Sake Deep Dive

We are finishing our series on Japan's major brewing regions in Fushimi, Kyoto. Built around the palace of one of Japan's most powerful warlords, we discuss how this once-sleepy town literally cleaned its way to becoming one of Japan's most famous brewing regions. Vocabulary from this Episode gokusui: fragrant water kinmeisui: Golden Water ginmeisui: Silver Water Recommended Sake: Andy...

Saijo - Sake Theme Park The second of our series on Japan’s major brewing regions takes us to Hiroshima’s Saijo. This little town built on sake brewing is a sake lover’s dream. Seven breweries in close proximity, with museums, shops, and tasting opportunities galore. Come learn how it got to be this way in the latest Sake Deep Dive! Vocabulary from this episode Shuto: Affectionate name for Saijo m...

This month’s topic is big, literally.  In the first of a special three-part series, we explore Nada; the biggest, boldest, and most storied sake region of them all. Does Nada’s sake still have relevance within today's craft-orientated industry? Is it all just soulless, machine-made plonk for the masses? Join us to hear our thoughts on this enigmatic behemoth of the sake industry.      Vocabula...

This time we see what value sweetness in sake has... The same meter value! Andy and Jim try to pin down what "karakuchi" means, how sake had changed over time, and what we should really look for when buying a bottle. Kanpai! Vocab Amakuchi - typically any "sweet" thing. Karakuchi - traditionally, the foil for sweet things, which has made the word very context dependent. It could mean spicy, bitter...

Andy and Jim get a little bit more personal as they take a look at a topic close to both their hearts: sake vessels! From tokkuri to hirahai, they talk bottles and cups, with a couple of bones to the wine-glass crowd, too. Raise whatever is closest to hand for a rousing kampai to shuki! Vocabulary from this episode Tokkuri - a common style of bottle-style sake pourer Katakuchi - a widely varied st...

With the spring flood of namazake, Andy and Jim take their usual contrarian position and go for the hiire stuff. Why do brewers heat-treat their sake? How do they do it? And why is Andy so resistant to the idea of sticking his hand in a vat of hot sake? Find out in the latest Sake Deep Dive! Vocabulary from this episode: Binkan Kyurei - A specific term for pasteurization and rapid cooling of sake...

Andy and Jim climb the mountains and explore the rice fields to get to the root of the “king” of sake rice, Yamadanishiki. We look at where it came from, why it got so big, and maybe express a wee bit of skepticism about those magical Hyogo rice fields. Vocabulary from this episode: Koji Haze - The distribution of koji over the surface of the rice grains. Kumamoto Kobo - The origin of Association...

It was inevitable. This month, Jim and Andy wander the green mountains of Jim’s adopted home of Yamaguchi Prefecture. They touch on local history, the reemergence of Yamaguchi sake, and—of course—Dassai. They might also mention Jim’s new book, Discovering Yamaguchi Sake. On sale now wherever books are sold! For more info, check the publisher’s page at: Discovering Yamaguchi Sake Vocabulary from th...

In this New Year's episode of Sake Deep Dive, Andy and Jim get back to the start—yeast starter, that is. We round out the group by taking on yamahai this time, building on what we’ve already covered in the kimoto and sokujo episodes with how it came to be, and what it is becoming now. Vocabulary from this episode Kai-ire - while generally a term for mixing or stirring the mash, here we mean a step...

Show Notes In the latest Sake Deep Dive, Andy and Jim take on Japan’s national mold, Aspergillus oryzae–the lowly koji-kin. This is less a historical exploration and more a real look at the nitty gritty on this itty bitty ruler of the sake world. CORRECTION: During the episode, Jim mistakenly called Shirokoji Aspergillus luchuensis. That is incorrect. It is Aspergillis kawachii. Aspergillus luchue...

Kodaishu - Days of Yore Show Notes Andy and Jim explore the very oldest kinds of sake in search of the real roots. From drunken serpents to monkly brews, we look at the earliest records of sake to see how it developed in the olden days. Vocabulary from this episode Sumizake - An ancient kind of filtered sake. No one knows for sure how they filtered it. Dakushu / Doburoku / Nigorizake - all the sam...

Show Notes: In a departure from the typical fact-based fare, this time Andy and Jim trawl the murky depths of terroir. What is it, really? No, really? And, is it really going to “save sake?” Predictably, we don’t think so… Enjoy the second part of our first ever two-parter! Recommended Sake in this Episode: Andrew: Tsuki no I Nanotsuki Kimoto Junmai 80% Jim Kai no Kaiun Tokubetsu Junmai Nama Gensh...

Show Notes: In a departure from the typical fact-based fare, this time Andy and Jim trawl the murky depths of terroir. What is it, really? No, really? And, is it really going to “save sake?” Predictably, we don’t think so… This time, recording ran pretty long so we're splitting this into our first ever two-parter. Tune in next month for the exciting conclusion--and our recommendations! Our theme m...

