Echigozakura 38 Daiginjō

Echigozakura 38 Daiginjō (越後桜38 大吟醸 瓶) is crafted with a high degree of rice polishing, utilising Yamadanishiki rice polished down to 38% and Association No. 1801 and No. 1901 yeast. It is characterised by a clean, refined taste with minimal off-flavours, a pronounced aroma, and a well-balanced harmony of flavour and fragrance. Created in pursuit of the finest Niigata-style daiginjō, every effort has been made to ensure the highest quality, from the choice of ingredients to the meticulous brewing process.

Echigozakura Brewery is located in Agano City (阿賀野市), Niigata Prefecture. Lake Hyōko (瓢湖) in Agano is famous as a stopover site for swans on their annual migration. The brewery was founded in 1890 in the town of Mizuhara (旧水原町, nowadays Agano City) and began brewing sake under the name of Shirai Sake Brewery (白井酒造). Rice cultivation has flourished in the rich natural environment of Mount Gozu (五頭山) and the Agano River. In 2009, the 100-year-old brewery underwent a complete renovation, equipped with state-of-the-art machinery.

Echigozakura's commitment to ginjō-style brewing involves using a colander to ensure that the rice absorbs water evenly and utilising a seiro kettle (せいろ釜) for steaming rice, thereby approximating the traditional Japanese kettle boiling method. The fermentation tanks, large enough to be oared by a person, are sealed with a particular shape to preserve the aroma of the daiginjō. The temperature is thoroughly controlled in 0.1°C increments from the rice soaking to the fermentation and storage of the unrefined sake.

The warehouse at the brewery is called Shiratorizō (白鳥蔵, "White Bird Warehouse"), inspired by the swans that inhabit Lake Hyōko. During the Coronavirus pandemic, the brewery offers virtual tours with VR goggles.