Choya Sake Gold Label Japan 75 cl 14,5%

Three quarters of a litre, a flask in the middle of the table and a dinner that runs long. The kind of bottle that is not empty after the starter but stays the course, and that changes character depending on whether it reaches the cup cold or warm.

The expert's description

Choya Sake Gold Label Japan 75 cl 14.5% is a Japanese Sake brewed from rice and water and bottled at 14.5%.

The name on the label belongs to Choya in Osaka, the house that is the world's largest producer of umeshu. Umeshu is made from the ume fruit, a relative of the apricot and the plum with markedly higher acidity, and that experience with acid and fruit leaves a clear mark on the house sake. Gold Label is the soft, dry expression, and this bottling sits at a higher strength than the house's other sake.

In the glass it is pale yellow. The nose is restrained, with melon, almond and red rice, and the palate is fresh with a light sweetness and a fruity character, the dry base holding everything together. There are no heavy fermentation notes or sharp edges, and that is precisely why it can accompany a whole meal without tiring the palate.

The 75 cl bottle is the larger of the two sizes Gold Label comes in. This is the format for the table rather than for two: enough to open as an aperitif, carry on through sashimi and grilled fish, and warm the last measure at the end so you get both sides of it in one evening.

Tasting notes

Nose

Pale and restrained on the nose as well. Melon and almond sit side by side, and beneath them a dry, faintly grainy tone off the red rice.

Palate

Soft the whole way, with a sweetness that is more a suggestion than a statement. The fruit fills out the middle, and a dry base keeps it from turning round and heavy. Served warm, the almond steps forward and the sweetness falls back.

Finish

Clean and fairly short. The dry tone lingers longest, and it is exactly that tone which makes you reach for another sip alongside the food.

Specifications

Name: Choya Sake Gold Label Japan 75 cl 14.5%
Producer: Choya
Region/Country: Osaka, Japan
Type: Japanese Sake
ABV: 14.5%
Size: 75 CL
EAN no.: 4017871800031
Serving suggestion: Lightly chilled as an aperitif or with sushi and fish dishes, and warmed with hot food

Flavour profile

Fresh · Fruity · Lightly sweet · Soft · Dry

Did you know?

Sake is served across a wider temperature range than any other everyday drink, and Japanese has its own word for each step. Hitohada-kan means skin temperature and sits around 35 degrees, while atsu-kan is the hot serve at around 50 degrees.

See our full range of Sake and Shochu

Frequently asked questions about Choya Sake Gold Label Japan 75 cl 14.5%

How many glasses are there in a 75 cl bottle?

Around fifteen pours using the traditional 4-6 cl cups. That covers four people through a full meal, or six if it is only served with the starter. Poured into wine glasses instead, it comes to roughly six to eight servings.

Can Choya Sake Gold Label be used in cocktails?

Yes, and the fruity, dry style lends itself to it. Sake works as a soft base in a Samurai Rock, where lime juice cuts through, and it can be topped with sparkling wine for a light, crisp drink. The low alcohol strength means you need more sake than you would use of a Japanese Whisky, and the drink lands milder.

Which glass should you drink it from?

The traditional small cups are called ochoko or sakazuki and are used above all for the warm serve. Served cold, an ordinary white wine glass actually gives more: the wider surface releases the melon and the almond the way it would with an aromatic white.

Does it work as an aperitif?

Yes, that is one of its best roles. The low alcohol strength and the light sweetness open the palate rather than close it, and there is no bitterness or tannin standing in the way of the food that follows. Serve it lightly chilled in small measures before the first course.

What is the difference between sake and umeshu?

Sake is brewed from rice, while umeshu is a liqueur made by steeping ume fruit in alcohol with sugar. Sake is dry to lightly sweet and usually sits around 14-16%, whereas umeshu is markedly sweeter and more tart. Choya is known for both, but they are entirely different drinks.

How should an unopened bottle of sake be stored?

Dark and cool, ideally below 15 degrees. Sake gains nothing from bottle age, quite the opposite, and light and heat only speed up the loss of fruit. Unlike wine, a bottle of sake should be drunk reasonably fresh, so do not put it away for years.