{"title":"The Least Milled Voyage","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn an effort to understand the different components that make up the sake industry, it’s important to taste milling rates (Seimeibuai). Wait what? What do you mean taste milling rates? Well, the obvious standard or point of this discussion is that sake is categorized by milling rates, and most sake drinkers think that the more milled or polished a sake, the better it’s flavor. For example, there is a movement to push milling to the limits from 39% to 28% to 23% to 9% and even down to 1% and less than 1%.  Are you kidding? Nope and it’s kind of crazy! So we want you to focus on the rice flavor itself by tasting the set of brews, which represent some of the LEAST milled or polished sakes in the sake world. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e1) \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff2a00;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.truesake.live\/products\/tsuzumi-junmai\" style=\"color: #ff2a00;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/www.truesake.live\/products\/tsuzumi-junmai\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eOnda 88 Junmai \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThere it is right there in the name Onda 88, which means this sake has only been milled or polished 12% with 88% of each grain of rice remaining. If you have ever wanted to taste the Niigata local specialty rice called Ippon-jime this is your best chance ever. With an SMV of -1 and an acidity of 1.5 this brew drinks rich and solid with a little kick from the 18.5% alc level. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e2) \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff2a00;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.truesake.live\/products\/shirataki-noujun-uonuma-junmai\" style=\"color: #ff2a00;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/www.truesake.live\/products\/shirataki-noujun-uonuma-junmai\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eShirataki Noujun Uonuma Junmai \"80%\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis brewery is known for their Jozen Mizunogotoshi. Super clean and pristine Niigata sake threw the sake world for a loop when they released this Junmai with a milling percentage of 80%. The result is a very viscous and chewy brew that is ricey, lush, and rich. This is a great example of a full-bodied sake that doesn’t drink heavy.  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e3) \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff2a00;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.truesake.live\/products\/tsukinokatsura-iwai\" style=\"color: #ff2a00;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/www.truesake.live\/products\/tsukinokatsura-iwai\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eTsukinokatsura Iwai Junmai \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eUsually when you use a super expensive brewing rice like Kyoto’s Iwai brewing rice varietal you want to polish it down to 50%-40% remaining, because it is so premium that it can take heavy milling. But no! This amazing brewery goes the other way to make you really taste the Iwai in this Junmai that is only milled to 80%. That’s pretty cool, and the result is even cooler. Look for hints or butterscotch and creamy flavors that expand in the palate. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e4) \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff2a00;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.truesake.live\/products\/tsukinoi-nanotsuki-yuki-80-junmai-the-moons-well\" style=\"color: #ff2a00;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/www.truesake.live\/products\/tsukinoi-nanotsuki-yuki-80-junmai-the-moons-well\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eTsukinoi Nanotsuki 80 Junmai \"The Moon's Well\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis Ibaraki brewery is all about growing their own local and very organic rice. They are so proud of it, just look under the label on this amazing Junmai sake that has been milled to 80%. They literally included several grains under each label and if that doesn’t scream pride I don’t know what does? Talk about an old school Junmai this is a dry beast with a very high acidity level of 1.9 and it drinks rich and full-bodied, but incredibly balanced for all that’s going on. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e5) \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff2a00;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.truesake.live\/products\/shinkame-junmai\" style=\"color: #ff2a00;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/www.truesake.live\/products\/shinkame-junmai\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eShinkame Junmai \"Holy Turtle\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eDry, earthy, rich, and robust this Junmai from Saitama prefecture is a walk on the old school side. This is not your new trendy Junmai which is milled to Ginjo levels or even Daiginjo levels. This brew is milled to 80% for a reason, and that reason is rice. Rice is nice and Shinkame is a great drinking brew that harkens to an older day in sake appreciation. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e6) \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff2a00;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.truesake.live\/products\/takacho-bodaimoto-muroka-genshu-regal-hawk\" style=\"color: #ff2a00;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/www.truesake.live\/products\/takacho-bodaimoto-muroka-genshu-regal-hawk\"\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eTakacho Bodaimoto Muroka Genshu \"Regal Hawk\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIf you want to take fermented rice to a new level then check out this brew that is made with Hinohikari brewing rice milled to 70% and a crazy SMV of -25 and even more crazy acidity of +3 with an outstanding amino acid level of +3. This Regal Hawk is a ricey crazy town that is a sake enthusiast’s dream come true that is made using the ancient brewing technique called Bodaimoto. