“In my humble opinion Mizuho Kuromatsu Kenbishi Yamahai is the gold standard of premium sake, at least for this traditional style of brew. It has a rich, earthy, rounded taste that goes well with food or glass after glass with friends. I enjoy it slightly chilled served in beautiful, functional clay ceramic shuki 酒器. It’s a delight to note the subtle changes in flavor as it approaches room temperature. This brew is so popular in Japan that the company need not advertise. Its reputation is that solid. Unlike its honjozo, less expensive cousin being marketed in a larger 900ml bottle, the black 720ml is a junmai 純米 (pure rice) sake. Highly recommended for any and all serious sake enthusiasts.”
“A very nice sake, which I particularly enjoy when warmed to about 90 F. WHen warm, I find the cocoa notes to come through more. Although I mostly drink this sake warm, I actually prefer its flavor when slightly cooled. WHen cooled it's a little smoother.
Overall definitely a keeper, only reason I took off 1 star is because the aftertaste is slightly sharper than I'd like, and there are other sakes I like better.”
