Sake Pirate Blog

Here we'll post announcements, sake reviews, and list the sake we have at our events so you won't forget. Please look around and remember which sake you liked best!

We also have the tasting notes cards that are included in your class or tasting materials. Host your own sake party and pass them around to friends!

Sake Review: TY KU Junmai Ginjo

Posted Thursday August 20, 2009

This junmai ginjo is also referred to as Ty Ku Black. It has been described as having smooth flavor profile with peach on the nose and a subtle hint of spice underneath.

I'll admit that I never noticed the peach, but the hint of spice was definitely there.

And interesting thing of note on this sake: when we first opened it for a tasting class, there were some unexpected things in the nose. We smelled a bit of sulfur that overwhelmed the experience. It was simply too difficult to break past that and enjoy the subtle flavors sake is known for. The stopper was pushed back in, and it went back in my fridge for a few days.

Then came the day when I experimented with making gyoza. The food was wonderful but I needed a sake to compliment it and only had this bottle at the time. It was opened, poured, swirled, sniffed, then sipped. The sulfur was gone. In it's stead was a wonderful assortment of fruits and mellow undertones that completely changed my mind about the initial experience.

I will pick up another bottle of this soon. I'll add to this once I do and let you know how it tastes. It's possible I had picked up a bad bottle. But the second time I tasted it, I enjoyed it tremendously. Thanks to the second tasting I now have every intention of giving this sake another chance.

- Brian

photo copyright Brian Hilson