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Suigei Tokubetsu Junmai

Suigei Tokubetsu Junmai is made of domestic rice milled to 55% of the rice grain remains. This junmai is brewed with a house-made kōji crafted to be strong, Kumamoto kōbō yeast, and water from the headwaters of the Kagami river.
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Sake specs

Prefecture
Kōchi (高知)
Rice type
Domestic rice (国産米)
Polishing rate (semaibuai)
55%
Alcohol content
15%
SMV
+7
Acidity
1.6
Amino acid level
1.2
Suigei Tokubetsu Junmai (酔鯨特別純米酒)

Suigei Tokubetsu Junmai (酔鯨特別純米酒) is made of domestic rice milled to 55% of the rice grain remains. This junmai is brewed with a house-made kōji crafted to be strong, Kumamoto kōbō yeast, and water from the headwaters of the Kagami river. After pressing, it is stored in tanks at a low temperature and bottled to order. It boasts great rice umami and a sharp aftertaste. With a moderate aroma, acidity unique to Suigei, and a complex yet crisp taste, it is perfect for pairing with any meal.

2019 edition:

Suigei Tokubetsu Junmai (酔鯨特別純米酒)

2021 Aeon edition:

Suigei Tokubetsu Junmai (酔鯨特別純米酒) Suigei Tokubetsu Junmai (酔鯨特別純米酒) Suigei Tokubetsu Junmai (酔鯨特別純米酒)

2022 edition:

Suigei Tokubetsu Junmai (酔鯨特別純米酒)Suigei Tokubetsu Junmai (酔鯨特別純米酒)Suigei Tokubetsu Junmai (酔鯨特別純米酒)

About the brewery

Brewery
Suigei Shuzō
Name in Japanese
酔鯨酒造
Address
566-1 Nagahama, Kōchi, 781-0270
Phone
088-821-8003
Website
Online store
Suigei Sake Brewery is located in Nagahama, Kōchi, near the scenic Katsurahama beach that overlooks the magnificent Pacific Ocean. This is the brewery where Suigei has produced sake since its foundation. The Nagahama facility is also on the renowned pilgrimage route of the Eighty-Eight Temples in Shikoku and is easily accessible from the metropolitan area of Kōchi City. In 1969, Suigei took over the original sake brewery founded in 1872 and established Suigei Brewing Co., Ltd. to continue its sake brewing heritage. It was an old-fashioned brewery, and Suigei inherited its historical sake brewing traditions, brewers' spirit, and efforts toward innovation. Here, Suigei produces its famous Tokubetsu Junmai and Junmai Ginjō Ginrei. In particular, Junmai Ginjō Ginrei, is Suigei's pivotal sake that exhibits a distinctive acidity and refreshing taste—both characteristics of Suigei's products.

Equipped with the latest brewing technology, the Tosa facility was built in 2018 in the midst of the magnificent nature in Kanbara District in Tosa City, adjacent to Kōchi City. With Suigei's traditional sake brewing techniques developed in Nagahama and the new state-of-the-art facilities in Tosa, the brewery mainly produces junmai daiginjō there, including Suigei's premium line, the "High-End Collection".

The brand name "Suigei" (酔鯨, "Drunken Whale") derived from Yamauchi Yōdō (山内容堂, 1827–1872), the 15th lord of the Tosa Domain, who called himself "the drunken lord of the sea with whales" (鯨がいる海の酔っ払い殿様)".

Latest reviews

Colour / hue
Pale Yellow
Clarity
Clear
Suigei is one of the best-known sake breweries in Japan. Almost all izakaya carry the Suigei Tokubetsu Junmai. With its full-bodied flavour and crisp aftertaste, it is an ideal sake to enjoy with food. It has a delicious rice flavour with a crisp aftertaste, and although the aroma is subdued, it has a unique acidity and a crisp taste. This sake can be enjoyed in a wide range of temperatures, from chilled to warmed: at 10-15°C, it has a full-bodied flavour and fresh acidity and becomes more pleasant on the palate. At around 40-45°C, the overall flavour becomes smoother and fuller, and a lingering aftertaste can be enjoyed. The slightly acidic aftertaste goes well with dishes such as tempura and Chinese and Western food, making it an ideal in-meal drink.

This review is based on our three lucky encounters with the drunken whale (February 2019, June 2021, and October 2022).
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sake information

Category
Tokubetsu Junmai
Added by
JREF
Views
1,378
Reviews
1
Last update
Rating
4.00 star(s) 1 ratings
Location
〒781-0270 高知県高知市長浜566-1

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