Sake Review: Juemon Sake | Toshimaya Sake Brewery

Junmai-Genshu without filtration “Juemon."

Toshimaya Brewery opened the first Sake Store in Tokyo back in 1596, another small and successful Japanese enterprise for over 400 years.

In 2019, I took a Sake Brewery tour with Sake lovers to Toshimaya Sake Brewery, which is in Higashi-Murayama city. During this visit, I discovered Juemon, a rich sake whose unique characteristic is that it is once heat-treated after bottling. 

Kyoko Nagano, Sake sommelier recommends drink the Juemon Sake at room temperature or slightly warm to enhance its taste – Kyoko Nagano was our brewery tour guide and is the founder of Sake Lovers. 

Among the special classification names for Sake, Junmai Muroka is unfiltered, and Genshu is undiluted. Some breweries dilute Sake (with water), but the Juemon sake is not.

Namazake is unpasteurized Sake, but this Juemon is not “nama" (raw), and it’s heated once to stop fermentation (pasteurized).

The Juemon Junmai-Genshu Sake

Characteristics of the Sake

Rice:  Hattannishiki (Hiroshima)

Milling rate: Koji 55% Kake 60%

Sake Alcohol content: 17 – 18%

Sake Meter Value +3.5

Sake Pairing

A few nights ago, I invited my father in law who is Japanese and who also lived in Peru during his university years. It was a perfect opportunity to blend three cultures through food, Peruvian and Japanese, so we made Ceviche Peruano with Hamachi (Yellowtail), and Pisco Sour with Juemon Sake.

 Using Juemon sake for a Pisco Sour cocktail had a good result, but I recommend paring just Juemon Sake with Ceviche Peruano.  In Japan, it is possible to find great quality fish; therefore is easy to make a great ceviche Peruano. 

To learn more about the ideal temperature to store sake visit the Japanese Sake Sake and Sochu makers Association.

To learn more about Sake and Sake Breweries you can participate in one of the Virtual Sake Brewery tours with Sake Lovers.  Follow their Facebook page to learn more about these Online Sake events.