Kawanakajima Junmai Nigori
川中島 純米 にごり酒Kawanakajima — Shusen Kurano, Nagano
Warm, soothing sweetness with the pleasing tang of lactic acidity.
Specifications
- Type
- Junmai Shu
- Rice
- Miyama Nishiki
- Rice polishing ratio
- 65%
- Yeast
- Kyokai No. 701
- Alcohol
- 15–16%
- Sake meter value
- -27
- Acidity
- 1.8
Flavor profile Jun-shu
Jun-shu — rich and umami-driven
An SMV of -27 and the description of sweet, creamy, velvety texture point to strong sweetness and a full body, while the restrained, rice-led aroma places it in the jun quadrant.
Estimated by AI from the published specifications and the brewery's description; your impression may differ.
About
This is the nigori sake everyone is talking about. There are many nigori sakes, but this Kawanakajima is a little different. Made with Miyama Nishiki sake rice from Nagano Prefecture, polished to 65%, and finished as a junmai. It is smooth on the palate and has a silky, mellow body. The secret lies in carefully back-straining the moromi (fermentation mash) through cloth (uragoshi). Please savor its distinctive drinking character and the umami and sweetness of the rice itself. It won first place in the Nigori Sake Ranking at the 2008 Nihonshu Dai SHOW hosted by SSI. Smooth and mellow yet finely textured, it blends refined sweetness with delicate umami. A taste favored by connoisseurs, it earned the top spot in the popularity vote.
Recommended ways to drink On the rocks Chilled (5–10°C) Straight (room temperature) Food pairings Japanese cuisine: meat dishes and rich, fatty dishes Chinese cuisine: karaage (Japanese fried chicken), shumai (steamed dumplings), shrimp chili Western cuisine: beef stew, steak
Other sake from this brand 4
- Kawanakajima Dry川中島 辛口
- Kawanakajima Josen Honjozo川中島 上選 本醸造
- Kawanakajima Tokubetsu Junmai川中島 特別純米酒
- Kawanakajima Shinshu Seishu川中島 信州清酒