Hyakujuro Daikarakuchi Junmai Akazura (百十郎 大辛口純米 赤面)

Hayashi Honten, located in Kakamigahara City, Gifu Prefecture, is a historic brewery. Its flagship brand 'Hyakujuro' is named after Ichikawa Hyakujuro, a kabuki actor who donated cherry trees to the region, and the striking kabuki makeup (Kumadori) on the label clearly represents the sake's distinct personality. Among the lineup, 'Akazura' (Red Face), true to its name, is a Junmaishu pursuing an intense 'Daikarakuchi' (extra dry) profile. While retaining the robust inherent umami of the rice with a 70% polishing ratio, the fermentation is pushed to the limit to achieve an overwhelmingly sharp Sake Meter Value of +10 to +12. Borrowing the evaluations of sommeliers and passionate Karakuchi (dry sake) enthusiasts, the charm of this sake lies in its neat humility, not showing off in its aroma. When poured, a very faint and clean aroma of clear water and grain quietly rises. Upon taking a sip, the round and solid rice umami typical of a Junmaishu seems to briefly fill the mouth, before an overwhelmingly sharp dryness with absolutely zero sweetness delivers a thrilling tension to the tip of the tongue. The intense and punchy finish refreshingly and neatly cleanses the palate, making it an excellent and fascinating food-pairing sake that never loses its ground even against oily or heavily seasoned dishes, crisply resetting the taste buds.

Hyakujuro Daikarakuchi Junmai Akazura offers a clean and dry profile, lending itself well to the following pairings. 1. Teriyaki Unagi Donburi (Eel Rice Bowl): A traditional Japanese dish where the sweet and savory teriyaki sauce cuts through the richness of the eel, enhancing the sake's clean minerality and subtle rice umami. The sake's dry finish helps cleanse the palate after the oily eel. 2. Sweet and Sour Pork or Braised Pork Belly (Kakuni): The sharp and uncompromising dryness typical of Akazura perfectly subdues the sticky sweetness of Chinese cuisine or the heavy texture of pork fat, while the intense finish thrillingly washes away the oiliness, making the next bite refreshing.