We have just released our first ever batch of sparkling sake! It is light nigori-style cloudy sake, with lively fruit and natural effervescence from secondary in-bottle fermentation. Get it while it lasts, and enjoy the last weekend of the Distillery Christmas Market! 375ml bottle, 16% alc./vol., $19.95 incl tax/deposit
The Toronto Christmas Market is running now through December 15 in the Distillery District. During this time we will be offering:
1. HOT SAKE TRAVELERS – A delicious 100ml cup of our “Warm Winter Blend” is available ‘to-go’ Friday evenings and all day Saturdays and Sundays. A refreshing and warming alternative to hot chocolate or mulled wine! Or stay and enjoy a carafe of the hot stuff and venture further into the sake portfolio at our comfortable tasting bar.
2. GIFT BASKETS – Fresh local bottled sake and/or imported sakeware, beautifully wrapped and ready to surprise your friends and business colleagues with! Priced for all budgets.
3. CUSTOM-LABELLED SAKE – We are happy to custom-label Izumi sake bottles to your personal or corporate requirements with a very reasonable 1-case minimum.
PLEASE ENJOY AND SPREAD SOME FRESH ONTARIAN CHEER WITH IZUMI SAKE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!!
Our fresh local Nigori Junmai Sake is now available at the LCBO, just in time for the holiday season! Luscious, creamy and full-bodied, this sake is always a favourite at our brewery tasting counter and frequently sells out. You can check the LCBO system’s inventory by store at the following link:
http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/inventory/searchResults.do?language=EN&itemNumber=348946
October 1 is Sake Day, celebrated in Japan and the world over! Come join the fun in Toronto!
The Sake Institute of Ontario will hold its 2nd annual Sake Day celebration and educational event (appropriately themed “Celebrating with Sake” including a sake barrel-breaking ceremony) at Japan Foundation on Bloor Street starting at 6:30PM, with early-bird tickets selling for $25. For full details and to purchase tickets visit http://kampaitoronto.ticketleap.com/sio-sake-day-celebration/
We will be celebrating Sake Day at our brewery in the Distillery District from 12 noon to 7pm with 30% off all sake by-the-glass including all of our fresh local sakes and delicious Sakepolitan cocktails all day long!
Hope to see all of you on Sake Day!
CoroCoro Foods will be serving up Yakisoba Dogs and Yakisoba Musubi (Rice balls) this Saturday and Sunday 12 noon – 7pm on our patio at the Distillery District. Sake by the glass and bottle also available as well as sake-based cocktails! Brewery Tasting Tours at 1pm and 4pm ($15 per person, includes guided tasting of 4 cups of sake – reservations recommended 416-365-7253). ArtFest is also happening here this weekend so come on down and enjoy the fun!!
We are delighted to be invited to an intimate dinner at Ki Modern Japanese + Bar to feature local food creations by their culinary team paired with various Izumi local sakes on July 24! Ki’s sake sommelier Michael Tremblay will be hosting the event, which starts with cocktails at 6:30PM to be followed by dinner at 7.
Please join us at Ki for what promises to be an evening that is both delicious and fun!
Michael’s invitation, which includes more details on the event as well as ticket purchase information, is as follows:
Hello All,
After a very busy sake-filled Spring, we thought we would keep all of the fun going into the summer! Please find information below on our upcoming sake dinner with the Ontario Spring Water Sake Company – Ontario’s first and only sake brewery. I hope you can all make it!
Ki Modern Japanese + Bar presents an intimate dinner with Ken Valvur and Greg Newton from Toronto’s Ontario Spring Water Sake Company.
This is a wonderful opportunity to explore the premium sakes from Ontario’s first and only sake brewery. The brewery’s Izumi brand is crafted using pure and natural spring water from Huntsville into many unique styles. Please join President Ken Valvur and Master Brewer Greg Newton for a special sake dinner at Ki Modern Japanese + Bar. In addition, Michael Tremblay, Ki’s certified Advanced Sake Professional will guide you through an exclusive lineup of sakes from this artisanal brewery, paired with an original five course menu of local seasonal ingredients created by Ki’s chefs.
Wednesday 24 July 2013 Cocktails 6:30PM / Dinner 7PM
$125 (includes gratuity + HST) for tickets or inquiries, please contact Michael Tremblay at 647.998.2100, or michael@kijapanese.com
Michael Tremblay
Certified Advanced Sake Professional (ASP)
Sake Education Council (SEC), Tokyo Japan
ki modern Japanese + bar
181 Bay st. Toronto Ontario
p 416 308 5888
c 647 998 2100
f 416 361 0059
t @michaelatkisake
Our award-winning undiluted Izumi Genshu Junmai Sake is now on the shelves throughout the province of Quebec within the SAQ system. Up until now our fresh local sakes have only been consumed in Quebec by those who have brought it back from trips to Ontario or through restaurants that have arranged private orders.
For availability please check the SAQ’s website: http://www.saq.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/RechercheSuccursale?inventaire=true&storeId=20002&catalogId=50000&langId=-1&productId=11948665&partNumber=11948665&succInventaire=1&search=1®ionSelected=0®ionId=0
This sake is lusciously full-bodied with ripe pear and melon notes, mildly sweet (SMV of -2) balanced by some fresh acidity and quite strong at ABV of 17.5%. It is wonderful both as an aperitif and as a pairing with a highlight fresh local dish such as oysters.
Izumi Genshu won a Commended award at last summer’s International Wine Challenge in London, which is the world’s largest wine competition and includes hundreds of sake entrants. We are told that this is the first non-Japanese sake to have won an award at this prestigious competition.
Thank you for your ongoing interest in our fresh local Izumi sakes!
Ontario Spring Water Sake Company will be featuring 9 sake products at Kampai Toronto 2013, which will take place on May 30 in the Fermenting Cellar, Distillery District, adjacent to our brewery. Kampai tickets can be purchased at www.kampaitoronto.com for $65 until midnight Thursday May 23, and $75 up to the day of the event, subject to prior sell-out.
