Description
Rice: 100% Tatsuno-Otoshigo (Proprietary).
Polishing Ratio (Seimaibuai): 35%.
ABV: 15% – 16%.
This specific bottling from Takagi Shuzo is a masterclass in proprietary viticulture (or “oryziculture”) and precision pressing. While most ultra-premium sake relies on the “King of Rice,” Yamada Nishiki, this cuvée celebrates a rice grain born and bred within the brewery’s own walls: Tatsuno-Otoshigo.
In the world of sake, this is the equivalent of a “Monopole” or a “Grower” Champagne—a wine that could not exist anywhere else on earth.
The Technical Trinity: Tatsuno, Nakatori, Jomorohaku
To understand why this NV (Non-Vintage) release carries such a high valuation among collectors, one must decode the three technical pillars on the label:
1. Tatsuno-Otoshigo (The “Dragon’s Spawn” Rice)
Developed by the 15th-generation head, Akitsuna Takagi, this rice is a cross between Yamashu No. 4 and Miyamanishiki.
The Result: It possesses a very large, soft starch heart (shinpaku) that allows for a deep 35% polish without shattering. This gives the sake its signature crystalline purity and a unique “white floral” aromatic profile.
2. Nakatori (The Heart of the Press)
When sake is pressed, the liquid comes out in three stages.
The First (Arabashiri): Often wild and slightly cloudy.
The Last (Seme): Can be bitter or heavy.
The Nakatori: This is the middle cut—the “Goldilocks” zone. It is the most balanced, elegant, and aromatically pure portion of the batch.
3. Jomorohaku (The Antique Standard)
A historical term brought back by Juyondai. It signifies that 100% of the rice used—both the fermenting rice and the koji-inoculated rice—is highly polished white rice. This represents a level of luxury and clarity that was historically reserved for the Imperial court.
The Appearance: Crystalline and silver-flecked, with a slight viscous “tear” on the glass.
The Nose: Quintessential Juyondai “Melon-Bomb.” Intense aromas of ripe musk melon, Fuji apple, and wild strawberry, layered with delicate notes of white lily and a hint of sweet rice pudding.
The Palate: Silken and “weightless.” It enters with a lush, honeyed sweetness that immediately gives way to a velvety mid-palate. Despite its richness, it never feels heavy.
The Finish: Remarkably clean. It leaves a faint impression of fennel and alpine water, departing the palate with a refreshing “snap.”
