The Ginjo Bar is back. This annual event organized by the Nippon Ginjoshu Kyokai has taken place at various venues over the years. This time it's in Shinbashi, at the very excellent sake specialist bar Kuri.
It runs between June 5 and August 29, but only at weekends (on other days Kuri operates its usual hours and menu). A total of 56 kura are offering their brews, split into 4 groups of 14, each of which are presented over three weekends. Each kura is offering up to 3 different brews — which range from ¥200 to ¥400 per shot (45ml.)
We dropped in on the first evening yesterday and found several of our old favourites, and also got to know a few we weren't previously familiar with — which is the whole point of the exercise (that and getting happy, of course). Here's a sampling of what we sampled.
First off: The massive Akitsu, from Tatsuriki in Hyogo; and our perennial favourite, Yamahai-jikomi Junmai-daiginjo from Tedorigawa (Ishikawa)...
the wonderful Tedorigawa Daiginjo Meiryu...
Junmai Dragon, also from Tatsuriki (Hyogo); distinctive not just for its label but its umami-laden flavour profile (slogan: 甘味は旨味 — amami wa umami)...
Hamachidori, from Iwate — this one new to us — offered three grades (only two pictured), all very worthy, but it was the middle one Daiginjo (on the left) that we drained fastest...
Kudokijozu (Yamagata) is an old and ever-welcome friend. This one is the superb special brew identified merely as 愛山48％ (not sure if that's read as Aizan or Aiyama — forgot to ask)...
And then there's Kaiun (Shizuoka), always a big favourite around these parts, this one the fragrant Daiginjo Tobindori.
Besides the three offerings earmarked for the Ginjo Bar, Kuri also has another that's unannounced: called Ryoryo, it's been brewed light and crisp specially for the summer...
Water (shikomi-mizu) is supplied free of charge; but all this drinking without eating can prove a challenge. At least, Kuri supplies a few chinmi and simple snacks...
