Japanese Sake List
Information on hundreds of Sakes, including photos of bottles, spec sheets, and brewery information
When the Olives Grow on Shodoshima
When the Olives Grow on Shodoshima
Class: Junmai
Rice: Ooseto
Rice-Polishing Ratio: 60%
Brewery Location: Kagawa
Food Pairings: Lovely as a premeal aperitif, and has the structure to stand up in a cocktail as well. As a pairing, it goes well with fish dishes such as sakura sea bream carpaccio, sea urchin pasta, and milt tempura. Outside of Japanese cuisine, leaning into Italian classics makes sense - ricotta, pesto, roasted zucchini - but also can hold up to sweets such as zabaglione or apple pie.
Tasting Notes: This sake uses Sanuki Olive Yeast No. 18, which is extracted from the olives of Shodo Island. On the nose, orchard fruits, concord grape, rice flour, and cut bamboo, On the palate salted lemon curd, fresh cut apples, kefir, and birch bark. A light amount of sweetness that finishes dry and pleasantly sharp. Shodo Island is the top producer of olives in Japan and is also famous for artisanal oils and fermented products.
Size: 720ml
Location: NY NJ Distribution, CA Distribution
Brewery: Morikuni Sake Brewery Co. Ltd.
Founded: 2018
Profile: They are the only sake brewery on Shodo Island, a small island just between Shikoku Island and the Southern Coast of Honshu. Here, their sake is produced by a team of three - two women (one of whom is the president and owner of the brewery) who work under the tutelage of a toji from the Tajima Guild. They strive to pursue research in new technologies such as specialized yeast while preserving the tradition of handcrafted sake brewing. They value individuality and strive to create products with unique characteristics through the use of native ingredients, and by brewing their various brands in the image of Shodo Island.
