Nihonsakari, birthed in 1889 and one of the world’s biggest sake breweries—also a supplier to the Japanese imperial household since 1913—, has undergone a major facelift, now branding themselves as Sakari with a contemporary logo design and label to boot—and they’ll be available in Singapore real soon!
Currently, Sakari will be importing five of their core sakes to Singapore. Their Junmai, Daiginjo, Junmai Ginjo, Junmi Daiginjo and Yuzu sake, with more styles to follow in the future. All five styles will be available for purchase by end-March 2021 and distributed exclusively by Inter Rice Asia, one of Singapore’s key sake distributors. Read on to find out our thoughts on the sakes that we tried!
In spite of its change of look, the rebranding of Sapari goes way deeper. Sakari, in its pursuit for better customer satisfaction, has put emphasis on three distinct qualities. The first being that all their sake are free of any preservatives (sulphite-free), certified gluten-free and vegetarian.
In an effort to be fully legitimate in these three areas, Sakari even went as far as getting certifications as a commitment to uphold the highest standards of Sake brewing and increase consumer confidence. Would you expect anything less from Japanese craftsmanship?
Sakari Junmai
Their Junmai boasts a beautiful, almost floral finish, albeit short. It has a slight peppery note to it with a hint of liquorice. We imagine the Junmai would pair amazingly well with grilled meats or perhaps even zi char—anything with a good amount of umami and smoke.
Sakari Junmai Ginjo
The Junmai Ginjo is incredibly smooth with a flavour profile reminiscent of ripe mangos, tropical citrus and melon. It has a nice, well-rounded mouthfeel. Pair this with a platter of fresh fruits or perhaps a fruity dessert—or just drink it on its own.
Sakari Daiginjo
A more traditional sake, the Daiginjo isn’t overly aromatic but it has a dry finish that we quite enjoy. It’s rough on the palate going in but mellows out nicely after a few seconds. Apparent flavour notes include green apple and rice.
Sakari Junmai Daiginjo
The pinnacle of their core range is none other than their Junmai Daiginjo. An easy-drinking sake, it has a bright aroma to it, goes down incredibly smooth and boasts a distinct flavour of persimmon. Sweet, nuanced and delicate, just what you’d expect from a Junmai Daiginjo. This was our favourite of the lot.
Read our guide to the different types of sake.
Disclaimer: We were guests of Sakari and Inter Rice Asia at Tempura Oji, but all opinions remain our own.
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