Included in our lineup for Kampai are the following items, including a pre-bottled sake cocktail being offered for the first time to the public (inspired by the cocktail we have served by the glass at our tasting bar since our opening in 2011)! The full line-up is as follows:
Izumi NamaCho Junmai Sake (once-pasteurized big flavour, pear-like fruit essence, off-dry, in LCBO)
Izumi Genshu Junmai Sake (undiluted, 17%abv, deep and long flavour, in LCBO periodically)
Izumi NamaNama Unpasteurized Sake (our Signature unpasteurized sake, bold flavoured balance of residual fruity sugar and fresh acidity)
Izumi Teion Sakura Unpasteurized Sake (a low temperature ferment sake, wine-like with green apple fruit notes, very popular with our restaurant customers)
Izumi Junmai Nigori Sake (cloudy, luscious)
Izumi Arabashiri #36 First-Press Single-Tank Sake (delicate, dry with subtle watermelon notes, 17.9% abv)
Izumi Fukurotsuri #37 Bag-Drip Sake (none-stress drip method sake is soft, smooth with subtle blueberry fruitiness, off-dry)
Izumi Arabashiri #38 First-Press Single Tank Sake (essences of papaya, honeydew, dry finish, 18.0% abv)
Izumi “Sakepolitan” pre-bottled sake cocktail – a deliciously local, fresh and moderate strength (7% abv) take on the classic which features Muskoka cranberry juice with our own Muskoka water-based sake!
All of these sake items will also be available for sale at our brewery store, located in the Distillery District adjacent to the Fermenting Cellar where Kampai is taking place. We are open before, during and after Kampai Toronto on May 30 – come check out a real sake brewery to see how sake is made!
We again look forward to seeing friends old and new at Kampai Toronto!
A very exciting event will take place adjacent to our brewery on May 30, 2013: the second annual Kampai Toronto, which will once again be the largest sake tasting festival ever to be organized in Canada, featuring more than 100 sakes from Japan and North America, including of course our own IZUMI sakes!
Kampai Toronto is being put on by the Sake Institute of Ontario, a non-profit organization of which we are a founding member whose mission is to promote the safe and enjoyable consumption of sake. The event will also feature appetizer-style food from 12 excellent restaurants. Many breweries will send representatives including toji (master brewers) and/or kuramoto (owners) to pour and discuss their sakes, so it should be a truly memorable event.
Our brewery tasting bar and store will run extended hours on that day before,during and after the event, so that those who want to combine a visit to Kampai Toronto with a visit to a sake brewery can do so.
The Kampai Toronto press release is as follows:
| Event Summary: | Participants will have the opportunity to taste more than 100 sakes, sourced from dozens of breweries from Japan, Canada and the U.S. Appetizer-style food will be made available to guests courtesy of a dozen restaurant partners | |
| Event Date: | Thursday, May 30th, 2013 | |
| Event Hours: | 6:30pm – 9:00pm | |
| Event Location: | Fermenting Cellar Event Space | |
| Distillery District | ||
| 55 Mill Street | ||
| Toronto, ON M5A 3C4 | ||
| Event Pricing: | Online Advance Purchase $65 (until May 23); Full-Price $75 | |
| All-inclusive Pricing (Drinks + Food) | ||
We have started a new cycle of 3 brews, including of course koji-making. A number of customers are now ordering fresh koji from us. If you are interested in trying to cook or make amazake with fresh koji please submit your order right away. The cost is $3.00 per 100g, with a minimum order of 500g. Orders must be prepaid, and can be made by phone at 416-365-SAKE (7253).
If you are interested in koji recipes and general information on koji you can find many sources on the internet including: http://www.kojiya.jp/
For those interested in being in the brewery during pressing in order to try just-pressed “Shiboritate” sake, Shikomi Batches 31-33 will be pressed in early February. Please call us in February for specific dates.
If you are interested in viewing sake batch rice work, next Saturday morning (January 12) at 11am should be a good time.
Hope to see you at the brewery soon!
This week the Sake Institute of Ontario (a non-profit organization of which we are a founding member dedicated to introducing Ontarians to the wonderful world of sake) announced its next sake education event. The Winter Sake Warm-up will take place at 6:30pm on January 21, 2013, at The Japan Foundation, conveniently located at 131 Bloor Street West. The evening will feature a presentation on warm sake by sake educator Michael Pataran followed by sampling of sakes provided by SIO members paired with a variety of appetizer-style foods. Tickets for the event will cost $25 prior to January 15, and are expected to sell quickly so please visit the following site for information and to buy your tickets!
http://kampaitoronto.ticketleap.com/SIO–Winter–Warmup/
Ontario Spring Water Sake Company will be bringing 2 sakes to the event which are delightful to drink warm:
1. Izumi Warm Winter Blend – A blend of unpasteurized sakes chosen for their mildness and suitability for warming. The resulting flavour is rich while not overpowering when served at 40-45 degrees Celcius, and is characterized by a unique nuttiness which is derived from the flavour of our own koji (the malted and sweet form of rice used in making sake). This sake is only available during the winter months from our brewery store in the Distillery District.
2. Izumi Namacho – Our signature once-pasteurized sake. This sake also opens up beautifully at 40-45 degrees Celcius, however with a more characteristically citrus-fruity flavour rather than the more pronounced nuttiness of Warm Winter Blend. This sake is widely available throughout the LCBO system – for locations carrying Namacho click on the following link: http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/inventory/searchResults.do?language=EN&itemNumber=260174
Our brewery store carries a wide variety of “tokkuri” carafes and “choko” cups to make your warm sake-drinking experience most enjoyable.
We hope to see you at the event!
You may have noticed that our sake has recently been getting a fair bit of holiday media attention as one of The Best Toronto-themed Holiday Gifts for 2012 (http://torontoist.com/2012/12/the-best-toronto-themed-holiday-gifts-of-2012/20121210sake/), and as one of The Marilyn Dennis Show’s recommended Healthy Holiday Drinks (http://www.marilyn.ca/HealthFitness/segments.aspx/Daily/December-2012/12_19_2012/HealthyHolidayDrinks).
Our full selection of 10 sakes including regular and limited items are ready for your tasting and of course purchase for home and gift use at our brewery store in the Distillery District.
Last-minute shoppers will also find some interesting pieces in our Sakeware Collection, which is Toronto’s largest, including choko cups, tokkuri carafes and sets for warm and cold sake enjoyment.
Happy Holidays!
The Toronto Christmas Market is running tomorrow through December 16 in the Distillery District. During this time we will be offering:
1. HOT SAKE TRAVELERS – A delicious 100ml cup of our “Warm Winter Blend” is available ‘to-go’ Friday evenings and all day Saturdays and Sundays. A refreshing and warming alternative to hot chocolate or mulled wine! Or stay and enjoy a carafe of the hot stuff and venture further into the sake portfolio at our comfortable tasting bar.
2. GIFT BASKETS – Fresh local bottled sake and/or imported sakeware, beautifully wrapped and ready to surprise your friends and business colleagues with! Priced for all budgets.
