BREWERY SPECIALBrewery Feature

Juyondai

Juyondai

Takagi Shuzo, Yamagata

14 of the 23 entries score 90 and above. The brewery holds the top three recorded scores outright, all at 96 pts.

Coverage — H1 2021〜H1 2026

The background is this brewery's flagship bottle — Juyondai Honmaru (92 pts)

SUMMARY
23Entries
96Highest score
1490 and above
90.3Average score
THE BREWERY

Murayama, Yamagata; founded in 1615 (Genna 1). The brewery spent more than 400 years making sake for its local market, and its former flagship was Asahitaka. The Juyondai of today was launched by the 15th-generation head, Akitsuna Takagi, known as a pioneer of the kuramoto toji — the owner who also takes charge of the brewing.

The brewery's own rice variety, Ryu no Otoshigo, was created by the 14th-generation head Tatsugoro Takagi. The range is brewed rice by rice: Yamadanishiki from Banshu (the Special A district of Hyogo), Aiyama and Sakemirai. The 23 entries in Nihonshu Daizukan average 90.3 pts. No other brewery takes all three of the highest recorded scores.

FACT SHEET
Founded
1615 (Genna 1)
Location
Murayama, Yamagata
Head
Akitsuna Takagi, 15th generation
Former flagship sake
Asahitaka
In-house rice variety
Ryu no Otoshigo
THE SUMMIT

Ordered by overall score. The stars, flavour radar and specs are in the lineup below.

LINEUP

The 3 most recently posted. The score, stars and flavour radar are all actual figures from that episode's review.

Bottle of Juyondai Nakadori Jomorohaku Yamadanishiki from Banshu, Hyogo

Juyondai Nakadori Jomorohaku Yamadanishiki from Banshu, Hyogo

Posted 2026.01.03

This is Juyondai

H2 2025

SCORE
91pts
JUDGEMENT

TOCKY's report

Taste4.5
Aroma4.0
Value for money3.0

Numata's report

Taste5.0
Aroma4.5
Value for money3.0
PROFILE
SPEC
Rice
Yamadanishiki from Hyogo's Special A district
Polishing ratio
45%
Alcohol
15%
Type
—
List price
¥3,410
NOTES

Here is Juyondai Nakadori Jomorohaku Banshu Yamadanishiki. Morohaku used to be released as a junmai ginjo at a polishing ratio of 50%; this is it promoted to junmai daiginjo at 45%. A fresh, dense sweetness like apple and pear super-compressed, rich body from the rice, and a clean-cut acidity with a slight bitterness give the flavour its outline, achieving complete harmony. This is not the recent Juyondai built around lightness, but the Juyondai flavour of old. Happiness in the form of a liquid is right there.

MOVIE

【美味しい飲み物】十四代 上諸白 播州山田錦をレビュー【日本酒】2026.01.03 ・ 7:13

Tap to play it here (YouTube embed).Open on YouTube

Bottle of Juyondai Daigokujo Nama Yamadanishiki from Banshu, Hyogo

Juyondai Daigokujo Nama Yamadanishiki from Banshu, Hyogo

Posted 2026.04.25

Yamadanishiki in a class of its own

H1 2026

SCORE
90pts
JUDGEMENT

TOCKY's report

Taste5.0
Aroma4.0
Value for money3.0

Numata's report

Taste5.0
Aroma4.5
Value for money2.0
PROFILE
SPEC
Rice
—
Polishing ratio
—
Alcohol
—
Type
—
List price
¥6,600
NOTES

「十四代」の大極上が、新酒鑑評会出品酒のラベルデザインにリニューアル。グラスを傾けると華やかな果実香が頭の中にお花畑を作り、思考力を奪う。完熟パイナップルの濃醇な甘さと爽やかな酸味が口いっぱいに広がり、心は魅了状態。みずみずしい弾ける甘さから、栗や和菓子のような優しい甘みへ変わっていき、優しい余韻へとつながっていく。

MOVIE

【ぜいたく】十四代 大極上生 山田錦&龍の落とし子を飲み比べ【日本酒】2026.04.25 ・ 9:39

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Bottle of Juyondai Daigokujo Nama Ryu no Otoshigo

Juyondai Daigokujo Nama Ryu no Otoshigo

Posted 2026.04.25

Juyondai takes over your body

H1 2026

SCORE
88pts
JUDGEMENT

TOCKY's report

Taste4.5
Aroma4.0
Value for money3.0

Numata's report

Taste4.5
Aroma3.5
Value for money2.0
PROFILE
SPEC
Rice
—
Polishing ratio
—
Alcohol
—
Type
—
List price
¥6,600
NOTES

「十四代」の大極上が、新酒鑑評会出品酒のラベルデザインにリニューアル。高木酒造が独自開発した酒米「龍の落とし子」を使用した一本。メロン個を圧縮して作ったような芳醇、濃厚なフルーティーさが飲むものを圧倒する。後半にはココナッツを思わせるまろやかな含み香とアルコールの辛さが広がり、複雑な余韻を堪能できる。

MOVIE

【ぜいたく】十四代 大極上生 山田錦&龍の落とし子を飲み比べ【日本酒】2026.04.25 ・ 9:39

Tap to play it here (YouTube embed).Open on YouTube

DISTRIBUTION
90 and above14
80 to 899
70 to 790
No score recorded0

The account of the brewery's history, location, head, rice and series names is based on public sources (Wikipedia: “Takagi Shuzo”, “Aramasa Shuzo”, “Kyokai yeasts” and others).