Description

Curious to experience what Sake made with Wine yeast tastes like? Then treat yourself to a super rare import, made with Number 4 yeast this surprisingly low-polished heritage Omachi rice sake steps into new territory, creating a new type of Sake. When I met with the CEO of this creative Sake brewery he was so excited and enthusiastic about crafting new tste and aroma experiences for his customers, Kikkawa is famous for supplying the Velvet Bar in London and we can see why!

We have less than 10 of these rare sake in NZ!

No. 4 yeast for wine was first isolated in Yamanashi Prefecture about 70 years ago and has been widely used in wineries in the prefecture. It emits a fruit-like aroma, and goes well with the Yoshikawa-style “cryogenic preparation”.

Afuri sake stands at the crossroads of tradition and innovation. While rooted in tradition with core elements like sake rice, natural spring water, koji, and traditional brewing methods, it also pursues new avenues. Through unique methods like brief aging in Bordeaux barrels and using lesser-known yeasts, Afuri sake straddles the delicate balance between sake and wine. This fusion of classic and daring techniques results in a beverage that teases the boundaries of both traditional sake and contemporary experimentation.

Founded in 1912, Kikkawa Jozo is situated at the base of Tanzawa Oyama, historically dubbed “Afuri-yama” or “Rainy Mountain.” The underground springs in this locale slowly filter into crystal-clear natural spring water, with Japan’s highest mineral content at 150 (mg/L).

While many breweries highlight the softness of the water used, Kikkawa Jozo takes a different approach. Among the three wells on the brewery premises, the well yielding the highest mineral content is selected for brewing, contributing to the creation of their splendidly crisp sake.

With a team of five full-time younger-than-average, Kikkawa Jozo represents a new generation of fervent sake artisans, breaking stereotypes of the time-honored craft.

https://kikkawa-jozo.com/en