A long-established sake specialty store founded in the Meiji era

A liquor store [Ukai Shoten] founded in 1903 (Meiji 36). It has been popular in the area as a sake specialty store for many years, and customers often come from far away to learn about its long-standing selection of aged sake. We only carry sake of Junmai sake and above, as well as carefully selected shochu and wine.

You can also purchase seasonings that follow traditional manufacturing methods, such as soy sauce and mirin.

Click here for the person introducing this article

Owner Rinko Nakagami

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The fourth generation takes over a long-established liquor store that has been in business for 120 years. He has the experience of training at Moriki Sake Brewery in Mie Prefecture, and is more passionate about Japanese sake than anyone else.

I have been focusing on aged sake since my father's time.

—It seems that you have been dealing with aged sake for quite some time.

Mr. Nakagami``My father, who came before me, was fascinated by aged sake and said, ``You don't get drunk too much, so you get sober up slowly.''
I find the taste more interesting than the way it gets drunk. Originally, back in my grandfather's time, when we used to bring our own regular sake bottles and sell by weight, we used to mix a little old sake with hard new sake to adjust the taste. That's when I realized the power of aged sake, and without even realizing it, my number increased year by year. In the past, people didn't really understand me, but I'm happy that more and more customers are starting to recognize me based on their own 'tongue sensor.'

—What kind of flavor characteristics does it have?

Mr. Nakagami"It depends on the quality of the original alcohol, but if it's vintage, it'll taste like Shaoxing wine, but with sweetness and a deep aftertaste. You'll want to taste it little by little, like brandy or whisky. Chocolate or some kind of cheese. Even things that are difficult to pair with sake go well together, such as sake.”

3 aged sake recommended by the owner

—Could you choose three bottles of aged sake that you recommend?

Mr. Nakagami``I would like to introduce three different types.``Daruma Masamune,'' which has a high proportion of koji and is sweet and made for long-term aging,``Komagura,'' which has a relatively mild taste, and a blend of new and old sake that is somewhere in between. This is Kido Izumi.”

■Masamune Daruma To the Future 2018 660ml 4500 yen
Shiraki Kosuke Shoten (Gifu Prefecture), alcohol content 16%, rice polishing ratio 75%

You can write the names of the giver and the person who raised it on the label with the age, and you can age it at home and toast it 20 years later. It is recommended for celebrating the birth of a baby, but it can also be given as a gift for various other commemorative occasions.
The store sells 2000 and 2017-2023.

Mr. Nakagami"This is a brewery that has been working hard to create the world of aged sake. This 2018 wine has a lot of color and is similar to Shaoxing wine, but with a more fine-grained taste."

■Komagura Haruka 720 Year Old Junmai Sake 1930ml XNUMX yen
Morinokura (Fukuoka Prefecture), alcohol content 14%, rice polishing rate 65%

This is an aged sake that has been aged at room temperature for over 5 years, allowing you to enjoy its aged aroma and flavor. When warmed, it becomes even more mellow and goes well with rich and spicy dishes.

Mr. Nakagami"It has a gentle and nutritious taste. It's an aged sake, so you can casually enjoy it as an accompaniment to a meal. We also recommend drinking it at room temperature, or warmed up during the coming seasons."

■Kido Izumi blended old sake Handshake 720ml 1760 yen
Kidoizumi Sake Brewery (Chiba Prefecture), alcohol content 16%, rice polishing ratio not stated.

The photo on the label shows the current brewer shaking hands with the hands of his father, the predecessor. They produce sake that can be aged for a long time using their own proprietary high temperature mountain Haishu mother, and they also have unprocessed sake that has been aged for over 40 years.

Mr. Nakagami``We blend sake from the current brewery with aged sake made by our predecessors.It's not just the techniques that have been passed down, but the sake itself that we left behind, and it's still being used today.''

Pay attention to this sake!

—Aside from aged sake, what kind of alcohol do you have?

Mr. Nakagami``Although we often carry alcoholic beverages from the Kinki area, we don't have a particular region in mind, we just choose pure rice sake.''
Sake is stored in a refrigerated case at the store and in a separate room that keeps the temperature low even in summer. “Rumiko Sake” from Moriki Sake Brewery, where Nakagami trained, will also be available.

Kokoro Junmai Nama Genshu 720ml 1320 yen
Ota Sake Brewery (Shiga Prefecture), alcohol content 17%, rice polishing ratio 70%

A descendant of the military commander Dokan Ota, this sake brewery is known for its famous sake ``Dokan.'' We are particular about local sake rice and use Tamae from Shiga Prefecture. The goodness of rice comes alive in its strong richness and flavor.

Mr. Nakagami"First of all, the name is pretty and it's easy to get. Although it's raw sake, it's available all year round, and it's delicious to drink in both summer and winter. It doesn't have any aroma, so you can drink it everyday with meals."

■Tentaka Organic Pure Rice Sake 720ml 1980 yen
Tentaka Sake Brewery (Tochigi Prefecture), alcohol content 15%, rice polishing rate 68%

A sake brewery that has been particular about Junmai sake for over 50 years, which is dry and never boring. In 2018, he established Tentaka Organic Farm and cultivates organic rice. Certified organic in Japan, the US, and Europe.

Mr. Nakagami``We are a sake brewery that owns its own rice fields and grows rice using organic farming methods.The slightly dry taste is appealing to women, and goes well with both Japanese and Western meals.''

Aged old sake that brings a story

“Learning about aged sake will expand your world of sake,” said Mr. Nakagami, holding a bottle of aged sake from the year he was born.

``Not only does it give you a unique taste, but it also makes you think about the time when it was made, and it gives you an opportunity to talk about things like what you were doing back then, and what your parents' generation was like. Many of them are reasonably priced, so please enjoy drinking them on a daily basis."

In fact, the aging of sake has not only started in the past few years, but there are records of old sake already dating back to the Kamakura period. Old and new aged sake. If you haven't tried it yet, please give it a try.

Click here for a list of stores where you can drink and buy Sake.
https://sakeworld.jp/place/