In preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Hakkaisan Brewery Company introduced “Awa” Clear Sparkling as an alternative for champagne. It is light, clear and of course, bubbly. The delightful effervescence drops sweet fruit flavor over your palate. We had a blast popping a bottle during the Olympic torch ceremony, but Hakkaisan “Awa” Clear Sparkling can make any occasion a celebration.

This is Hakkaisan’s classic sake and it has a smooth and mellow taste that you will always find refreshing. You can enjoy it either warm or chilled. When gently heated, the delicate aroma is enhanced.

This sake represents the pinnacle of the Hakurakusei series. It’s brewed with heirloom Omachi rice milled to 40%, which is relatively rare for this rice with so much depth and umami. The rice gives this brew an herbal quality that mixes well with the refined classic daiginjo aromatics. With a light body and delicate balance, this premium sake enhances the flavors of cuisine spanning the gamut.

Slightly fuller and chewier than the Hakurakusei Tokubetsu Junmai, it shares the house style: clean and zippy and remarkably food friendly. Enjoying this out of glassware with plenty of room to breathe can really unlock its nuances, once you catch a touch of grapefruit or melon it disappears. Just full enough to stand up to richer and sweeter foods like simmered Japanese nimono dishes or to cut through chicken liver mousse. And if you’ve never tried the heavenly combination of sake and caviar, this is the place to start. Made from lesser known varietal Kura no Hana rice milled to 55%.

Hakutsuru’s Yamada Nishiki Sake has an elegant fragrance and full-bodied taste. This sake (Japanese rice wine) is purely made from 100% polished and bran removed Yamada Nishiki rice. It has the richness typical of junmai-shu, with a hint of crispness. No alcoholic content has been employed in the making of Yamada Nishiki rice wine.