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"tsukinokatsura-iwai","title":"Tsuki no Katsura Junmai 2025 \"Kyoto Iwai Rice 88\"","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe nose on this sake that is back in the US with a new distributor is an amazing collection of sourdough, sunflower seed, peanut butter, hot chocolate, yeast, prosciutto, and nutty aromas. Welcome home! We love to welcome back one of our favorite almost-prototypical Kyoto sakes made with local Iwai rice milled to only 88%, and of course sporting that very soft Fushimi water, which makes this savory Junmai a round, smooth, velvety, rich, and umami filled brew that drinks a little lighter than before. Look for an array of outstanding flavors such as sweet nuts, white miso, dried mushrooms, clove, chocolate malt balls, dried fig, black truffle, and butter. Yummy sake at its richest, creamiest, and smoothest. Great at all three temperatures, and a true must if you want to taste a Kyoto classic. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWORD:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 88 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWINE:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Deep Pinot Noir\/White Burgundy \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBEER:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Creamy Belgian Ales \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFOODS:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Sushi, sashimi, umami-filled cuisine, stews, chops, steaks, grilled chicken, mushroom risotto, grilled mackerel, bonito flake dishes, and fresh tomatoes. (2025)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mutual Trading","offers":[{"title":"720ml","offer_id":517829577,"sku":"JH57-02","price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0268\/7601\/files\/JH57-02_TsukinokatsuraJunmai_Iwai_720ml_WM.png?v=1754016070"},{"product_id":"tsuzumi-junmai","title":"Onda 88 Junmai","description":"\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe nose on this hefty brew is a wild collection of leather, earthy, nutty, creamy, and musky aromas. Made with a rice varietal called Ippon-Jime milled to 88% get ready for a full-bodied and bold sake. Rich, fat, chewy, and solid this brew packs a punch of flavor. Look for roasted rice, nutty, caramel apple, butterscotch, flan, and rice custard flavors on a bold and thick fluid. Basically this sake tastes like a rice field with lots of umami layers and a hint of meatiness. A salty and savory sake this is like a cup of soup in a glass. Huge and fun at three different temperatures. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eWORD:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e Huge \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eWINE:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e Complex reds\/Chewy Whites \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eBEER:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e Stouts \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eFOODS:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e Rich pastas, meats, game, grilled salty and savory fare. \u003c\/span\u003e","brand":"HOSODA","offers":[{"title":"720ml","offer_id":5585984772,"sku":"JH112-02","price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0268\/7601\/products\/JH112-02_Onda88Junmai_720ml_1365x2048_WM.jpg?v=1604376875"},{"product_id":"shirataki-noujun-uonuma-junmai","title":"Shirataki Noujun Uonuma Junmai \"80%\"","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe nose on this unique sake is a wonderful collection of butterscotch, caramel, and maple syrup candy aromas. Why is this sake special? Because it has only been milled or polished to 80%, which isn’t that much but draws and emphasis on feeling and flavor. This brew is superb and shows you how tasty and confident a true Junmai sake can taste. Smooth and lush, rich and round, and layered and balanced. This sake represents and a new fuller bodied sake coming from Niigata prefecture and it drinks like a dream. There is a solid roasted rice vein with hints of honey and a dash of caramel tones. Great chilled and superb coming into room temp. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eWORD:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSpecial \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eWINE: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFull Bodied Reds\/ Large Whites \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eBEER:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Full Bodied Belgians \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eFOODS:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e The works, salty and savory, rich flavors, and even soups and stews.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SAKE TENGOKU","offers":[{"title":"720ml","offer_id":29840562180,"sku":"JH133-02","price":37.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"300ml","offer_id":12471450533981,"sku":"JH133-04","price":17.