Show Notes: Andy and Jim look into perhaps the most famous brewing water in Japan: Miyamizu. Why is it so famous? Why ISN’T it part of Nada’s rise to fame? All will be revealed! NOTE: Issues beyond our control resulted in some need for re-recording and editing, so sound quality is kind of spotty in this episode. We apologize! Recommended Sake in this Episode: Andrew: Sakura Masamune Kyokai 1 ...

Show Notes: Andy and Jim take on Sokujomoto, the incredibly common fast yeast starter. On the way, they explore its linked history with yamahai, talk about how it got so common, and clarify its modern variations. Recommended Sake in this Episode: Andrew: Bijofu Ginjo Rei Jim: Takarabune Junmai Saito no Shizuku Useful vocabulary for this episode: Sokujo Moto - Fast yeast starter. Developed by Kamaj...

Show Notes: This month, Jim and Andy grind away at the true first stage of sake brewing: rice polishing. Or is it milling? Seimai. Whatever. They work their usual magic looking at the whos, whats, whens, and whys of how genmai becomes hakumai. Come and listen! Recommended Sake in this Episode: Andrew: Kirei Mannen Junmai Ginjo Genshu Jim: Harada Junmai 80 Useful vocabulary for this episode: Seimai...

Jim and Andy take on one of the most persistent sake myths around: that hot sake means bad sake. Here, they go back to see just how long people have been warming up their tipples, explore why the practice seems to have fallen out of favor, and of course offer up their own preferences. Recommended Sake in this Episode: Andrew: Ozasaya Taketsuru Junmai Genshu Omachi Jim: Choyo Fukumusume Chokugumi K...

Show Notes: Your two resident Omachists take on the only rice variety with its own fan club, Omachi. The gentle giant has a rabid fanbase, but why? What makes it different? Where’s it from? Andy brings his hands-on experience and Jim brings his unending thirst to this month’s Sake Deep Dive. Recommended Sake in this Episode: Andrew: Tamagawa Tetsukazu (Untouched) Junmai Ginjo Omachi Jim: Taka Saka...

This month, Andy and Jim look into the mystical (or not) Bodaimoto method of making sake. What is it? Where did it come from? Where did it come BACK from? All will be revealed as we clear away the mists of myth to become one with the truth of this ancient sake brewing method. Recommended Sake in this Episode: Andrew: Gozenshu Bodaimoto Junmai Nigori from Tsuji Honten Jim: Takacho from Yucho Shuzo...

In this episode of Sake Deep Dive, Jim and Andy tackle koshu-the history and culture of aging sake. Once more, our intrepid geeks go back to the early days of sake to see just what age does to our favorite beverage. We discuss the ancient history of aging sake, the Lost Century that saw the practice fade, and a little about its recent resurgence.   Recommended sake in this episode ...

Kimoto: Raising Wee Beasties The is a really deep dive, even for us. Kimoto: Raising Wee Beasties sees Andrew Russell and Jim Rion discuss the venerable kimoto method of making the seed mash for sake brewing, and hopefully clear up some common misconceptions about it and its close relative of yamahai. Recommended Sake in this Episode: Andrew: Tamagawa Kimoto Junmai Stork Label Jim: Nakashimaya Kim...

Happy Holidays! ☆ Andrew Russell and Jim Rion bring a special episode of Sake Deep Dive for your Christmas listening pleasure-after the presents are open and carols are sung, warm up a tokkuri and settle in for some sake chat.  ☆ This time, we’re keeping it casual and looking back at the year that was.  ☆ Join us as we reflect on the podcast, great sake discoveries, the allure of pottery...

Aruten: A Constant Companion In this episode of Sake Deep Dive, Co-Hosts Andrew Russel and Jim Rion go back the very beginnings of when, and why, distilled alcohol was first added to seishu, trace the rise and fall of aruten, and see just what goes into this delicious class of sake.  Recommended Sake in this Episode: Andrew: Noguchi Naohiko Sake Institute Honjozo Jim: Nakashimaya Tokubetsu Ho...

In this episode of Sake Deep Dive, Jim and Andy take a look at Ginjo--the word, the sake, and the significance. We hope people learn that there’s more to it than just milling ratios, and see just how important Hiroshima is to the modern conception of this “scrutinized” brewing method. Remember, ginjo is good, but it’s not everything! Recommended sake in this episode Andrew: Fukucho Hattanso Ginjo...

Futsushu, the sadly undervalued, yet overwhelmingly popular base of the sake pyramid. In Sake Deep Dive's inaugural episode, hosts Jim Rion and Andrew Russell discuss the meaning of the term, its history, and the reason why so many people turn up their noses at this enormously diverse class of sake. They also give some insight into how it's made, and how to know which ones are worth trying. Recomm...