Akita 120.00 (24oz)BEAUTY OF AKITA Extremely delicate & aromatic with apricot & exotic spice notes. Very clean & light

on the palate. Incredibly elegant with traditional sashimi preparations. a

Kubota Manju Junmai Daiginjo | | Niigata 120.00 (24oz)HIDDEN TRUTHThe agship of Niigata, the “Screaming Eagle” of Sake, with a world-wide cult

following. Simply unparalleled. a

Born Junmai Daiginjo Suroka | | Fukui 47.50 (24oz)GOLDExceptionally rich, mouth-coating, succulent & fragrant. This Daiginjo is notcarbon-ltered, retaining a golden hue and more powerful avors. Born is aJapanese “cult” producer of exceptional quality.a

Yaegaki Mu Junmai Daiginjo | | Hyogo 24.00 (10oz)NOTHINGNESSRipe fruit aromas with elements of melon, strawberries, grapes & a whisper of vanilla.

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nigori sakes

Nigori Sakes are only lightly ltered, leaving rice solids behind & creating a

rich, creamy texture.a

Shirakawago Junmai Sasanigori | | Gifu 21.50 (10oz) • 50.00 (24oz)SHIRAKAWAGO VILLAGEA lighter and dryer style of nigori, with a ner, more delicate cloud of rice. Robust & nutty.a

Dassai 50 Junmai Daiginjo Nigori | | Yamaguchi 27.50 (10oz)OTTER FESTDry, very lightly cloudy, just barely misty, with soaring aromas & avors of lilies & lychee. Exceptionally rare!a

Tozai Junmai Nigori | | Japan 16.50 (10oz)SNOW MAIDENA thick, creamy, surprisingly dry nigori, with a slightly chewy texture, fruit & rice avors.a

Musashino Junmai Nigori | | Niigata 35.50 (17oz)DAKUMild, creamy & lightly sweet with a nose of tropical fruits. Delicate & texture.a

Yaegaki Nigori | | Hyogo 16.50 (10oz)PEARLYLightly sweet & refreshing with melon & pineapple avors.a

Sho Chiku Bai Junmai Nigori | | USA 11.00 (12oz)CREMEExceptionally creamy, with rich, soft fruit & sweet rice avors.a

Sho Chiku Bai Junmai Nigori| | USA 9.75 (12oz)SILKY MILDCreamy, rich & sweet with super-ripe fruit & sticky-rice avors.

sparkling sake

Bright, lightly sweet & refreshing, sake with bubbles!! Served with a Champagne

Flute.

Hou Hou Shu Rose | | Okoyama 22.50 (10oz)BLOSSOMSA delicate rose with aromas of vanilla and avors like lemon crème brûlée!.

Shirakabe Gura | | Nada 18.00 (10oz)MIO Delicate and refreshingly sweet with avors of honeydew, lemongrass and peaches.a

Ozeki | | Japan 18.00 (7oz)HANA AWAKA Ozeki Hana Awaka (Sparkling Flower) is a refreshing, zzy, low-alcohol sake.

flavored sakes

Fun, avorful, bursting with real Japanese UME.

Yuki Nigori | | USA 22.50 (10oz)LYCHEE, WHITE PEACH -or- COFFEELightly cloudy sakes infused with delicious lychee, white peach or coffee!Your choice.

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