What is the difference between Junmai and Junmai Daiginjo?

Junmai Sake is brewed using only rice, water, yeast and koji. Junmai Daiginjo Sake is brewed using only rice, water, yeast and koji. There are no other additives. To qualify as a Daiginjo, the rice grain must be milled to 50% or less of it’s original size.

Is Junmai Daiginjo the best?

Junmai daiginjo represents sake at its absolute finest. It’s brewed using a rice grain with a minimum polishing ratio no more than 50% of its original grain size. The best-of-the-best can even get as low as 23%. Junmai daiginjo sakes even trump junmai ginjo, the “introductory” premium sake.

Is daiginjo sake good?

Daiginjo (大吟醸) is super premium sake (hence the “dai,” or “big”) and is regarded by many as the pinnacle of the brewer’s art. It requires precise brewing methods and uses rice that has been polished all the way down to at least 50 percent.

How do you drink Junmai Daiginjo sake?

While Junmai-style sake can be served warm, Junmai Ginjo or Junmai Daiginjo style sake is best served chilled to preserve the delicate floral and fruity aroma and flavors, which are enhanced by a chilled temperature.

What does daiginjo mean?

big ginjo
Daiginjo, which literally means “big ginjo,” is often the most prized bottling of the sake brewery, representing the height of the brewmaster’s ability. A minimum of 50% of the outer rice layers must be polished away to classify a sake as daiginjo.

What is the highest quality sake?

The following is a list of the best sake to drink right now, according to these experts.

• Best Overall: Hakkaisan Tokubetsu Junmai.
• Best Junmai: Shichida Junmai.
• Best Ginjo: Dewazakura Cherry Bouquet Oka Ginjo.
• Best Daiginjo: Dassai 39 Junmai Daiginjo.
• Best Kimoto: Kurosawa Junmai Kimoto.
• Best Nigori: Kikusui Perfect Snow.

How do you serve daiginjo?

Fragrant premium sakes such as ginjo and daiginjo types are best enjoyed slightly chilled, room temperature or slightly warmed.

What is junmai in sake?

Junmai often refers to sake that’s milled to 70%, but in the broad sense it means “pure rice sake.” Sometimes you’ll see several different categories of Junmai. Ginjo is milled to 60% Seimaibuai and daginjo is milled to 50%.

Is distilled alcohol added in Junmai Daiginjo?

In the premium grades of sake, those above futsuu-shu, the three classifications on the left side (junmai-shu, junmai ginjo-shu, junmai daiginjo-shu), i.e. anything with the word “junmai” in it, has been made with rice only; no distilled alcohol has been added at all.

What are the levels of sake?

Junmai-shu, Ginjo-shu, Daiginjo-shu, Honjozo-shu and Namazake are the five main kinds of sake. They are brewed in slightly different ways and make use of different percentage of milling and hence, have a unique taste.

What temperature do you drink Junmai Daiginjo?

Recommended Serving Temperature by Sake Variety