{"title":"True Sake Selection!","description":"\u003cp\u003eSince 2003, True Sake founder Beau Timken has scoured Japan looking for new and different sake expressions to bring back to the United States. We've identified certain sake that we thought would do well in our shop and all across the US. The list is pretty awesome, and includes such sake stalwarts as \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.truesake.live\/products\/cowboy-yamahai\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/www.truesake.live\/products\/cowboy-yamahai\"\u003eCowboy Yamahai\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.truesake.live\/products\/narutotai-nama-genshu\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/www.truesake.live\/products\/narutotai-nama-genshu\"\u003eNarutotai Nama Ginjo Can\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.truesake.live\/products\/urakasumi-genshu\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/www.truesake.live\/products\/urakasumi-genshu\"\u003eUrakasumi Honjozo Genshu\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.truesake.live\/products\/ichinokura-suzune\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIchinokura Suzune Sparkling \"Chiming Bells\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e, Kikusui Funaguchi Monster Can (RIP in the USA), and \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.truesake.live\/products\/kuroushi-junmai-daiginjo-black-bull?variant=20298174276\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/www.truesake.live\/products\/kuroushi-junmai-daiginjo-black-bull?variant=20298174276\"\u003eBlack Bull Cup\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e amongst others. Basically, we found these brews and told our importers that they would kick butt, and they have over the years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe only problem is that when we “discovered” these brews, we asked for “exclusivity” for a limited time, because we wanted the breweries to sell a lot of sake. This is a good thing! And we are proud of our track record. In retrospect, we should have put some form of “tag” on the back labels to show that we helped these brews along. It feels good to watch certain sake take wing and excel around the world. But, we still would love that tag or brand to designate that we were involved on the back labels.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn this light, \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003ewe have to find bottles that separate us from the competition. We have embarked on a new project to identify and bring to market sake that we think will work well, and we call them True Sake Selections. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStay tuned for new bottles in the True Sake Selection series, coming soon!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin-bottom: 16px; float: none;\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0268\/7601\/files\/IMG_1261_480x480.jpg?v=1726855299\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003eLeft to right: Kikuhime Futsushu, Konnichiwa Cooking Sake, Fukumimi Junmai Genshu (SOLD OUT), Hello! Koueigiku Omachi Muroka Nama Genshu, Dan Yamahai Junmai Ginjo Muroka Nama Genshu \"Bizen Omachi\".\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"konnichiwa-cooking-sake","title":"Ooki Daikichi Cooking Sake \"Konnichiwa\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eCalling all chefs and foodies! Finally, there is a premium \u003cem\u003eCooking Sake\u003c\/em\u003e available in the US, and this one is as good as it gets. This \u003cem\u003eCooking Sake\u003c\/em\u003e is basically like liquid umami, so flavorful and so meaningful. Yes, you can drink the sake as you cook with it, but it's pretty rich and full-bodied, and totally dry compared to \u003cem\u003eMirin\u003c\/em\u003e - the other cheap and super sweet cooking sake. This is connoisseur sake at its best. If you like to cook, there is no other sake out there that can touch the amazing flavors of this cooking brew. \u003cstrong\u003eWORD:\u003c\/strong\u003e Liquid Umami \u003cstrong\u003eWINE:\u003c\/strong\u003e Nope \u003cstrong\u003eBEER: \u003c\/strong\u003eNope \u003cstrong\u003eFOODS:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cook your heart out with this!