Norman

9.4

Ohmine 3 Grain Aiyama — 94/100

Brewery: Ohmine Shuzo (大嶺酒造), Mine, Yamaguchi Prefecture
Classification: Junmai Daiginjo specification
Rice: Aiyama (愛山)
Rice polishing: 50%
ABV: 15%
SMV: Not published
Acidity: Not published
Water: Benten spring water, Akiyoshidai limestone plateau
Bottle: 720 ml
Importer: Sake Suki, Bridgeport, Pennsylvania
Purchase: True Sake, $68
Bottling date: Unknown

Ohmine reopened in 2010 after a 50-year hiatus. Its soft spring water and minimalist brewing approach produce expressive, fruit-forward sake. Aiyama is prized for its ability to produce rich, rounded textures and pronounced fruit character.

My tasting notes: I may have found another rice varietal I really like besides Yamada Nishiki. Not as crisp or sharply delineated, but round, smooth and lush. Sweet with a distinct honeydew melon note. Very light effervescence with a subtle carbonic bitterness that adds some balance. Consistent with my previous tasting. Excellent sake, though probably better before dinner than with delicate sushi. 94 points. — 9 days ago

Matthew Cohen

9.4

Elegant t yellow flowers.

Palate: hint of spritz. Elegant fruit.

Long — 2 years ago

Rajiv Patnam

9.2

very dry and nice plum and apricot opening. clean as well — 2 years ago

Gerald Montoya

9.2

Light with an oiky texture. Floral aromatics and palate with hints of fruit and a honeyed tones. Delicate yet palate coating. — 3 years ago

Adam Kincaid

9.0

This bottle over delivers on price - great value! Steamed rice and grapefruit aromas lead to a complex nose which is fun. It’s silky smooth texture, heavy on the mineral side, but pairs well with some great Asian spices and fried foods. — 4 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.0

Not always my favourite on the table, but always solid. Dassai's like the Penfolds of sake - producing high quality beverages at a scale that's accessible to the multitude. In 2013, Asahi Shuzo, Dassai's brewery, sold 1.14 million bottles of sake, which is peanuts compared to what Treasury does, but no mean feat in a struggling sake industry. For me, Dassai is at least large enough to have reached little ol' Kuching, and to have been one of my first encounters with a Junmai Daiginjo.

I've always found Dassai's quite rich and it's no different here. Exotic nose of melons, pineapple, candied fruits even. Palate's like a fruit punch, plush but toned back by herbaceous notes and some acidity. Clean, lengthy finish. Very approachable. The best drink on the table this time. — 7 years ago

Norman

9.7

Dassai Beyond (獺祭 Beyond)

Brewery: Dassai / Asahi Shuzo, Iwakuni, Yamaguchi, Japan
Classification: Junmai Daiginjo
Rice: Yamada Nishiki
Polishing: Undisclosed
ABV: 16%

Brewer description: Dassai created Beyond to surpass what could be achieved simply by increasing the rice-polishing ratio. The brewery does not disclose the polishing ratio, emphasizing that the sake’s quality should be judged by the finished expression rather than a polishing number. Dassai describes it as having a complex, elegant aroma, delicate sweetness and a long finish.

Tasted at Sake Day SF — 9/26/2026. Rating is limited since the same glass was reused throughout the tasting, making it difficult to get a truly clean tasting and accurate read on the aromas.

Excellent. This is one of Dassai’s flagship luxury bottlings and was one of the expensive bottles in this group. Had before and it’s amazing. The others so are very close. Are you swayed by the name? Maybe but there’s a difference. The temp may have played into it. — a month ago

TH

9.4

香り、甘味、キレの融合。
米の香りが鮮やかで、上質な純米大吟醸@Tanabe offsite小売価格2100 — 7 months ago

Norman

9.0

Sake World 2024 Had to judge given it’s the same glass throughout the tasting but these were nice. Actually had the 35 which was fun to try. I would probably lean towards the Japan based ones unless this is substantially cheaper and I could try head to head. Blue is made in NYC. — 2 years ago

Norman

9.2

Large/magnum-like sake bottle. — 3 years ago

Gina Puente

9.3

Full pear, enjoyed it!! Would order again $138 — 5 years ago

Kurt Winrich

9.0

I like this. Good combination of the sweet nigori and the drier filtered sake — best of both worlds! — 7 years ago

Doug Ching

9.7

Smooth. Slightly sweet. Very refine. — 8 years ago

Christina Burnham

9.6

Rob and Laura brought back from Japan for me. — 3 months ago

Norman

9.3

It’s a classic. I thought it got better as it chilled off. It was a bit syrupy and sweet at first. Cooled off it was delightful for me. Interesting as the other bottle was the opposite. — 5 months ago

Norman

9.1

Sake World 2024 Had to judge given it’s the same glass throughout the tasting but this was tasty. — 2 years ago

Charles Duncan

9.1

Gift from Toshi for J&v welcome party. — 3 years ago

Aura Novembre

9.7

11th Anniversary Dinner with Bernie and Jason — 3 years ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.0

Z4 mazf y babalu — 7 years ago

Yuri

9.2

I like this!!! — 7 years ago