Kinmon Akita, 'Amairo X3', Junmai Genshu Sake, Akita, Japan

Overview of the Sake
A relatively young brewery, Kinmon Akita Sake Brewing Co. was founded in its current form in 1973 when a local brewery (Akita Fuji Sake Brewery, est 1936) received an investment from a wholesaler to rebrand and reopen. The more interesting story takes place roughly 30 years ago however, when Kinmon Akita became uniquely committed to aged sake (koshu) as well as high koji content styles, believing that this is the height of sake's craft.
Innovation and the spirit of pioneering are the hallmark of this boutique brewery in Akita, which has innovated new manufacturing methods for sake, drawing on ancient tradition as well as techniques from winemaking. After a long period of experimentation in a market with very, very little koshu, Kinmon Akita finally broke onto the International stage when the 10-year aged Yamabuki (10 year old sake base, blended with others up to 20 years old) won the prestigious IWC Trophy.

Rice/Ingredients:
Menkoina

Category/Sake Type
Junmai Genshu

Origin
Akita, Japan

Tasting Notes
X3 is a testament to the power of koji, as well as the skill of the brewers and blenders at Kinmon Akita-- a tiny, specialist brewery in far NW Japan. The "X3" is so named because it's brewed with 3x the amount of koji ordinarily used in sake: likely between 60-75%. I have a few high koji brews on my shelves, but this has to be one of the most elegant: texturally refined, syrupy umami, aged at the brewery for complexity, subtle sweetness, and moderate alcohol (15%) despite being genshu (undiluted).

Product size: 720ml