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(0, 170, 255);\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e*Formerly the \"Fish Label\", as seen in the second photo. We still have extra fish labels if you want to get nostalgic with us! Let us know! -Chris\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SAKE TENGOKU","offers":[{"title":"720ml","offer_id":519114657,"sku":"UN21-02","price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0268\/7601\/files\/UN21-02_OokiDaikichiHotenKonnichiwaCookingSake_FlowerLabel_720ml_WM.png?v=1750359807"},{"product_id":"miroku-junmai-daiginjo","title":"Miroku Junmai Daiginjo TRUE SAKE EXCLUSIVE","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe nose on this Niigata Prefecture masterpiece is a very gentle collection of steamed rice, milk, Camembert, cotton, nutmeg, pie crust, crème brûlée, and straw aromas. It takes a special sake to become a \"True Sake Selection\", and Miroku is at the highest end of this amazing collection. Using local \u003cem\u003eKoshitanrei\u003c\/em\u003e rice milled to 40% and bottle aged for two years, this is a purely “Niigata-style” super brew. In a word, this takes the style of \"like-water\" sake and makes it even more incredibly light. Clean, smooth, lush, velvety, plump, and silky, this is the essence of elegant sake, and drinks with world-class complexity that will astound sake connoisseurs, and will make new sake drinkers smile. Look for very gentle flavors of powdered sugar, nougat, pine nuts, whipped butter, white button mushrooms, rock sugar, caramel, and hot chocolate as it warms in the glass. And the finish? The perfect “like-water” sake that is round and soft, with the perfect “phantom finish” where you don’t remember swallowing. In a word, this could be the absolute gentlest gushing of umami in the entire sake world. And best of all, this gentle and elegant sake is a food pairing super star, as it goes with anything from land or sea, and balances every pairing so professionally. \u003cstrong\u003eWORD:\u003c\/strong\u003e Masterpiece \u003cstrong\u003eWINE:\u003c\/strong\u003e Soft Reds\/Gentle Whites \u003cstrong\u003eBEER:\u003c\/strong\u003e Creamy Ales \u003cstrong\u003eFOODS:\u003c\/strong\u003e All seafood, steaks, chops, venison, fowl, smoked game, French fare, complex premium cuisines the world over. (2024)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"EAST WEST","offers":[{"title":"750ml","offer_id":5039522086944,"sku":"DG127-02","price":150.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0268\/7601\/products\/DG127-02_MirokuJunmaiDaiginjo_750ml_1365x2048_WM.png?v=1667680420"},{"product_id":"kikuhime-futsushu-kiku-true-sake-selection","title":"Kikuhime Futsushu \"Kiku\" TRUE SAKE EXCLUSIVE","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis review was conducted at the recommended room temperature. The nose on this one-of-a-kind sake is a tantalizing collection of shiitake, sweet nuts, chocolate, honey, leather, kelp, lemon peel, sweet rice, and earth tone aromas. Behold, a true masterpiece of a brew that is categorized on the “cheap end” of sake, but tastes like truly matured and pampered sake that you take more of a bite than a sip. Round, rich, full-bodied, velvety, plump, and extremely smooth, this sake coats the palate with a luscious and soft flow. Made using three different sake rice varietals including a Mochi rice. In addition to being an aged sake, this \u003cem\u003eFutsushu\u003c\/em\u003e is probably one of the finest affordable sake in Japan. Flavors find you, rather than you finding them. Wait for butter, cream, cocoa, nougat, sweet bread, caramel corn, breakfast cereal, maple syrup, honey roasted nuts, white chocolate, and sweet rice flavors. Also, because there is so much umami, this is the perfect sake to taste the so-called 5th taste with labeling confidence. So balanced, rich, and smooth, it’s the finest “cheap sake” you will ever taste. When warmed and heated, look for cocoa, honey and a warm smiling feeling. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWORD:\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eEpic \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWINE:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e Deep Pinot Noir\/Fat Reds \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBEER:\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCreamy Ales \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFOODS:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e Rich and full cuisines, pastas, meats, fowl, pork, smoked everything, olives, artichokes, soups and stews.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"JPSA","offers":[{"title":"720ml","offer_id":42425892929779,"sku":"FU15-02","price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"180ml","offer_id":47917506789619,"sku":"FU15-05","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0268\/7601\/products\/FU15-02_KikuhimeKiku_720ml_1365x2048_WM.png?v=1644542126"},{"product_id":"fukumimi-junmai-genshu-true-sake-selection","title":"Fukumimi Junmai Genshu TRUE SAKE EXCLUSIVE","description":"\u003cspan\u003eThe nose on this two year aged sake is a superb collection of butter rum, cooked apple, cocoa, orange, peach, caramel, shiitake mushroom, malt, and honey aromas. Using their own \u003cem\u003eYamadanishiki\u003c\/em\u003e milled to 59%, Association Yeast #14, and Northern Alps spring water, this full-bodied and layered sake is a product of excellent technique, total passion, and dedication to aging a sake to its perfect being. Round, smooth, rich, viscous, and loaded with tons of umami depth, this sake glides across the palate with a gentle velvety flow. Look for a vast, complex, and extremely drinkable flavor field of rum raisin, apple pie, honey, sesame