No. 519INDEX / 321
AKABU Happy New Year 2026
Akabu Shuzo, Iwate
Reviewed in H1 2026
Living it up at the fruit parlour
SCOREOverall score
85pts
SPECBasic data
- Rice
- Ginginga
- Polishing ratio
- 45%
- Alcohol
- 14%
- Type
- Junmai Daiginjo, nama genshu (unpasteurised, undiluted)
- List price
- ¥3,850
PROFILEFlavour chart
JUDGEMENTStraight-Talking Sake Judgement
TOCKY's report
Taste4.5
Aroma3.5
Value for money4.0
Numata's report
Taste4.0
Aroma4.0
Value for money3.5
NOTESNumata's tasting noteTRANSLATED
MOVIEWatch this episode
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PAIRINGCOMING SOON
Delivering the 2026 zodiac (eto) bottle from "AKABU," the rising-star sake of Iwate Prefecture. A rich fruit aroma of lychee and mango bursts forth with an overflowing juiciness like a fruit platter. Bitterness comes through in the back half, tying the aftertaste together neatly. As the temperature rises, the bitterness softens, the body strengthens, and the flavour turns mellow. A bottle to be savoured deeply, temperature changes included.