Sake Review: Hakutsuru Sho-Une Offers Value for Money

Hakutsuru claims to be Japan's #1 selling brand of sake, a designation that can be both a blessing and a curse. Being popular means making money, but it also raises the suspicion of sake snobs who would be just as likely to choose Hakutsuru as they would an Asahi or Budweiser beer. Nonetheless, junmai daiginjo is still junmai daiginjo, so I wasn't going to let Hakutsuru's mass market appeal stop me from sampling a bottle of their Sho-Une. And at $9.90 for a 300mL serving, there was really nothing to lose.

Packaging

Sho-Une is the first bottle of junmai daiginjo I've come across in recent memory that wasn't frosted. Surprisingly, Hakutsuru saves the frosted bottle with an attractive label featuring a golden Japanese screen door for its lower priced junmai ginjo. I'm not complaining though, because if money saved on packaging means a lower price for the consumer, I'm all for it.

Tasting

The sake opened with a woody note, which surprised me a bit, because I'm sure that a volume produced sake would not be wood casked. Toward the middle a mild cranberry was detectable--a new and welcome flavour for me when trying sake. The finish, believe it or not, was as clear as mountain spring water. How they do that, I don't know, but it made for a nice clean ending.

As an added bonus, the sake paired well with cold soba, standing up to chopped green onions, a fairly strong broth, and nori.

Statistics

Sake Meter Value: +2
Acidity: 1.4
Amino Acid: not listed
Alcohol %: 15.5
Semaibuai (milling rate): 50%

Verdict

Sho-Une might not be my first choice among junmai daiginjo, but I would still be pleased to find it on the shelf if it was the only premium sake available or if short on cash. Considering how well it pairs with soba, it just might be the best available complement for Japanese comfort foods given its price point.

Links

Hakutsuru Website
LCBO Product Page