3. CUSTOM-LABELLED SAKE – We are happy to custom-label Izumi sake bottles to your personal or corporate requirements with a very reasonable 1-case minimum.
PLEASE ENJOY AND SPREAD SOME FRESH ONTARIAN CHEER WITH IZUMI SAKE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!!
The Gold Medal Plates organizers today announced the winners of the September 25 Toronto event, including silver medal winner George Restaurant Chef Lorenzo Loseto’s black cod dish paired with Izumi Teion Sakura Junmai Sake. We are honoured that George’s team including Sommelier JP Potters paired one of our sakes with their cod plate, and are proud to share in their Silver Medal success. Congratulations to George Restaurant!
Judges James Chatto, Sasha Chapman, Anita Stewart and Christine Cushing commented as follows: “Our silver medal winner was Lorenzo Loseto of George – the only Toronto chef to compete in every Gold Medal Plates event in the modern era. This is his third silver medal, which also puts him in a very small and exalted group of one. Yesterday he worked with black cod, timing the fish to moist perfection and crusting it with crushed cashews held together by an invisible beet tapenade that added a delightful earthy sweetness to the flavour of the nuts. Beside it was a tiny stack of soft juicy beet salad, a ½-inch mound of pungent avocado mousse and a scattering of minuscule pickled samiji mushrooms and wild leeks. A scattering of black beans and coriander seedlings boosted the earthy flavours and the whole dish rested on a tissue-thin magic carpet of shaved radish. The match with an exceptionally floral, fruity 2012 Teion Sakura Junmai sake from Toronto’s own Ontario Spring Water Sake Company was masterful.”
Congratulations to Gold Medal winner Auberge du Pommier’s foie gras dish paired with Peller Estates’ Ice Cuvee Rose ice wine, and Bronze Medal winner Panagaea’s venison dish paired with 13th Street Essence 2009 Pinot Noir.
Many of our customers have asked about the possibility of buying freshly made KOJI and/or SHIOKOJI from the brewery. As an experiment, we will be making extra koji during this weekend’s sake koji production run to be ready for this Sunday, September 23.
Koji will be available for pick up this Sunday only (we have no means to store it) at a cost of $3 per 100g, to be paid by credit card at time of ordering. Koji is useful for a number of things including sake home-brewing, making homemade AMAZAKE (naturally sweet non-alcoholic sake, usually served warm) and making SHIOKOJI.
We will also make some of our own SHIOKOJI, which will be available at our brewery store starting at around 3pm on Sunday September 23 at a cost of $7 per 175-g tub while supplies last. Shiokoji is useful as a flavour enhancer, a meat tenderizer and quick pickling agent for vegetables. Shiokoji purchased at the brewery will need to be kept at room temperature for a period of time as per instructions to be provided, but will then be stable for use over a period of several months.
Those wishing to order KOJI or SHIKOJI can call us at 416-365-SAKE (7253) or email us at info@ontariosake.com.
Thank you very much & hope to see you Sunday!
Sake Institute of Ontario announces Educational Event on National Sake Day October 1 featuring Head Brewer Greg Newton
The following announcement has been released by Sake Institute of Ontario:
On Monday, Oct 1st, the Sake Institute of Ontario (SIO) will be celebrating ‘Nihonshu no Hi’ (National Sake Day) – the start to the new brewing season in Japan – with an intimate, fun, and informative Sakebrewing Seminar & Tasting Event.
Please join us at: Yuzu no Hana Sushi & Sake Bar (236 Adelaide St. W.) 6:30pm-8:30pm
Three brewery representatives will be our guides into the ancient craft of sakebrewing. Greg Newton, Head Brewer of Ontario Spring Water Sake Co., our local brewery in The Distillery, will present on the core elements of sakebrewing. Also attending will be Kozaemon the 14th, CEO of Nakashima Sake Brewing Co. from Gifu, Japan, a family-owned brewery founded in 1702, and Mr. Fukui, Export Manager for Tamanohikari Sake Brewing Co. of Kyoto, Japan. We will have sakes on hand to taste from Izumi, Kozaemon, and Tamanohikari, plus many other current releases from Ontario’s top sake importers. Sushi + light catering will be provided by Yuzu no Hana.
Tickets are $35 until Sept 24th ($40 afterwards) and limited to 50 guests – get yours today before we sell out: http://kampaitoronto.ticketleap.com/sio-sakebrewing-seminar–tasting/
Kampai!
**SIO is a not-for-profit trade organization of Ontario-based sake distributors and manufacturers with the principal objective of educating and promoting the responsible consumption and enjoyment of sake.
No time to drop by our brewery or an LCBO outlet? No problem, Izumi sakes (including unpasteurized “namazake”) are now available online via the leaders in online wine shopping in Ontario, WINEONLINE.CA.
We have just added a quicklink to our homepage www.ontariosake.com, and the direct link to the Izumi Sake page at WINEONLINE.CA is as follows:
http://www.wineonline.ca/index.php/ci_id/1651/la_id/1/winery/11585.htm
Happy online shopping!
Our smooth, deep-flavoured Izumi Genshu, winner of a Commended Award at this summer’s International Wine Challenge in London, England, has started to appear on LCBO shelves as part of the August 18 Vintages release. The Vintages release booklet, available at all LCBO stores, even has a write-up on our brewery as part of a mini-feature on sake! The tasting notes issued by the Vintages Tasting Panel read as follows:
“There is a lovely fruitiness to this crystal-clear sake. Aromas suggest pear and apple, plus a hint of apricot and even a touch of caramel. There is lots of fruitiness on the palate too, but is also quite dry. The finish is long and elegant” (Vintages panel, June 2012)
We will be supporting the launch with free public tastings of Izumi Genshu at LCBO Summerhill on Saturday, August 18, at LCBO Woodbine and Highway 7 on Sunday, August 19, and LCBO Dupont and Spadina on Sunday, August 26. Izumi Namacho will also be available for free sampling, as well as our own Izumi Sesame and Wasabi sakekasu dressings together with seaweed-wrapped rice crackers.
