Azakura Junmai Daiginjō Misatonishiki Muroka Namagenshu

Azakura Junmai Daiginjō Misatonishiki Muroka Namagenshu (阿櫻 純米大吟醸 美郷錦 無濾過生原酒) is part of its popular "Sexy Series", a lineup recognised both for its striking labels and its approachable, expressive flavour profiles. Each release is identified by a different label colour depending on the rice variety used. The blue-labelled edition, known as "Sexy Blue", is brewed with Misatonishiki (美郷錦), a premium sake rice developed in Akita Prefecture.

Misatonishiki is a cross between Yamada Nishiki and Miyama Nishiki, combining the richness and elegance associated with Yamada Nishiki with the lighter, cleaner character of Miyama Nishiki. Because cultivation volumes remain relatively limited, the rice is regarded as relatively rare and has developed a strong reputation among brewers both inside and outside Akita. For this release, Akakura uses only Misatonishiki grown by contracted farmers in Ōgata Village (大潟村), Akita Prefecture.

The sake is brewed with Akita Yeast No. 15, a yeast strain developed by the Akita Research Institute of Brewing specifically to create highly marketable sake styles with fragrant aromas and broad, expressive flavour. Unlike the other releases in the Sexy Series, where the yeast strain is not publicly disclosed, Sexy Blue openly identifies the yeast used, reflecting the brewery's confidence in the combination.

The result is a fresh nama-zake with fruity aromatics, gentle sweetness, and a refined, slightly expansive palate. The richness inherited from the Yamada Nishiki lineage is balanced by the crispness and light structure associated with Miyama Nishiki. Alongside its fresh, lively character, the sake also shows a light bitterness and clean finish, giving it both elegance and drinkability.

The brewery recommends pairing it with more strongly seasoned dishes, where its balance of sweetness, freshness, and acidity can complement richer flavours without becoming overpowering. Compared with fuller-bodied Omachi-based expressions in the series, Sexy Blue is calmer and more restrained in character, reflecting what the brewery describes as a distinctly Akita style, created by combining local rice and Akita Yeast No. 15.

Azakura Shuzō is a heritage sake brewery founded in 1886 in Yokote, Akita Prefecture—a snowy town renowned for its traditional kamakura snow huts. Steeped in history, the brewery shares its name with Yokote Castle (横手城), the city's emblem, which is also known by the poetic name "Azakura-jō" (阿櫻城).

Blessed with the natural bounty of the region and sustained by the deep dedication of its brewers, Azakura Shuzō stands as a proud testament to over 130 years of sake-making tradition. Under the guidance of master brewer Terui Toshio—representing the prestigious Sannai tōji guild, one of Japan's five great brewing schools—the brewery employs the refined techniques of kan-zukuri, Akita's signature method of long, low-temperature fermentation during the coldest months.

Crafted exclusively with locally grown Akita rice, Azakura's sake is distinguished by its elegant aroma and smooth, rounded flavour. The result is a clean, balanced profile that invites another sip—an enduring hallmark of this time-honoured brewery.