John Puma 8/21/17 John Puma 8/21/17

Hanagake Junmai Ginjo

Sipping Hanagake’s wonderfully complex Junmai Ginjo (thanks to our friends at @gosakeman )while we prep for tomorrow night’s happy hour at @rabbithouse_nyc where we will be pouring some delicious summer sake. #sake #summersake #sakesumme… — Sipping Hanagake’s wonderfully complex Junmai Ginjo (thanks to our friends at @gosakeman )while we prep for tomorrow night’s happy hour at @rabbithouse_nyc where we will be pouring some delicious summer sake. #sake #summersake #sakesummer #junmaiginjo #leia #日本酒 #happyhour

John Puma 8/3/17 John Puma 8/3/17

Dove Tail Sake: Nakahama Junmai

This weekend on our live show, we will be tasting and talking about @dovetailsake made right here in the US (Massachusetts to be exact). Join us on Facebook this Saturday at 7 EST! #sake #sakestudies #sakesaturday #sakesaturdays #captainamerica #dov… — This weekend on our live show, we will be tasting and talking about @dovetailsake made right here in the US (Massachusetts to be exact). Join us on Facebook this Saturday at 7 EST! #sake #sakestudies #sakesaturday #sakesaturdays #captainamerica #dovetail #junmai

John Puma 7/11/17 John Puma 7/11/17

Amabuki Kimoto Junmai Daiginjo

Amabuki’s sake is always excellent, but they have completely outdone themselves with their Kimoto Junmai Daiginjo! #sake #saga #nihonshu #日本酒

John Puma 7/9/17 John Puma 7/9/17

Takachiyo Miyamanishiki Junmai Ginjo

John Puma 6/15/17 John Puma 6/15/17

Narutotai Junmai

We’re huge fans of Narutotai’s Ginjo Nama Genshu, so it was only natural that we tried their Junmai given the chance! Look for this to show up on an upcoming episode! #sake #narutotai ＃日本酒＃純米酒 #junmai

John Puma 6/14/17 John Puma 6/14/17

Senkin Omachi Junmai Daiginjo

John Puma 6/13/17 John Puma 6/13/17

Hakkaisan Yukimuro Junmai Ginjo

The very special #Hakkaisan Snow Aged 3 Year Junmai Ginjo’s smooth flavor quickly made it one of our favorites. Check out Episode 4 on #youtube for the tasting notes!“ #sake #yukimuro #niigata #japan #nihonshu #junmaiginjo ＃日本酒＃八海山 #純米吟醸

John Puma 6/11/17 John Puma 6/11/17

Hyakujuro "Sakura Version" Junmai Ginjo

Hayashi Honten’s Hyakujuro Sakura Version makes such excellent use of Akita Komare rice we even risked taking it home despite being a nama! #sake #nihonshu #gifu #日本酒

John Puma 5/23/17 John Puma 5/23/17

小石 Sakebar, Hiroshima, Japan

We came to Hiroshima for the local sake, here it is! #sake #jizake #日本酒 (at 小石 sakebar)

John Puma 4/15/17 John Puma 4/15/17

Nanbu Bijin “Ruten” Junmai Ginjo

John Puma 4/13/17 John Puma 4/13/17

Ryujin "Dragon God" Junmai Daiginjo Namazume

Enjoying one of my absolute favorite labels, Dragon God Junmai Daiginjo Namazume from Ryujin Shuzo in #Gunma #sake #junmai #daiginjo #saké #日本酒 #純米酒 #純米大吟醸

John Puma 3/19/17 John Puma 3/19/17

Dewazakura "Omachi" Junmai Ginjo

Getting reaquainted with an old favorite. #Dewazakura #Junmai #Ginjo #Omachi
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#sake #nyc #nihonshu #🍶 #wine #wineglass #thesakenotes #日本酒🍶 #日本酒 #出羽桜 #純米吟醸 (at New York, New York)

John Puma 12/12/16 John Puma 12/12/16

Dassai 50 and Nambu Bijin Shinpaku

Battle of the Yamadanishi 50% Seimaibuai Junmai Daiginjos!

#sake #nanbubijin #dassai #incredibles #junmaidaiginjo #日本酒 #南部美人 #獺祭

John Puma 11/16/16 John Puma 11/16/16

Shichihon Yari Junmai Hiyaoroshi

John Puma 11/15/16 John Puma 11/15/16

Dewazakura Junmai Ginjo

John Puma 11/12/16 John Puma 11/12/16

Suigei Junmai Ginjo Koiku No.54

Suigei’s Tokobetsu Junmai was one of my first sake loves, so I was thrilled to try their new Junmai Ginjo Koiku No.54. Refreshing and crisp, I highly recommend giving this a try.
#sake
#suigei
#kochi
#kochisake
#日本酒
#純米吟醸
#酔鯨
#高知市

John Puma 11/10/16 John Puma 11/10/16

Blue Current Brewery Junmai Ginjo

Taking Blue Current Brewery’s Junmai Ginjo for a ride. Smooth yet complex with a fruity finish, this is a wonderful domestic sake.
#kampai
#sake
#domesticsake
#americansake
#captainamerica
#アメリカン酒 — Taking Blue Current Brewery’s Junmai Ginjo for a ride. Smooth yet complex with a fruity finish, this is a wonderful domestic sake. #kampai #sake #domesticsake #americansake #captainamerica #アメリカン酒

John Puma 11/9/16 John Puma 11/9/16

Otokoyama Hiyaoroshi Kimoto Junmai

John Puma 10/31/16 John Puma 10/31/16

Amabuki Sparking Junmai Ginjo

We have been seeing more Sparkling Nigori in the US recently, this Junmai Ginjo from Kyushu’s Amabuki Shuzo was one of the more noteworthy additions.
#sake
#sakebar
#nigori
#kyushu
#amabuki (at SakaMai)

John Puma 9/21/16 John Puma 9/21/16

Hanagaki Usu-Nigori Junmai Daiginjo

Every once in a while, a label truly surprises me. I’m very familiar with the offerings of Nanbu Shozu’s Hanagaki line of sake, but I was completely unfamiliar with their Usu-NIgori Junmai Daiginjo. I was admittedly not even familiar with the concept of “Usu-Nigori,” which is a very light style of nigori that John Gautner describes in the following way:

There is also something known as usu-nigori, or thin nigori. This is nigorizake that has been pressed so that only a fine mist of lees remains within the bottle. Naturally this allows more of the original nature of the sake to come through, with only a bit of added acidity and big flavor coming through as a result of the remaining lees.

I’m not sure if it’s that “original nature” coming through, but this label has that crisp freshness that reminds me of drinking fresh sake in Japan. Combined with its silky texture and smooth flavor, It’s quite a treat!