| Brand | Atago no Matsu |
| Region | Miyagi, Tohoku, Japan |
| Spirits Type | Sake |
| Spirits Style | Honjozo |
| ABV | 15.5% / Rice Polishing: 60% |
Product details
Atago no Matsu, a flagship from Niizawa Brewery—founded in 1873 in Miyagi Prefecture—is crafted with an unwavering dedication to meal-time sake that genuinely enhances every dish. Today now led by fifth-generation brewers including master brewer Nanami Watanabe, the brewery has earned acclaim for using premium Hyogo-grown Yamada Nishiki rice polished to 60%—a grain typically reserved for ginjo-grade sake, yet here employed in a Tokubetsu Honjozo to spectacular effect. Its production follows the sokujo (fast-brew) method, with a hint of brewer’s alcohol added after fermentation to unlock brighter aromas without overwhelming the palate. Niizawa’s vision—to create a sake that is both affordable and sophisticated—was recognized in 2022 when this sake earned the International Wine Challenge Honjozo Trophy & Great Value Champion accolade.
On the palate, Atago no Matsu Tokubetsu Honjozo delivers refined elegance and versatility. Expect a light–medium body with a harmonious bouquet of wild strawberry, red apple, melon, cucumber, and delicate cream notes, all underscored by fresh herbal and vegetal nuances. With a crisp, clean, subtly dry finish (SMV around +7, acidity ~1.6), it effortlessly cleanses the palate, inviting another sip. Serve this sake slightly chilled (approx. 10 °C) to showcase its fruit-forward finesse, or gently warmed (~40 °C) to accentuate its creamy, vegetal character. It earns its reputation as the “ultimate food sake,” pairing beautifully with raw oysters, scallops, fluke sashimi, miso-glazed monkfish, and even caviar or grilled chicken (salted)—a truly adaptable companion for Japanese cuisine and beyond.