candy, butterscotch, grape, mint, toasted rice, and a subtle cocoa finish. This is a perfect three temperature brew that shows so much dexterity at several temperature points. Say hello to a sake that was made to tell a story! \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWORD:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Rich \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWINE:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Deep Reds\/Full Whites \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBEER:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Belgian Ales \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFOODS:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Smoked fish and meats, fowl, game, shellfish, caviar, stews and pastas, Chinese fare.\u003c\/span\u003e","brand":"BIX IMPORTS","offers":[{"title":"720ml","offer_id":43592657338611,"sku":"JH260-02","price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0268\/7601\/products\/JH260-02_FukumimiJunmaiGenshu_720ml_WM.png?v=1673585770"},{"product_id":"hello-koueigiku-omachi-muroka-nama-genshu","title":"Koueigiku Muroka Nama Genshu \"Hello! Omachi\" TRUE SAKE EXCLUSIVE","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cspan style=\"color: #ff2a00;\"\u003e\u003cem\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\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNew 2025 Batch released!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe nose on this self-described “Newborn Sake” made with Omachi brewing rice milled to 60% is an outstanding collection of grape, pear, lime, blood orange, ocean spray, peach, slivered almonds, crème puff, candied nuts, and green fig aromas. Say hello to awesome sake that is fresh, lively and with a rich effervescence that is both complex and delicious. Juicy, frisky, crisp, lively, medium-bodied, and with a nice glucose body that is both slow and fast across the palate. This unpasteurized brew coats the palate, but elevates the flavor, which is outstanding technical sake making. The net is a balanced flavorful sake that is 14% ABV that doesn’t taste boozy, brash, or punchy. Look for honeydew, marmalade, honeycomb, finger lime, vanilla, honeysuckle, strawberry, toffee, a hint of consommé and brine flavors with an excellent cotton candy finish that is so darn drinkable. Zesty, fleshy, and fresh sake that is rich and effervescent, which is a sake’s way of saying “what?” \u003cstrong\u003eWORD: \u003c\/strong\u003eExclusive \u003cstrong\u003eWINE:\u003c\/strong\u003e Zesty Reds\/Crispy Whites \u003cstrong\u003eBEER: \u003c\/strong\u003eCrisp Ales \u003cstrong\u003eFOODS: \u003c\/strong\u003eSushi, sashimi, cheese and fruit plates, Champagne fare, beach foods, street foods, and pub fare. (2024)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~~~~!~!~!~!~!~\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSay hello to another amazing True Sake Selection brew that is only available at True Sake. The nose on this unpasteurized sake from a brewery that specializes in “newborn” sake is a vivid collection of Asian pear, watermelon, cantaloupe, simple syrup, lime, and mineral water aromas. Are you ready for the most quaffable nama in the United States? Round, soft, light, silky, and fresh, this raw sake drinks with elegant ease, and is slightly spritzy with layers of juicy and refreshing flavors. Made with Omachi brewing rice, look for a tantalizing flavor field filled with cherry, yellow kiwi, melon, strawberry, grapefruit, lime candy, nectarine, persimmon, grape, and minerals, on watery and silky flow that glides through the palate. As the fluid evolves in the glass, look for tangerine, peach, cucumber, and taffy, with a subtle dry finish. All sake fans (especially Omachi lovers) will dig this umami-filled living sake that drinks like a Daiginjo, with an impeccably gentle nature that is silky and fresh. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWORD:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Silky \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWINE:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Juicy reds\/Refreshing whites \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBEER:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Fruity Ales \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFOODS:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Sushi, sashimi, lobster, crab, shrimp, oysters, grilled chicken and fish, and hors d'oeuvre. (2023)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Fifth Taste","offers":[{"title":"720ml","offer_id":43882390913267,"sku":"NA70-02","price":47.