The full list of stores which will have Genshu by August 18 is as follows:
| Ajax-Kingston/Harwood |
| Ancaster-Golf Links Rd |
| London-Masonville |
| Markham – Hwy 7 & Woodbine |
| Markham- McCowan & Hwy 7 |
| Mississauga-Britannia/Mavis |
| Mississauga-Hwy 10/Eglinton |
| Mississauga-Southdown |
| Oakville-Cornwall/Trafalgar |
| Oakville-Dundas/Traflagar |
| Ottawa- Rideau & King Edward |
| Ottawa-Albert/Metcalfe |
| Ottawa-Bank/Walkley |
| Ottawa-Barrhaven |
| Ottawa-Glebe |
| Ottawa-Hunt Club/Merrivale |
| Ottawa-Innes |
| Pickering-Brock |
| Richmond Hill-Major Mackenzie & Leslie |
| Richmond Hill- Yonge & Hwy 7 |
| Toronto Central-Bay & Bloor (Manulife Centre) |
| Toronto Central-Dupont & Spadina |
| Toronto Central-Front/Jarvis |
| Toronto Central-Front/Sherbourne |
| Toronto Central-King/Spadina |
| Toronto Central-Laird & Eglinton (Leaside) |
| Toronto Central-Liberty Village |
| Toronto Central-Queen & Coxwell (The Beach) |
| Toronto Central-Queens Quay & Yonge |
| Toronto Central-Spadina & Dundas |
| Toronto Central-St Clair/Keele |
| Toronto Central-Yonge & Dundas (Atrium On Bay) |
| Toronto Central-Yonge & Eglinton (Yonge Eglinton Ctr) |
| Toronto Central-Yonge & Summerhill |
| Toronto Etobicoke-Bloor & Royal York (Kingsway) |
| Toronto Etobicoke-Burnhamthorpe & 427 |
| Toronto Etobicoke-Sherway |
| Toronto North-Avenue & Lawrence |
| Toronto North-Bayview & Sheppard (Bayview Village) |
| Toronto North-Fairview Mall |
| Toronto North-Lawrence & Don Mills |
| Toronto North-Wedgewood |
| Toronto North-Weston/401 |
| Toronto North-Wilson/Dufferin |
| Toronto North-Yonge & Empress (Empress Walk) |
| Toronto Scarborough-Danforth/VP |
| Toronto Scarborough-Steeles & Markham |
| Waterloo-King S & William |
Current inventory levels of Genshu at LCBO stores is updated daily at: http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/inventory/searchResults.do?language=EN&itemNumber=286120
Thank you for your ongoing support!
This morning we started pressing Brew #25, a dry yet still fruity, relatively high alcohol batch (est. 18% alc/vol). This fresh-pressed sake will be available at the tasting counter this afternoon and throughout the coming weekend. Please join us for some sake (including our award-winning Genshu and recently re-released luscious Nigori) and perhaps some of our unique sakekasu ice cream (actually made with soy milk) in several Asian-style flavours.
Kampai!
Distribution of our fresh local sake within the LCBO system continues to grow. This week we surpassed the 100-store mark for our Namacho Junmai Sake (LCBO Product #260174), with stores from Ottawa in the east to Windsor in the west, Sault Ste Marie in the north to Niagara Falls in the south. You can check for a store near you at the following link:
http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/inventory/searchResults.do?language=EN&itemNumber=260174
Izumi Genshu Sake (LCBO Product #286120), our undiluted tank strength, full-flavoured sake will be included in the LCBO’s August 18 Vintages release. Izumi Genshu is ideal as an apertif, or paired with a special dish such as oysters. Ask your local LCBO store manager or Product Consultant to order some in to their store, or visit one of the larger regional stores, many of which will be receiving an allocation of Izumi Genshu. Once the product has been shipped out to stores you can find Izumi Genshu at the LCBO via the following link:
http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/inventory/searchResults.do?language=EN&itemNumber=286120
Thank you for trying Izumi sake at the LCBO!
Ontario Spring Water Sake Company will be featuring 10 sakes at Kampai Toronto, which will take place on May 31, 2012 in the Fermenting Cellar, Distillery District, adjacent to our brewery. While VIP tickets are long sold out, regular admission tickets can be purchased at www.kampaitoronto.com for $65 until midnight tonight, and $75 after that up to May 31.
Included in our sake lineup for Kampai are two new items: IZUMI Junmai Nigori (a luscious cloudy sake), and IZUMI Karakuchi (a dryer sake than our other offerings) which are both being offered for the first time to the public. The full line-up is as follows:
Izumi NamaCho Junmai Sake (once-pasteurized big flavour, pear-like fruit essence, off-dry, in LCBO)
Izumi Genshu Junmai Sake (undiluted, 17%abv, deep and long flavour, LCBO this summer)
Izumi NamaNama Unpasteurized Sake (our Signature unpasteurized sake, bold flavoured balance of residual fruity sugar and fresh acidity)
Izumi Teion Sakura Unpasteurized Sake (a low temperature ferment sake, wine-like with greeen apple fruit notes)
Izumi Karakuchi Unpasteurized Sake (dry, strong, with subtle fruit notes)
Izumi Junmai Nigori Sake (cloudy, luscious)
Izumi Second Spring Single-Tank Sake (very bold and delicious, our undiluted brew #18)
Izumi Arabashiri First-Press Sake (delicate, light and elegant)
Izumi Fukurotsuri Bag-Drip Sake (none-stress drip method sake is soft, smooth with fruity residual sugar)
Izumi Shiboritate Just-Pressed Sake (as fresh as sake can be, bold and youthful)
All of these sakes will also be available for sale at our brewery store, located in the Distillery District adjacent to the Fermenting Cellar where Kampai is taking place. We are open before, during and after Kampai Torontoon May 31 – come check out a real sake brewery to see how sake is made!
We look forward to seeing friends old and new at Kampai Toronto!
With all the buzz surrounding the upcoming Kampai Toronto Festival of Sake, which will take place adjacent to our brewery on May 31, we thought it would be good to update our customers on the brewing/pressing cycles leading up to the big day.
Batch #21 is now in day 8 of its brewing cycle and will likely be pressed around May 23-25, while Batch #22 is now in day 4 with a forecasted pressing date of May 27-29. That means that Kampai participants will very likely be able to enjoy at least 2 just-pressed sakes!
While it is difficult to get very precise in these matters, it is possible that Batch #23 will actually be undergoing pressing during Kampai, which would certainly be a fun part of the brewing process for participants to be able to see, and of course to taste! Batch #23 is also somewhat of a historical batch for us, as it marks the first time we have used the aromatic #9 yeast (all of our batches to date have used, and we will continue to use, yeast #7, which was first isolated by our consulting brewery Masumi in 1947). Stay tuned as we update the progress of this newest brew.
