Not-Port offline: Sake

[SushiNorth]

As I mentioned when I came in here a while ago, my other alcoholic hobby is japanese saké. It is the opposite of port in many ways: its brewing process bears as much in common with beer as it does wine, its not even made of grapes, its light on the tongue, and -- with rare, aged (koshu) exceptions -- it's best in its first year. And yet, it has subtle notes, a long finish, a high alcohol content, and a unique grace which are attributes we often associate with port.

As such, I'd like to plan a little sake tasting for any port-heads who can get to NY. I think you'll have an interesting perspective on the whole thing given extensive experience tasting wines, and we're all a friendly group

I've a long list of BYO japanese restaurants in NY, but for those who are interested, would you prefer Noodles/Kitchenfood or Sushi?

I'd suggest we just do a general Junmai Ginjo tasting, with
Dassai 50 (good newcomer)
Wakatake (good, reliable brand)
Tsukasabotan (if i can find it)
Nanbu Bijin (better warm, but interesting for comparison)

and one Koshu at the end. Sake prices (at a quality on par with the ones above) are $25-$35/750ml, though the Koshu will be a bit pricier. Daiginjo sakes are much more expensive, but their gentle and often floral flavors tend not to appeal to red wine enthusiasts.

If this interests any of you, respond and we can start planning.

[DRT]

Admins 1 & 3: Should this be moved to the Off-line section to increase visibility? Admin1 organised a Dutch beer swigging contest there so Sake-swilling should be allowed

[KillerB]

Admins 1 & 3: Should this be moved to the Off-line section to increase visibility? Admin1 organised a Dutch beer swigging contest there so Sake-swilling should be allowed

Rules of the section:

Organise events to meet up and drink Port. You may, of course, forego the drinking and just meet, but we’re sure that drinking would be more fun.

Although it says "drink Port", it also says "forego the drinking", with the "of Port" implied. Thus any meeting maybe included.

Hence, it has been moved.

[jdaw1]

1. If such threads are started by known port lovers, they should be allowed in the tasting-arranging section.

2. Yes, I’m very interested in a saké tasting (does the transliteration really have an accent?), as might be the wife. I have no idea what I want to taste: would you be willing to choose and buy and whatever, with the cost being split amongst those attending?

[SushiNorth]

1. If such threads are started by known port lovers, they should be allowed in the tasting-arranging section.

2. Yes, I’m very interested in a saké tasting (does the transliteration really have an accent?), as might be the wife. I have no idea what I want to taste: would you be willing to choose and buy and whatever, with the cost being split amongst those attending?

Yes, and that accent mark is my bane. I have to hunt it down every time i post on the topic! That said, i tend to skip it when i get rolling...

And yes, i figured we'd probably do something more like splitting cost than sending everyone out to find/buy some. I only have access to retail, but I have some good retail sources I'd like to do this in June or July so that, if there are any new sake* fans, there is still time to get tix for the big Joy of Sake tasting at the NYC Puck building in september.

As for tastes, I am aiming for more full-bodied sakes with some familiar notes like licorice or fruits, and i could have sworn the aged sake i had was a sweet sherry. I also want to give us an excuse to get together in NYC at low cost

[g-man]

Definitely interested.

While not even close to an expert, I have personally found that with sashimi, daiginjos suit me better.

perhaps we can add some to the tasting?

[SushiNorth]

Definitely interested.

While not even close to an expert, I have personally found that with sashimi, daiginjos suit me better.

perhaps we can add some to the tasting?

Sounds like one vote for sushi/sashimi and one for adding a dai ginjo to the mix FYI, i'm friendly with mr urbansake.com so I'll bounce a wine list off of him to get an extra opinion.

[jdaw1]

When you have a list of the sakés that we will taste, please do post. I traditionally make a placemat for each tasting (e.g., e.g., e.g., e.g., e.g.), and would want to do so again.

However, alas, names must be in a Roman or extended-Roman script. Japanese alphabets are beyond my competence, partly due to the failure of this request for help.

