Sake Sampler #3 - Intro to Sake (2026 Edition)

Sake Sampler #3
Intro to Sake Sampler 
$88 Value for Just $68

Sampler includes 1 bottle each:

Kubota "Senjyu" Ginjo
Asahi Shuzo — Ginjo — (Niigata Prefecture)

Asahi Shuzo has been brewing Saké in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture since 1830. Their Kubota brand, launched in 1985, essentially created a new style of sake — light, crisp, and dry, designed to complement the way modern Japan eats and drinks. It remains one of the most beloved sake brands in Japan today.

Senjyu is Kubota's classic expression and the perfect place to start. On the nose, delicate floral aromas of green apple and pear lead into a light, fresh, and elegant palate with a clean, dry finish and a touch of acidity that gives it liveliness. Endlessly food-friendly — try it with sushi, sashimi, or anything light off the grill. 300mL

Sawanotsuru "Jitsuraku" Kimoto Method
Sawanotsuru Co., Ltd. — Junmai — (Hyogo Prefecture)

Sawanotsuru was established in 1717 in Nada, one of the most prestigious sake regions in Japan, located near Kobe in western Japan. They've spent over 300 years doing things the hard way — and it shows.

Jitsuraku is made from Yamada Nishiki rice harvested in the Yoshikawa-cho region — the Japanese equivalent of Grand Cru vineyard status — using the ancient Kimoto brewing technique, which adds richness and complexity to a clean, dry, round palate with a delicate, rice-forward finish. A Saké that rewards slow sipping, and pairs beautifully with grilled fish or heartier dishes. 300mL

Hakkaisan Tokubetsu Honjozo
Hakkaisan Brewery Co., Ltd. — Tokubetsu Honjozo — (Niigata Prefecture)

Founded in 1922, Hakkaisan Brewery sits at the foot of Mount Hakkai in Niigata, using the mountain's spring water to produce its Sak. Though classified as an everyday style, Hakkaisan brews this with ginjo-level care — slow, low-temperature fermentation and rice polished well beyond what the grade requires.

Smooth and easy to drink, this sake never feels heavy or tiring. Clean and dry, it can be enjoyed at almost any temperature — and when gently warmed, its rich koji-rice aroma unfolds beautifully. One of the rare Sakés worth trying both chilled and warm in the same sitting. 300mL

Kikusui Funaguchi "Red Can" Ginjo Nama Genshu — Aged
Kikusui Sake Co., Ltd. — Ginjo Nama Genshu (Aged) — (Niigata Prefecture)

Kikusui made history in 1976 as the first Japanese brewery to commercially release an unpasteurized Saké. The Red Can takes their iconic Funaguchi and ages it one year at low temperature, allowing the active enzymes to slowly transform the sake into something richer and more complex than the fresh original.

The nose is ricey, tangy, and yeasty. Aging mellows the brew, producing a more pronounced sweetness that is softer and less brash than its younger siblings, with nectar, honey, and fruit juice sweetness on a soft, rounded flow. At 19% ABV in a 200mL can, this is the most unexpected bottle in the pack — and often the most memorable. 200mL

Yaegaki "Mu" Junmai Daiginjo
Yaegaki Sake & Spirits — Junmai Daiginjo — (Hyogo Prefecture)

In Japanese, the word mu (無) literally means "nothingness." Mu was created to celebrate Yaegaki's 320th anniversary, as a return to the basics of traditional handcrafted sake brewing — stripping away everything unnecessary and letting the rice speak.

From the moment you open the bottle, Mu entices with a fragrance of creamy coconut, pineapple, and nougat, leading into a fruity flavor and satiny sweetness that is an all-around pleasure to drink and share. One of the best-selling premium sakes in the US for good reason. Serve chilled in a wine glass to get the most from this aromatic and flavorful Saké. 300mL

Kikusui "Perfect Snow" Nigori
Kikusui Sake Co., Ltd. — Nigori Genshu — (Niigata Prefecture)

Every sake sampler needs a nigori, and Perfect Snow is Japan's best-selling nigorizake for a reason. Coarsely filtered to leave rice particles in suspension, it arrives cloudy white — shake before opening — and completely undiluted at 21% ABV.

The aroma opens with sweet vanilla yogurt and a touch of yellow rose, then evolves toward green apple, orange peel, and young peach. On the palate it is luxuriously textured and sweet on the start but crisp on the finish. The most approachable bottle in the pack, and the one most likely to turn a curious newcomer into a Saké fan. 300mL