During Kampai, our brewery, tasting bar and retail store will be open before, during and after the festival. We will offer a special tasting tour schedule for May 31, adding to our regular 5pm tasting tour on that day.
This Sunday Ontario Spring Water Sake Company will have been open to the public for a whole year – we hope you can help us to celebrate this milestone! We will be offering all sake-by-the-glass including hot sake carafes at 30% off, free
sweet non-alcoholic warm koji sake and a variety of baked sakekasu treats for the kids, and large 1.8 litre bottles of sake at 15% off our regular prices.
Thanks to the support of our customers and the dedication of our team members, our first year has seen thousands of guests enjoy IZUMI sake at our brewery, and many more at our client restaurant locations which now number above 50 and at home through purchases of our sake at the growing number of LCBO outlets that carry IZUMI. We have also taken part in many gourmet events around Toronto thanks to the interest of our hosts, and look forward to remaining engaged in the vibrant local food and beverage community here in Ontario.
We hope to see you Sunday!
A very exciting event will take place adjacent to our brewery on May 31, 2012: Kampai Toronto, the largest sake tasting festival ever to be organized in Canada, featuring more than 100 sakes from Japan and North America, including of course our own IZUMI sakes!
Kampai Toronto is being put on by the Sake Institute of Ontario, a non-profit organization of which we are a founding member whose mission is to promote the safe and enjoyable consumption of sake. The event will also feature appetizer-style food from 6 excellent restaurants. Many breweries will send representatives including toji (master brewers) and owners to pour and discuss their sakes, so it should be a truly memorable event. Our brewery tasting bar and store will run extended hours on that day before,during and after the event, so that those who want to combine a visit to Kampai Toronto with a visit to a sake brewery can do so.
The Kampai Toronto press release is as follows:
Press Release
April 2, 2012
Sake Institute of Ontario announces inaugural Kampai Toronto Festival of Sake
ATTENTION WINE, FOOD, BUSINESS EDITORS: The Sake Institute of Ontario proudly
announces the launch of Kampai Toronto, the largest sake festival ever organized in Canada.
This inaugural tasting event will take place on Thursday, May 31st at The Distillery – Historic
District in downtown Toronto.
Full details of Kampai Toronto and ticket purchase facilities are available at
www.kampaitoronto.com.
Principal details of Kampai Toronto are as follows:
Event Summary: Walk-Around format. Participants will have the opportunity to
taste more than 100 sakes, sourced from dozens of breweries
from Japan, Canada and the U.S. Appetizer-style food will be
made available to guests courtesy of six restaurant partners.
Event Date: Thursday, May 31st, 2012
Event Hours: 6:30pm – 9:00pm
Event Location: Fermenting Cellar Event Space
Distillery District
55 Mill Street
Toronto, ON M5A 3C4
Event Pricing: Online Advance Purchase $65 (until May 24); Regular $75
Members of the Trade & Press will be invited to a dedicated Trade Portion sponsored by Japan
External Trade Organization (JETRO) starting at 4:00pm on the Event Date, which will feature a
one-hour Educational Seminar and Structured Tasting conducted by sake expert Michael
Tremblay of Ki Restaurant, in addition to a Walk-Around Tasting with many sake brewery
owners/representatives present.
Further Inquiries can be made via info@kampaitoronto.com.
About the Sake Institute of Ontario (“SIO”)
SIO is a not-for-profit trade organization of Ontario-based sake distributors and manufacturers
with the principal objective of educating and promoting the responsible consumption and
enjoyment of sake.
What has turned out to be our driest, strongest, sake so far – Brew#19 – is now being pressed. The first-run arabashiri is indeed characterized by the initially gentle, fruity undertones belying its 19 (a numerical coincidence!) percent alc./vol. strength, and medium dry, clear, finish whose fruitiness is more subtle than most of our brews to date. This sake’s body is still developing, and we will mature it in-tank prior to bottling a special edition dry sake that we are sure will appeal to many of our customers who enjoy dry sake but have never tried it in an unpasteurized, fresh, state.
For those who can’t wait for the regular bottled version we are pouring the just-pressed arabashiri now at the tasting bar, and will have bottled #19 Arabashiri soon as well.
Kampai!
We began pressing our 18th batch this morning. The free-run Arabashiri has a bit more body, less sugar and same low acidity in comparison with our previous Brew #17. Come try fresh-pressed “shiboritate” at the tasting bar, and fresh-bottled Arabashiri will be available for purchase later today!
A group of Izumi Sakes will be featured at Jamie Kennedy’s “The Spirit of Local” event March 5, 2012, 6:30-9:00pm at Gilead Cafe and Bistro.
The theme of the event is A Local Food Movement Cocktail Party. Ontario Spring Water Sake Company’s Izumi-branded sakes will be sharing the spotlight with Still Waters Vodkas from a distillery in Concord, and Gilead Vodka from Prince Edward County. This event is certain to be delicious, entertaining and educational!
Ontario Spring Water Sake Company has recently started conducting regularly scheduled Tasting Tours at our Distillery District sake brewery. Initially we are offering scheduled tours at 5pm Thursday evenings, and Saturdays and Sundays at 1pm and 4pm.
The tasting tours consist of an overview of the sake brewing process, raw materials and equipment, followed by a guided tasting of several of our freshly-brewed unpasteurized and pasteurized sakes. The tasting tour takes about 1 hour, and is available at a cost of $15 (plus HST), which includes a souvenir IZUMI competitive sake tasting cup.
Spots on any tour can be pre-booked at 416-365-SAKE (7253), or may be arranged at the brewery prior to the scheduled tour time, subject to availability.
Groups of 5 or more can also book a private tour at their convenience.
Hope to see you soon!
This morning we have started to press Brew #17. We have just paused to taste the Arabashiri first run sake, and it is indeed delicious, a smooth, clean and fruity encore to Takahashi-toji, whose methods are now being applied by head brewer Greg Newton. Those who brave Toronto’s winter weather to visit our brewery today through Monday can taste just-pressed Shiboritate sake at the tasting bar, sake at its freshest!
We will bottle a very limited amount of the first-pressed Arabashiri version of Batch #17 for the growing number of customers that have become fans of this light but flavourful treat, which will be available only at our retail outlet in the Distillery District.
Kampai!
Last week we made our first delivery of sake lees (“sakekasu”) to Brian Knox’s Wagyu Beef Farm in Formosa, Ontario. Sakekasu is used by Kobe beef and other Wagyu farmers in Japan as a key part of their diet, as it enhances the animals’ appetite and thereby contributes to the marbling of the gourmet beef. For sake breweries this use of their sakekasu reinforces sake brewing as an environmentally sustainable activity.