[uncle tom]

Dassai.. - Wakatake.. - Tsukasabotan.. - Nanbu Bijin..

To hear those words (or similar) just walk past your local boozer at chucking out time..

Tom

[g-man]

However, alas, names must be in a Roman or extended-Roman script. Japanese alphabets are beyond my competence, partly due to the failure of this request for help.

That's completely acceptable for Japanese, as Katakana (fragmented script) for beginning Japanese classes is always written in Latin alphabet.

[SushiNorth]

Just a status update:
I know there were questions about when/etc (and I saw that post about Tim's sake class). I tried a whole bunch of places; the top choice though seems like it may get a liquor license before I'll have free time to host this. I'll give them a call today to figure that out. I have a couple other places to try, too, but they were all closed when I made my rounds.

[g-man]

no need to stress it out, the weather is insanely hot and I'm happy not getting loaded at a restaurant and sweating it out all the way home.

[SushiNorth]

Remember this thread? Well I went to Mitsuwas yesterday and, aside from acquiring some sashimi (yesterday's lunch) and supplies for Oden (tonight), there was a sale on Ozeki.

Ozeki generally sucks -- it sells a low-grade sake which is one of the three or four you encounter steaming hot as the "House sake" at a sushi shop. However, this was different -- Ozeki had three bottles of higher end sake:
* Ozeki Yamadanishiki - likely just a Junmai Ginjo, but made from the well respected Yamadanishiki rice
* Ozeki Komatsu Tatewaki Junmai Taruzake - sake aged in cedar
* Ozeki Osakaya Chobei Junmai Daiginjo - Premium sake (the rice has been milled down more than in regular Junmai to make a lighter, more refined taste)

In addition, I picked up some of their reliable Nigori (unfiltered sake), and for proper comparison, a ringer: Dassai 50 Junmai Ginjo.

The question to answer is if Ozeki's Yamadanishiki or Osakaya Chobei can escape the ill repute brought on by the cheap bulk-sake the company is known for. The Nigori and Taruzake are just around for fun.

Also, when/where? When is there a spot on our calendars, and would folks be interested in coming to westchester?

[g-man]

Remember this thread? Well I went to Mitsuwas yesterday and, aside from acquiring some sashimi (yesterday's lunch) and supplies for Oden (tonight), there was a sale on Ozeki.

Ozeki generally sucks -- it sells a low-grade sake which is one of the three or four you encounter steaming hot as the "House sake" at a sushi shop. However, this was different -- Ozeki had three bottles of higher end sake:
* Ozeki Yamadanishiki - likely just a Junmai Ginjo, but made from the well respected Yamadanishiki rice
* Ozeki Komatsu Tatewaki Junmai Taruzake - sake aged in cedar
* Ozeki Osakaya Chobei Junmai Daiginjo - Premium sake (the rice has been milled down more than in regular Junmai to make a lighter, more refined taste)

In addition, I picked up some of their reliable Nigori (unfiltered sake), and for proper comparison, a ringer: Dassai 50 Junmai Ginjo.

The question to answer is if Ozeki's Yamadanishiki or Osakaya Chobei can escape the ill repute brought on by the cheap bulk-sake the company is known for. The Nigori and Taruzake are just around for fun.

Also, when/where? When is there a spot on our calendars, and would folks be interested in coming to westchester?

if westchester can ensure the proper purveyance of fresh raw fish, I'd be welcome to visiting, otherwise while Ozeki may be able to escape ill repute,
I don't think chinese owned japanese restaurants in westchester would be able for me =)

[g-man]

http://www.catalinaop.com/

perhaps we can set up a date and pick up a few pounds Josh?

