Mio Sake Sparkles

The Sake Samurai Loves Love

New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day are probably the two most common days people associate with drinking Champagne and sparkling wines of different provenance. Yet what to do if your partner has a low tolerance for alcohol but is still inclined to join you for something stronger than a ginger ale? Perhaps Takara Shuzo's Mio Sparkling Sake is the answer.

Packaging

Mio comes served in a narrow blue bottle with a ceramic paint label providing just enough class to hint at the aspirations Takara has for their product. There is a wintry theme evoked by the bottle colour and picture of plum blossoms, but the contents are suitable for drinking year round.

Tasting

Mio shares a surprising resemblance to cream soda or plain Ramune, without the cloying sweetness such a comparison might suggest. While there is no doubt one is drinking sparkling sake, there is a welcome sweetness appropriate for festive occasions.

Statistics

Sake Meter Value: -70 (!) (-15 is generally the outer limit of the sweetness scale)
Acidity: N/A
Amino Acid: N/A
Alcohol %: 5%
Semaibuai (milling rate): N/A

Verdict

I liked this more than I was expecting, which is not to say that it impresses for exceeding low expectations. I would definitely buy this again, not the least for how well it pairs with water crackers and camembert cheese. The strongest endorsement does not come from me, however, but my wife. She asked for a refill and shared some again the next day. Any sake product than can win over a normally alcohol-eschewing person is a winner in my book, especially when it can be shared on some of the most enjoyable occasions of the year.

Links

All links are provided for information purposes only. I receive no affiliate fees.

Takara Sake USA
Mio Sake Page

LCBO Product Page

Second Opinion: RateBeer.com

Travis Belrose is the author of The Samurai Poet, as subtle as a fine Champagne.