After making the sakekasu delivery we used our refrigerated sake delivery van to transport some delicious Knox Wagyu to The Healthy Butcher, a premium meat purveyor in Toronto. Mr. Knox started feeding his current herd sakekasu over the weekend, so sakekasu-fed Wagyu beef will finally be available to Ontario consumers later this year.
We are looking forward to trying the sakekasu-fed meat when it becomes available, and will keep you posted about its availability.
Earlier this week we began brewing our 17th batch during ideal sake-brewing weather.
This is our first batch led by Greg Newton. Our founding/consulting master brewer Yoshiko Takahashi recently returned to Japan, having fulfilled her mission of getting us started on the road to brewing delicious sake, and will continue to be our technical consultant on issues as they arise along our brewing journey. The brewing routines started by Takahashi-toji are being continued by Greg-san, who worked in our brewery together with Takahashi-toji as her disciple for the last several months and who used to work at the same brewery in Nagano (Tomono Shuzo) where Takahashi-san was formerly master brewer. Greg is a microbioligist by training (graduate of University of Guelph, post-graduate researcher at University of Tokyo) who is passionate about sake, which he began seriously studying in 2008 through a training internship at Daimon Shuzo, an international-minded brewery in Osaka whose 6th-generation owner Yasutaka Daimon has embraced the potential of sake markets and production outside of Japan.
We look forward to tasting this batch next month. In the meantime, we have started to blend sakes using the excellent cold weather-brewed 14th, 15th and 16th batches which were pressed in December. These are all full-flavoured, and in the cases of #14 and #15, high-alcohol sakes, which are delicious both on their own as well as in blends such as the current rendition of Genshu in which #14 is prominent. Please drop by the brewery for a visit, or sign up for a Brewery Tasting Tour if you have an hour to spend learning a bit about the methods and flavours of the sake world!
After launching in a limited number of LCBO stores in a Vintages release in September, Izumi Namacho Junmai Sake is now offered on a continuously available basis at 70 LCBO locations as of today, with more stores receiving shipments soon. The following link provides updated store locations:
http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/lcbo/product/inventory/searchResults.do?language=EN&itemNumber=260174
In most LCBO stores our sake can be found together with all the other sakes adjacent to the fortified wines section, however several stores merchandise our sake in the Vintages department. If you do not find it please ask an LCBO staff member for Product #260174.
For a full range of our sakes, as well as holiday gift baskets and other interesting sake-related items please visit our brewery store in Toronto’s Distillery District.
Best Holiday Wishes!
We are currently (Dec. 16) pressing Batch #15, which is available for tasting at the bar. This batch has turned out great and is quite distinct from the sakes we have made thus far. It is initially soft on the palate, has fruity notes with underlying sweetness, and has a quick, strong, dry finish.
If you have time this weekend, please stop by the brewery for a taste of this fresh sake. The Distillery District Christmas Market is in full swing, and we also have a full assortment of sake gift packs for that sake lover (or soon to be) you know, ready for under the tree.
Happy Holidays!
Our new all-natural sake kasu soap is now in stock at the Ontario Spring Water Sake Company’s brewery store, located in Toronto’s Distillery District.
Unscented other than with the beautiful natural aroma of sake kasu, the soap also contains olive oil, palm oil and coconut oil. Sake Kasu contains high levels of Vitamin B6, which protects skin and relieves muscle and arthritis pain, and folic acid, which promotes cell division and repair, leading to healthy skin. This wonderful new item has been handcrafted for us by the local skincare experts at Pura Vida Spa…ahh.
4-ounce bars of Sake Kasu Soap are now available at a special price of $6 per bar, and are great for home use, as part of a sake gift basket or as a stocking stuffer this holiday season!
Batches #11, 12 & 13 have been pressed in the last week, and each one has its own distinct character. For those who would like to experience freshly pressed, unpasteurized sake, we are offering each batch in 300 mL bottles for a limited time (until Nov. 20th). These 3 sakes are also available to sample as a tasting flight, beginning today!
Hope to see you at the brewery.
Today (Nov. 10), we started pressing batch #13, using both the “fune” press and the bag-hanging (“fukuro-tsuri”) method.
Batch #13 is a slightly dry, higher alcohol sake with lots of body and flavour. We are now serving ‘shiboritate” (just-pressed sake) and “fukuro-tsuri” at the brewery- a rare treat, indeed.
We also have lots of space at tonight’s Sip & Learn event (6-7pm), where we will be tasting and comparing Arabashiri, Shiboritate, and Fukuro-tsuri of batch #13, and Fukuro-tsuri of batch #5. If you are interested in joining us for this unique tasting experience, please come down to the brewery for 6pm (no need to reserve).
We just started pressing batch #12 today, and it has turned out great- a soft, delicate sake that is ready to drink now! We are now serving batch #12 at the tasting bar, and it will also be ready for this Thursday’s (Nov. 10) Sip & Learn event (6-7 pm).
We will also start pressing batch #13 on Thursday. This should be a full-bodied sake with a bit higher alcohol- great for tasting fresh out of the press!
If you would like to experience the freshest sake in Eastern Canada, please come down to the brewery. We also have spaces available for this Thursday’s Sip & Learn, where we will be tasting batchs #12 and #13, and ‘fukuro-tsuri”, sake pressed drop by drop in hanging bags- a very delicate (and rare) type of sake.
If you would like to join this Thursday’s event, please phone us at 416-365-7253.
Please note the topics for upcoming Sake Sip & Learn events scheduled on Thursday evenings 6-7pm:
November 3 Pressing, Shiboritate and Kasu I
(N.B. Our Nov. 3 event is now sold out)
November 10 Pressing, Shiboritate and Kasu II (a supplement to I as we continue to press)
November 17 Koji – The Heart of Sake Brewing
November 24 Reading Sake Labels and Understanding Sake Types
December 1 Basics of Brewing II (not a complete repeat of Oct.27 but some commonality)
December 8 Meet our Toji (i.e. Master Brewer Yoshiko Takahashi, who will discuss her experiences in becoming and functioning as a master brewer in Japan. In Japanese with translation into English.)
December 15 Principles of Sake Tasting
The cost of each event is $15 (plus HST) per person and will include sake tasting and a souvenir Izumi competitive tasting cup. Booking spots for all events can be done by calling 416-365-SAKE (7253) or emailing info@ontariosake.com.
