Kenbishi ”Kuromatsu” (17% alc – aged 1 year and more) – Yamada Nishiki Special A and Ai-yama

The sake has a pale straw color, clear and bright. The first nose is intense with notes of maturation. There are toasted rice, bitter cocoa, white soy sauce, white pepper, and dried mushroom notes. It’s a complex nose. The second nose opens with softness, roundness, a sweetness from the sticky rice, but also mild vanilla spices. There’s still the light soy sauce and hints of citrus zest. The palate is clear, fresh, and sweet on the attack, with an immediate hint of spiciness from the white pepper. We find notes of puffed rice, toasted rice, and sticky rice, but also cocoa, salted caramel, and hints of citrus such as mandarin and candied lemon zest. The finish is intense and long, with these rice notes still accompanied by cooked apple and white pepper. This is a complex sake with body and intensity.