Experiencing Tamagawa’s Flavor Journey
Founded in 1842 in Kumihama-cho, Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture, Kinoshita Sake Brewery is a long-established brewery that has continued to brew sake by making the most of the local climate for approximately 175 years. The current owner, Yoshito Kinoshita, the 11th generation, is taking on new challenges with English Toji (Sake master brewer)Philip Harper, while maintaining the tradition. Their “Time Machine” and “Ice Breaker” products are opening up new possibilities for sake by reproducing Edo era production methods and the innovative style of cold sake to be enjoyed on the rocks.
The name “Tamagawa” comes from the Kawakamitani River, a beautiful clear stream that runs next to the brewery. Named after a jewel-like river, this sake has a history that goes along with its beauty. The cute “marudama (round ball)” label and goodwill designed by the current owner’s brother-in-law, Katsusuke Sakane, a Japanese-style painter, are beloved by locals and fans of sake.
One of the reasons Tamagawa is called a “mysterious sake” is that its flavor changes over time. Tamagawa’s lineup ranges from freshly pressed “unfiltered, unpasteurized sake” to slowly aged ” aged sake,” which can be enjoyed while referring to the aging year indicated on the label for each product. In this way, one can fully appreciate the deep charm of the Tamagawa.
In addition, Tamagawa is a “tough” sake that defies the common wisdom that sake is difficult to preserve. Since it is not easily damaged and does not need to be drunk in a hurry, it can be laid down slowly at home to enjoy the changes in flavor caused by aging. Some fans say that the last glass is better than the first, and some even leave it for several years before enjoying it.
The change in flavor with temperature is one of the real pleasures of “Tamagawa. Cold, room temperature, and hot sake can be served at different temperatures, and the flavors change remarkably. The charm of “Tamagawa” is that you can enjoy different tastes as many times as you like, such as when chilled sake returns to room temperature, or when heated sake cools down.
Tamagawa also defies the common wisdom of sake, which often says that if the temperature is raised too high when heating sake, the sake tastes rough. The hottest “Tobikiti-kan” is about 55 degrees, which is the standard line for Tamagawa. Raising the temperature mellows the flavor, so the staff at Kinoshita Sake Brewery rarely drink it “Nuru-kan”(warm temperature).
The rich flavor of “Tamagawa” can be enjoyed not only as a sake itself, but also with food pairing. It is an excellent marriage with a variety of dishes from Japanese, Western, and Chinese cuisine that crosses borders. Find your own “Tamagawa” in any style you like, from the aging period and temperature to the pairing with food.
Pick up a “Tamagawa” and experience its unique flavor and taste changes. Once you drink it, you will be amazed by its deeply flavored taste. You can let it age at home or enjoy the changes in flavor at various temperatures. A new world of sake awaits you. (Mr.Bacchus)
