Last week, we took a trip and tour to the Sachimae Sake Mill, which is located about an hour outside of Sasebo. Knowing that dad is a huge microbrewery fan, I knew he'd get a kick out of this sake mill tour --- very parallel experiences!
Sake is rice wine. The taste depends on the region where made, as every region grows different "flavored" rice. Sake is between 12-19% alcohol. Sake can be enjoyed both warm and cold and is commonly drank with Japanese meals.
The tour was informative and (reportedly) tasty. Being the driver, I didn't partake in the massive sampling.... although I did have some sake ice cream that is made from the mash (leftover rice mixture) and really enjoyed it! This mill is family owned and operated and is 80 years old. They bottle and sell about 12 different types of sake.
Sake is aged for different times, which creates different flavors.
The photos show a sakebayoshi, which is a topiary ball made from cedar leaves. Mills hang this ball outside when sake is produced and once the ball turns from green to brown, the sake is considered aged enough to sell.
Also is a picture of Cora's first tour. She's next to a sake vat that, we were told, if she drank 1/2 liter of sake per day for the rest of her life, she would finish this vat!
1 comment:
Cora-
Don't do it! Or you will need a new liver by age 2!
Aunt Becky
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