This morning we started to press Batch #11, which from initial tasting is another fresh, deep and lively brew! Shiboritate just-pressed sake now available at the tasting bar. As this was the first batch to be pressed following Takahashi-sensei’s vacation we chose to refresh the offering for the sake Gods at our brewery’s shrine to mark the changing of the season. Please drop by for a taste too!
Thank you to all who registered for tomorrow’s inaugural public Sake Sip & Learn event – we hope you will find it both informative and delicious!
Next Thursday November 3 we will hold our next Sip & Learn event, focusing on Sake Pressing and Sake Kasu. Please register by following the instructions below. We will feature a different group of sakes than the previous event, and will certainly feature some “shiboritate” fresh-pressed sake, something which can only be enjoyed directly at a brewery!
The cost to participants will be $15 (plus HST), which includes a souvenir “IZUMI”-branded competitive sake tasting cup!
Please call 416-365-SAKE (7253) or email us at info@ontariosake.com to register. Space is limited so please register early to avoid disappointment!
Ontario Spring Water Sake Company is very pleased to announce that we will be holding our first public “Sake Sip & Learn” event on Thursday, October 27, 6pm, at our brewery located in the Distillery District, 55 Mill Street, Building 4, Toronto M5A 3C4.
At this first weekly event we will cover the basics of sake, and provide an overview of the brewing process. The informational part of the event will be followed by a tasting of several sakes. Each week’s event will feature a different main topic, and a different group of tasting sakes.
The cost to participants will be $15 (plus HST), which includes a souvenir “IZUMI”-branded competitive sake tasting cup!
Please call 416-365-SAKE (7253) or email us at info@ontariosake.com to register. Space is limited so please register early to avoid disappointment!
Now that our master brewer Takahashi-sensei has returned from vacation in Japan we are back in full production mode. During the current production cycle we are preparing Brews 11 through 13.
The first and most intensive phase of production includes preparation of the 3-stage additions of rice and koji for each brew. If you are interested in watching sake being made, the best days to come down to the brewery are this Sunday (i.e. tomorrow) thru next Sunday. Please come early to catch the most action!
While here why not taste some of the 9 sakes we currently have on offer, from our signature unpasteurized Nama-Nama to one of our special editions, including 3 free-run “Arabashiri” sakes. If the day you visit us is cold, we can heat you from the inside with some of our special Warm October Blend.
Hope to see you soon!
Nuit Blanche is almost upon us and the Distillery District will be one of this Saturday night’s hottest spots! To celebrate we will be offering two very special items:
1. Our special “Warm October Blend”, a gently heated, delicious sake created especially to warm you from the inside out! The weatherman may be forecasting a cool weekend but a caraffe of our warm stuff ($10/small caraffe) will keep you feeling toasty!
2. For those who love the fruity and smooth Arabashiri free run sakes we have a wonderful treat – a special Nuit Blanche flight featuring three of them! Enjoy the arabashiri versions of each of Lucky Seven, Amakuchi#9 and Crazy Horse, all for the special price of $10!
Please enjoy the festivities, stay warm & safe, and hope to see you here!
We thought you may be interested in hearing from time-to-time which restaurants are offering our sakes.
Our customers at our Distillery District brewery, retail store and tasting bar will not be surpised that top Japanese restaurants in the GTA such as Guu, Ki and Kaiseki Sakura are now offering our sakes – this is a great source of pride for us. We have, however, also been fortunate to have as clients many famous non-Japanese restaurants such as Canoe, who has for their third consecutive cycle put one of our sakes into their wine pairings menu.
This week we are delighted to add venerable Toronto restaurants North 44 and Nota Bene to our list of restaurant customers. We are certain that you will also be delighted with the foods that they will pair with our fresh, unpasteurized sakes!
The following restaurants are currently offering our products – please visit them to enjoy how are sakes are complementing their delicious cuisine! (n.b. some other restaurants may be offering IZUMI sakes as they are now available for licensee purchase at LCBO stores)
Akasaka, 280 West Beaver Creek, Richmond Hill, 905-764-9291
Aoyama, 2766 Victoria Park, Toronto, 416-494-7373
Boiler House, 55 Mill Street, Toronto, 416-361-5859
Canoe, 66 Wellington West, Toronto, 416-364-0054
Fairmont Royal York Hotel, 100 Front Street West, 416-368-2511
Fin Izakaya, 55 Eglinton Avenue East, Toronto, 647-347-3864
Fishbar, 217 Ossington, Toronto, 416-532-0307
Ginko, 655 Dixon Road, Toronto, 416-248-8445
Gojima, 3345 Bloor West, Toronto, 416-231-7963
Guu Izakaya, 398 Church Street, Toronto, 416-977-0999
Guu Sakabar, 559 Bloor West, Toronto, 647-343-1101
Inatei, 9021 Leslie, Richmond Hill, 905-881-9500
Kaiseki Sakura, 556 Church Street, Toronto, 416-923-1010
Ki, 181 Bay Street, Toronto, 416-308-5888
Kobo Gourmet, 512 Kingston Road, Pickering, 905-839-4824
Koyoi, 2 Irwin Avenue, Toronto, 647-351-5128
Makisushi/Shinobu, 3403 Yonge Street, Toronto, 416-830-0741
Marche Movenpick, 42 Yonge Street, Toronto, 416-366-8986
Miyabi, 280 West Beaver Creek, Richmond Hill, 905-709-2915
Mye, 143 Church Street, Oakville, 905-849-8989
Nami, 55 Adelaide East, Toronto, 416-362-7373
North 44, 2537 Yonge, Toronto, 416-487-4897
Nota Bene, 180 Queen West, Toronto, 416-977-6400
OC’s at Stoneboats Restaurant, 49 Bronte Road, Oakville, 905-330-5442
Pure Spirits, 55 Mill Street, Toronto, 416-361-5859
Starfish, 100 Adelaide East, Toronto, 416-366-7827
Wabora, 550 Wellington West, Toronto, 416-777-9901
Yuzu, 236 Adelaide West, Toronto, 416-205-9808
We thank our restaurant clients for their support, and hope our growing number of Distillery District store and LCBO retail customers will enjoy dining at many of the fine establishments listed above.
Kampai!
Ontario Spring Water Sake Company is happy to announce that we are now able to make refrigerated delivery of all of our products to residential customers. We are offering FREE DELIVERY FOR ALL ORDERS OVER $100 within Toronto.