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0268\/7601\/products\/JH133-02_ShiratakiNoujunUonumaJunmai_80_720ml_1365x2048_WM.jpg?v=1628801736"},{"product_id":"shinkame-junmai","title":"Shinkame Junmai \"Holy Turtle\"","description":"\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe nose on this Junmai that has been aged for two years is a vast collection of earthy, nutty, forest floor, steamed rice, and wet wool aromas. Talk about a sake drinker’s sake. This is a Junmai for those who think they know Junmai sake. It is very full bodied, very rich, very round, and very smooth. Oh! And it’s very dry. If you like vast red wines then this brew is for you because it has earth tones, dark chocolate, and cocoa flavors that drink complex and dry. I call it almost “Liquid Dry.” This brew also falls along the lines of a “3 Sipper” sake that takes 3 sips for the sake to blend well in your palate. I think that is the complexity talking. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eWORD:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e Complex \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eWINE:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e Deep dry reds\/dry whites \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eBEER:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e Stouts \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eFOODS:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e A super food friendly sake that works with everything including the kitchen sink\u003c\/span\u003e","brand":"HOSODA","offers":[{"title":"720ml","offer_id":847324512284,"sku":"JH151-02","price":52.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0268\/7601\/products\/JH151-02_ShinkameJunmai_HolyTurtle__720ml_1365x2048_WM.jpg?v=1604377296"},{"product_id":"takacho-bodaimoto-muroka-genshu-regal-hawk","title":"Takacho Bodaimoto Muroka Junmai Genshu \"Regal Hawk\"","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem style=\"color: #00aaff; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn-store only. Call for availability. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe nose on this extremely historically made sake is a wild collection of cooked cherries, citrus yogurt, earthy, steamed rice, and honey-baked ham aromas. We call this a “Professor Sake,” because it is liquid history in a bottle that can teach you and your palate so much. Learn while you swirl this viscous brew in your glass, and think back hundreds of years to the origins of sake making in the epicenter of sake production Nara. Made with steamed and “raw” rice (The Bodaimoto method). This brew is chunky, funky, and sweet, as it should be! Fat, bold, rich, and velvety this Junmai coats the palate with a sweet rice covering like you've never experienced before. Along with a very low SMV and a very high Acidity, this sake probably has one of the highest Amino Acid levels (+3) in exported sake history. Look for hints of sweet tea, honey, lemon peel, rice candy, sweet grass, honeydew, and cooked pear flavors with an accompanying umami bomb. Smooth, layered, complex AF, this brew “gushes” through your mouth and when warmed look for delicious lemon and honey elements. \u003cb\u003eWORD:\u003c\/b\u003e Professor \u003cb\u003eWINE:\u003c\/b\u003e Fat Reds\/Sweet late harvest whites \u003cb\u003eBEER: \u003c\/b\u003eStouts \u003cb\u003eFOODS:\u003c\/b\u003e International Spice, cheese plates, fruit salads, tacos, Thai, desserts.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff2a00;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e*NOTE: This sake is unpasteurized. We can ship unpasteurized sake, however it is at the customer's discretion. It's best to avoid shipping unpasteurized sake during extremely hot summers or freezing cold winters. When completing a purchase of unpasteurized sake from True Sake, you are giving us the OK to ship unpasteurized sake to you. Feel free to call or email us if you have more questions.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Fifth Taste","offers":[{"title":"720ml","offer_id":29365175418973,"sku":"NA39-02","price":48.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0268\/7601\/products\/NA39-02_TakachoBodaimotoMurokaGenshu_RegalHawk__720ml_1365x2048_WM.jpg?v=1605152773"},{"product_id":"shinkame-junmai-holy-turtle-1-8l","title":"Shinkame Junmai \"Holy Turtle\" 1.8L","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAll 1.8L bottles are for Store Pick Up. If this item is in your cart, you’ll only see the local pick up option—shipping will not be available.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe nose on this Junmai that has been aged for two years is a vast collection of earthy, nutty, forest floor, steamed rice, and wet wool aromas. Talk about a sake drinker’s sake. This is a Junmai for those who think they know Junmai sake. It is very full bodied, very rich, very round, and very smooth. Oh! And it’s very dry. If you like vast red wines then this brew is for you because it has earth tones, dark chocolate, and cocoa flavors that drink complex and dry. I call it almost “Liquid Dry.” This brew also falls along the lines of a “3 Sipper” sake that takes 3 sips for the sake to blend well in your palate. I think that is the complexity talking. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eWORD:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e Complex \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eWINE:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e Deep dry reds\/dry whites \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eBEER:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e Stouts \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eFOODS:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e A super food friendly sake that works with everything including the kitchen sink\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HOSODA","offers":[{"title":"1.8L","offer_id":46350615511283,"sku":"JH151-01","price":99.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0268\/7601\/files\/JH151-01_ShinkameJunmaiHolyTurtle_1.8L_WM.png?v=1729898194"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.truesake.live\/collections\/the-least-milled-voyage.oembed","provider":"True Sake","version":"1.0","type":"link"}