Aramasa Shuzo, Akita
Reviewed in H2 2023

Kioke Bakushin O
TOCKY's report
Numata's report
Viridian 2020 jikagumi (bottled straight off the press)
91
Close · 4 of 5 axes match
Hanaabi Miyamanishiki
89
Close · 4 of 5 axes match
Juyondai Sakemirai
88
Close · 4 of 5 axes match
Ryujinmaru Daiginjo Muroka Nama, Fukurozuri
88
Close · 4 of 5 axes match
Among the closest shapes (at most one axis off by one step), ordered by score. Re-reviews of the same sake are excluded and each brewery appears once. Where fewer than four qualify, the next closest shapes fill the gap.
From "No.6," which expresses the charm of yeast No. 6, comes the Direct Path of the "A-type," a limited edition polished to a 66% seimaibuai — an aroma of fully ripened fruit that's rare for Aramasa in recent years. But take a sip, and the flavour is nothing short of a kioke (wooden vat) explosion. A slightly restrained sweetness and firm body are joined by a rich, concentrated essence of kioke, finishing as a bottle with outstanding drinking weight.