Ishikawa Tamajiman Tōkyō no Mori

Assessing this brew poses a slight predicament, it is certainly not everyone’s cup of sake: though classified as sake, Ishikawa calls it a 'liqueur'. It is made of aged sake laced with cedar chips, hence liqueur. The cedar fragrance is very mild, but it smells as if you were drinking from a wooden masu cup. Someone said it was reminiscent of tatami. In my home country, herbal conifer brandies aren't uncommon; the Tokyo no Mori reminded me of these exactly. You can still taste the sake, it is dry, with sweet hints, but the cedar aroma can be irritating if you are used to classic sake. Though made of aged sake, it is only slightly darker than straw. Served chilled, its refreshing cedar aroma makes it a superb aperitif (or digestif, for that matter).

If you are into herbal brandy or like the allure of novelty, indulge; for those with a more orthodox sake taste, choose another of Ishikawa's excellent sake.