Suehiro Ken Daiginjo NAMA "The Sword"
The nose on this unpasteurized "Nama" version of the wildly popular "Ken" Daiginjo sake is a lively collection of kiwi, pear juice, lemon, slate, white floral, and creamy aromas. It's not often we get the unpasteurized version of a Daiginjo sake like Ken, and in this case we don't have a lot of bottles to play with, so if you like premium sakes in the raw then this Ken is for you. Silky, slippery, elegant, off-sweet, chewy, and crisp, this brew drinks with lots of umami and has a quick, clean, and dry finish. Look for very interesting flavors such as mochi, sweet rice, toasted barley, salted caramel, cream soda, maple candy, unripe melon, and a hint of yogurt to round out the savory and creamy flavor field. This 3D version of Ken drinks best in a white wine glass, and it was built to pair with cuisines that are elegant and umami-driven. WORD: Elegant WINE: Pinot Noir/Creamy Whites BEER: Creamy Ales FOODS: Sushi, sashimi, American sushi rolls, pasta, roasts, hot pots, grilled steaks and chops, chicken on a stick, cheese plates, and soy sauce-based fare.