[SushiNorth]

if westchester can ensure the proper purveyance of fresh raw fish, I'd be welcome to visiting, otherwise while Ozeki may be able to escape ill repute,
I don't think chinese owned japanese restaurants in westchester would be able for me =)

Yeah, the chinese-owned places in NYC rarely work for me, either. We have a few up here that are actually good, but the japanese-owned ones (almost always good) are 40 minutes away. Usually the way I do these is to either make a trip to Mitsuwas, or have a friend coming from NJ stop by there, they pick up sashimi grade fish and we cut it here. In addition, there's usually a selection of Okonomyaki, Oden and fried stuff. I started this post 2 hours ago -- oy!
Anyway, food is easy to manage, the wine is cheap relative to port (I spent $100 on everything listed above, and would probably only add one more $30 Daiginjo to ensure y'all get some good stuff), and I live a mile from metronorth (for those who won't drive or rideshare).

[g-man]

most excellent, I was thinking the same thing.

Set a date so I can put a note in the calendar to clear out the night for sake and raw fish.

do you have a rice cooker josh?

[SushiNorth]

How about Saturday Mar 28th? Who is free?

(and yes, I've a rice cooker)

[SushiNorth]

OK! This has been officially scheduled for Saturday, March 28th as it coincides with the first day of the National Cherry Blossom Festival in DC. The tasting begins around 7pm (7:30 we start pouring), if you would like to attend and did not just get a PM from me, please let me know so I can get you on the list.

[g-man]

+2 here

[jdaw1]

1. Permission is being sought.
2. Please, what late-evening transport is available from chez toi to Manhattan?

[g-man]

Hey julian, I'll be in t he city in the morning so can probably drive you up there if you want to hop out to queens with me.

as with the way back, I dont think you'd want me driving you home.

[SushiNorth]

Hey julian, I'll be in t he city in the morning so can probably drive you up there if you want to hop out to queens with me.

as with the way back, I dont think you'd want me driving you home.

There may be some drivers headed back to the city, but the best option is to catch the last express at 10:31, getting you to NYC at 11:21. After that, there's an 11:04 that gets in at 12:04. Metro North is less than a mile from my place, and it takes you straight to Grand Central (its 10-15 mins by 6 to union sq). We'll have plenty of folks willing to drive you down to the Ossining station from here, so that's not a problem.

[TBird]

damn, march 28? i know i said i'd be there, but i'll be in aruba. my bad!

[jdaw1]

If the wife’s friend will help with the children, yes please. If not, there’s nobody else she can ask except her husband.

[jdaw1]

I’m in. Hurray. Please PM me travel instructions. What I should bring.

[g-man]

I'll bring a surprise sake and a dry red for the wife.

[g-man]

I’m in. Hurray. Please PM me travel instructions. What I should bring.

julian, would you still like a ride up?

[jdaw1]

When are you leaving? (Wifely permission needed for early departure.)

[g-man]

When are you leaving? (Wifely permission needed for early departure.)

I'm in your neighborhood around 2pm and will be around picking up stuff.
will be my apartment by 3:30pm and driving up to josh' to be there around 6pm (takes about an hour and a half to get out there)

[SushiNorth]

alternatively, I'm only about 50 mins by car from Houston x West Side Highway.

[jdaw1]

If I take the train I could leave nearer 5pm, which would keep the missus sweeter. Thank you, but no thanks.

[g-man]

josh do you need anything else you would like us to bring?

[SushiNorth]

josh do you need anything else you would like us to bring?

OK OK... as this has grown a bit larger than I anticipated, I'll stop being shy about these requests. I have lots of sake, so if you want to bring something, dessert is probably the best bet. The theme is "japanese cherry blossom" so perhaps something you think fits that theme (dont worry what i think that theme means, each to their own interpretation).

g-man -- you'd asked about Dassai before, the one i have is Dassai 50. Dassai Niwari Sanbun (the 23% one) is very subtle/elegant, and would likely be washed out by the lineup.

[jdaw1]

Placemat-type things?

[SushiNorth]

Placemat-type things?

I prepped some

[jdaw1]

Marvelous evening thank you Josh.

I’ll expand on this after the creation of the post-tasting threads (not remembering the names of the sakés, I can’t cope).

[JohninNYC]

Thanks Josh for hosting this. Was a fun evening.

[g-man]

indeed, thanks to Josh for hosting!@