The Apex of Craftsmanship in SAKE HUNDRED’s Luxurious Sake Collection
Sake BYAKKO BESPOKE is a supreme masterpiece of the SAKE HUNDRED series, with the clarity of an early winter morning and the elegant aroma of lily flowers, followed by a long, aftertaste. This luxurious sake is brewed by the Tatenokawa Brewery, located in the Shonai Plain of northwestern Yamagata Prefecture, following the concept of SAKE HUNDRED brand owner Mr. Ikoma, and is truly a work of art, combining tradition with the latest technology.
Since the fall of 2010, Tatenokawa Brewery has specialized in producing Junmai Daiginjo with a rice polishing ratio of 50% or less, and has been exploring new frontiers in Japanese sake brewing. This highly refined technology and deep knowledge is also applied in the creation of “BYAKKO BESPOKE”. Organic “Yamada-nishiki” rice from Hyogo Prefecture is used, and the polishing ratio is raised to only 18%. This extreme degree of polishing brings a clear, fresh sweetness and a deep umami flavor.
However, the process of raising the polishing ratio to 18% is not an an easy process. When polishing rice, it takes about 60 hours to polish it to 40%, while polishing it to 18% requires more than three times as long. This very detailed process requires a high level of skill and care, as rice grains are easily cracked.
In addition, control of sanitation and temperature is very important in the making of “BYAKKO BESPOKE”. In particular, sanitation control during the kouji yeast making stage directly affects the taste of sake, so “BYAKKO BESPOKE” uses aluminum kouji boxes for easy cleaning instead of the traditional wooden kouji boxes. This keeps the kouji mold pure and produces a clean taste with no off-flavor.
In another example, the ginjo yeast used in BYAKKO BESPOKE is extremely delicate and is fermented slowly at a low temperature of 7-8℃ to bring out its gorgeous ginjo aroma and delicate flavor. Through this long fermentation process, BYAKKO BESPOKE reaches its peak level of flavor. Finally, the brewery takes great care to preserve BYAKKO BESPOKE from oxidation caused by exposure to air and to ensure that it reaches the drinker in the best condition available, such as by nitrogen displacement during bottling.
The moment a bottle of BYAKKO BESPOKE is opened, its gorgeous aroma, sweetness and deliciousness in the mouth, and long-lasting aftertaste provide a ” satisfying” experience for all who enjoy sake. Behind this delicate and rich flavor comes the tireless efforts of SAKE HUNDRED’s brand owner, Mr. Ikoma, and his deep passion for sake brewing. BYAKKO BESPOKE is not just another sake, but a true artistic creation of time and passion. (Mr.Bacchus)