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0268\/7601\/files\/NA70-02_Hello_KoueigikuOmachiMurokaNamaGenshu_720ml_WM.png?v=1693706473"},{"product_id":"tonoike-bo-junmai-ginjo-tss","title":"Tonoike Bo Junmai Ginjo TRUE SAKE EXCLUSIVE","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe nose on this TRUE SAKE EXCLUSIVE is a delicate collection of Asian pear, grape, berry, fig, pineapple, green apple, citrus, and papaya aromas. Say hello to one of our favorite sake producers making a sake for our True Sake Selection portfolio with their own Tochigi Prefecture twist, and some sake-making magic from Super Toji Makato Ono san. Wine drinkers take note, as this Ginjo made with Gohyakumangoku milled to 55%, is a walk on the wine-side that is light, off-dry, with a laser fast (kire) umami finish, and features a peek-a-boo gentle tingly spritziness. Clean, light, dry, bright, juicy, buoyant, and subtle, this is new-world sake that is refreshing, and has a tannin-like dryness that excels in a wine glass. Look for grape, Asian pear, blueberry, Fuji apple, grapefruit, white peach, melon, date, papaya, apricot, persimmon, almond, candied ginger, and tangerine flavors that glide through the palate with a lively mineral water-like flow. \u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003eThis is Tochigi sake brewing at its finest and at under $40, it’s yours! \u003cb\u003eWORD:\u003c\/b\u003e Exclusive \u003cb\u003eWINE:\u003c\/b\u003e Frisky Reds\/Crisp Whites \u003cb\u003eBEER:\u003c\/b\u003e Crisp Ales \u003cb\u003eFOODS:\u003c\/b\u003e Sushi, sashimi, lobster, crab, shrimp, caviar, grilled fish and chicken, carpaccio, pasta, hot pots, light veggies, ponzu based fare, cheese boards, and anything from the sea.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SAKE INFINITY","offers":[{"title":"720ml","offer_id":46158464155891,"sku":"JG229-02","price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0268\/7601\/files\/JG229-02_TonoikeBoJunmaiGinjo_720ml_WM.png?v=1741151237"},{"product_id":"dan-bizen-omachi-yamahai-junmai-ginjo-muroka-nama-genshu","title":"Dan Yamahai Junmai Ginjo Muroka Nama Genshu \"Bizen Omachi\" TRUE SAKE EXCLUSIVE","description":"\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\n\u003cp\u003eThe nose on this True Sake Selection sake is a glorious collection of butter, caramel, popcorn, honey, peanut brittle, cookie dough, waffle cone, and ripe apple aromas. Juicy, frisky, slippery, tingly, lush, round, spritzy, rich, and lively, this nama drinks edgy, but incredibly balanced with a full-body feeling, but more buoyant in texture. Is it rich-lite, is it crisp-lush, is it semi-sweet dry? It’s so much, but with outstanding balance and control for a massive impact. Look for sarsaparilla, salted pretzel, sweet potato, almond, mochi, toasted sesame, brioche, miso, cookie dough, dulce de leche milk, and nutty caramel flavors with a bucket load of umami. In a word, this is magic umami fluid that is a pleasure to drink and so much fun to unravel on the palate. Dan pretty much drinks you! \u003cstrong\u003eWORD:\u003c\/strong\u003e True Sake Selection\u003cstrong\u003e WINE:\u003c\/strong\u003e Massive Reds\/Massive Whites \u003cstrong\u003eBEER:\u003c\/strong\u003e Weizenbocks \u003cstrong\u003eFOODS:\u003c\/strong\u003e The kitchen sink and everything else!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"JFC","offers":[{"title":"720ml","offer_id":46205269311731,"sku":"NA92-02","price":38.4,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0268\/7601\/files\/NA92-02_DanBizenOmachiYamahaiJunmaiGinjoMurokaNamaGenshu_720ml_WM.png?v=1726706609"},{"product_id":"tenjo-mugen-tokubetsu-junmai-umakuchi","title":"Tenjo Mugen Tokubetsu Junmai \"Umakuchi\" TRUE SAKE EXCLUSIVE","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003eThe nose on this True Sake Selection is an amazing collection of cereal, cocoa, brown sugar, yam, nougat, whipped cream, custard, molasses, mochi, and malted aromas. Exclusive to True Sake, this is a super drinkable rich-lite brew that is clean, but velvety with an emphasis on soft umami, and a slipperiness that excels in a wine glass. Smooth, creamy, round, fluffy, buoyant, with a water-like plumpness, and a silky texture, it drinks more elegantly as it warms. Look for milk bread, caramel, roasted peanuts, butterscotch, brown sugar, pudding cup, vanilla bean, marshmallow, crème brulee, peanut brittle, chocolate malt balls, and a luscious load of umami with a world-class finish. More umami and cocoa appear as the fluid warms, and behold a slippery goodness in a sake that punches way above its price-point. \u003cstrong\u003eWORD:\u003c\/strong\u003e Umami \u003cstrong\u003eWINE:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pinot Noir\/White Burgundy \u003cstrong\u003eBEER:\u003c\/strong\u003e Creamy Belgians \u003cstrong\u003eFOODS:\u003c\/strong\u003e Izakaya fare, fried, grilled, greasy, savory, comfort foods, burgers, sandwiches, yakitori, fried chicken, Philly cheesesteak, burritos, pork chops, soups, stews, and roasts.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"JIZAKE QUEST","offers":[{"title":"720ml","offer_id":47635974815987,"sku":"JH317-02","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0268\/7601\/files\/JH317-02_TenjoMugenTokubetsuJunmaiUmakuchi_720ml_WM.png?v=1758478669"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.truesake.live\/collections\/true-sake-selection.oembed","provider":"True Sake","version":"1.0","type":"link"}