Delivery can normally be made 1-3 business days after placing an order, at a time to be agreed with the the customer. A person 19 years of age or older must personally receive all deliveries.
We accept orders by telephone at 416-365-SAKE (7253) 7 days per week, 11am-7pm Monday-Saturday and 12 noon-6pm Sunday. Customers can pay via VISA or Mastercard at time of order placement.
Our offerings include the following (ALL PRICES INCLUDE 13% HST AND BOTTLE DEPOSIT):
IZUMI “Nama-Nama”(300ml) $12.95 (all 300ml bottles available individually and in cases of 12)
IZUMI “Nama-Nama”(1800ml) $64.95 (all 1800ml bottles available individually and in cases of 6)
Our signature unpasteurized sake. A balance between fresh acidity and fruity residual sugar. Keep refrigerated to maintain this sake’s fresh and bold flavours until time of serving. 15% ALC./VOL.
IZUMI “Nama-Cho” (300ml) $12.95
IZUMI “Nama-Cho” (1800ml) $64.95
The same sake as Nama-Nama, however pasteurized in-bottle only (most commercially available sake is pasteurized twice, first via coil post-production, then in bottle pre-shipment), allowing it to maintain its wonderful flavour through storage at room temperature. 15% ALC./VOL.
IZUMI “Genshu Nama-Nama” (300ml) $14.95
IZUMI “Genshu Nama-Nama” (1800ml) $74.95
Sake at its original tank strength, usually 16-20%. Excellent served either cool or at room temperature, or even over rocks as an aperitif.
IZUMI “Teion Sakura” (1800ml) $74.95
LIMITED SUPPLY REMAINING: Teion Sakura was specially made at low temperature using a very high koji-to-rice ratio. The resulting sake has acidity reminiscent of a great white wine and great flavour complexity.
Also Available:
Sake Kasu ($4/250g), Sake Kasu Miso Soup ($5/180 ml-12 bowl equiv), Sake Kasu Dressings (Sesame and Wasabi, $5/284ml bottle)
PLEASE ASK ABOUT OUR SPECIAL ITEMS SUCH AS ARABASHIRI FRESH-PRESSED SAKES WHICH ARE AVAILABLE IN LIMITED QUANTITIES FROM TIME-TO-TIME.
Thank you for your interest in Ontario Spring Water Sake Company!
416-365-SAKE (7253)
The LCBO started stocking IZUMI Namacho Junmai Sake (#260174 300ml $12.95) on their shelves a couple of days ago. Namacho is a once-only pasteurized version of our signature Nama-Nama unpasteurized sake, which retains its fresh flavour while displayed at room temperature (most sake currently available in Ontario is pasteurized twice, in part to survive the long and sometimes-harsh sea journey from Japan). Namacho is a delightful balance of fresh acidity with fruity sugar, and is wonderful on its own or paired with your favourite fish, meat or cheese dishes.
The first roll-out to LCBO stores is expected to be completed this week, and will include deliveries to the following 33 locations:
Markham – Hwy 7 & Woodbine
Markham – Hwy 7 & McCowan
Mississauga – 5100 Erin Mills Parkway
Mississauga – Meadowvale Town Centre
Mississauga – Dundas & Mavis
Mississauga – Hwy 10 & Eglinton
Mississauga – Mavis & Britannia (Heartland)
Ottawa – Bank & Walkley
Ottawa – Rideau & King Edward
Richmond Hill – Major MacKenzie & Leslie
Richmond Hill – Yonge & Hwy 7
Thornhill – Bathurst & Centre (The Promenade)
Toronto Central -85 Hanna (Liberty Village)
Toronto Central – Brock & Queen
Toronto Central – Dupont & Spadina
Toronto Central – Gerrard & Pape
Toronto Central – Laird & Eglinton
Toronto Central – Queens Quay & Yonge
Toronto Central – Yonge & Eglinton (YE Centre)
Toronto Central – Yonge & Summerhill
Toronto North York – Avenue & Lawrence
Toronto North York – Bayview & Sheppard (Bayview Village)
Toronto North York – Don Mills & Sheppard (Fairview)
Toronto Central – Lawrence & Don Mills
Toronto North York – Weston & Hwy 401 (Crossroads)
Toronto North York – Wilson & Dufferin
Toronto North York – Yonge & Empress (Empress Walk)
Toronto North York – Yonge & Wedgewood
Toronto Scarborough – Kennedy & Sheppard (Agincourt Mall)
Toronto Scarborough – McCowan & Finch (Woodside Square)
Toronto Scarborough – Steeles & Markham
Toronto Scarborough – Victoria Park & Finch
In most stores Namacho will be displayed in the main section of the store together with other sakes, adjacent to the fortified wines in most store layouts. Some stores may carry Namacho in the Vintages section. You can get updated information on availability of Namacho at the LCBO using their excellent website www.lcbo.com, searching either by “Izumi” or “260174”.
Thank you for your interest and support of Izumi, Ontario’s own local sake!
Weeks ago our master brewer started calling this batch “ja-ja uma”, or Crazy Horse, for its uncontrollable character. Those who have been following us batch by batch may have noticed that #10 is actually being pressed prior to Batch #9 – Crazy Horse has been that sort of batch!
Despite its wild nature, the batch tastes suberb – while keeping with Izumi’s general pattern of fresh acidity balanced by fruity sugar, this one has a specially deep and lingering flavour.
For this batch we have for the first time put out the elegent “Nakadori”, or middle-pressed sake, into the tasting bar offering together with some super-smooth “Fukuro-tsuri” bag-dripped sake. After tasting these special by-the-glass offerings we believe you will agree that this Crazy Horse actually got tamed in the end!
We are pressing Batch #8 today, which we expect will be a nice balance of fruit, acidity and sugar. “Shiboritate” fresh-pressed sake will be available at the tasting bar all weekend.
This week we have also added black sesame “Korogoma” ice cream to our line-up of popular soya milk frozen desserts. It may be the most delicious one yet!
Hope to see you at the Distillery.
Our Batch #8 is now at the peak time for extracting Kassei Nigori, the luscious and creamy, slightly effervescent and textured mid-brew sake. Available today and tomorrow in limited quantity by the glass only.
Many of our customers have expressed interest in observing the “busy” part of sake-making. As the active production stage of our Batches 8, 9 and 10 are now drawing to a close, those with an interest to observe sake-making may wish to visit our brewery in the Distillery District as close as possible to opening time today thru Mondya (11am today and Monday, 12 noon on Sunday).
Of course you can enjoy a glass of sake while you watch the action!
