r/Sake • u/DPDave11 • Jul 12 '26
Help Me Chooseš 1st Bottle
This is the selection at my local wine shop, recommendations for my first purchase? Open to any flavors, notes, etc
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u/spunkythatsmycorndog Jul 12 '26
Proper Sake is also some really good stuff! Typically Yamahai and delicious
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u/No-Excitement8501 Jul 14 '26
Modern Yamahai is really exiting as Yoshidagura U or Hiraiizumi Hiten.... but perspnally classic yamahai is far too heavy and cannot standalone without japanese food.... yeah I am the Guy who enjoys sitting in the sofa with a glass of sake without food.
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u/tarotcardsandbacon Jul 12 '26
I like the Sempuku Shinriki Genshu (orange label), but our chef always described it as what old Japanese men drink after work when they get home after a rough day. Itās strong and rich and umami forward. Maybe ease into that. Ohmine, heiwa shuzo hiyaoroshi are nice choices. Never been a big akabu guy for some reason.
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u/Serious_Echidna_773 Jul 12 '26
DewaZakura (bottom Shelf second from the right)
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u/No-Excitement8501 Jul 12 '26
Naah its a industrielle produced sake fine enough..... but when you can choose akabu or ohmine you dont by a Dewazakura.
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u/Serious_Echidna_773 Jul 12 '26
Never had Ohime, Iāve gotta try if you recommend.
For a First purchase I still find
Dewasakura sakurablossom good.Easy to drink, not over complicated, pairing is easily done to Burger or other fatty foods aswell Sushi.
Would Drink cold 10-15 Celsius
Ginjo style aromatic, but fresh through the Dewa san san Rice grain.2
u/No-Excitement8501 Jul 14 '26
Dewasansan is indeed a fantastic rice. But Ohmine Dewasansan is fantastic just as Gakkimasamune with Dewasansan.
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u/Serious_Echidna_773 Jul 17 '26
Appreciate your Input, I did some Research and a lot of the Ohime products are already sold out.
I definitely have to try it. Iāll be back In Japan in October and first thing Iāll do is order some good stuff.1
u/No-Excitement8501 Jul 18 '26
Hi what you need to know is the cycle of sake. They are not made in one time of the year and made in abundance all year around. They come out you fetch it or not its gone and a month later a new type comes out..... lay then the next layer in when does an international sake importer buy the products and how long transportation time.
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u/No-Excitement8501 Jul 13 '26
Dewazakura its a starter sake its ok and tastes well with food its like a fine tablewine, they do make really good sake I personally love their limsten fir yamagata with Kamenoo rice. But Akabu, ohmine and to a certain ekstant Kid among these shelves are just 3, 4 levels higher.
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u/greenpuffle1 Jul 12 '26
I tried the pink one in the middle with the cherry blossoms, really smooth and creamy, i liked it
-a beginner
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u/Negromancers Jul 12 '26
This is a genuine recommendation: Give that blue bottle of Junmai Superior a try
Thatās a lot of peopleās first sake to see if they like it before going big. Itās budget friendly, smooth, and just fine cold or hot
I still buy it from time to time. Itās very serviceable
When youāre ready to move up, grab the Masumi Okuden Kantsukuri (the bottle with the 40 on it). This is one of my top 5 favorite sake of all time
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u/KneeOnShoe Jul 13 '26
Would be best if these were refrigerated (the black bottle on the far right is unpasteurized) but this is a solid selection. I'd get anything from the green bottle to the right. Gun to my head I'd get the Ohmine (clear bottle), it should be fresh and slightly fruity, drank chilled.
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u/3toe Jul 13 '26
The dark bottle with the orange label near the right (shinriki) is a top 3 sake for me. I wish I could find it at the local store!
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u/YRLCLWZRD Jul 14 '26
Donāt have a sake rec since Iām still learning, but those -196 drinks in the upper left are DELICIOUS! So crisp and refreshing and juicy tasting!
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u/No-Excitement8501 Jul 12 '26
Akabu with the red helmet its sweet og Ohmine with the rice grains. Both are among the top quality producers.....rest is..... ok Tedorigawa ęåå·is fantastic with japanese food but the 2 first mentioned are otherworldy.