Local sake strike gold in London

Local sake brews picked up gold awards in the sake section of the International Wine Challenge in London this week.

Kyokuhou Shuzo in Kabe also won a gold award for its koshu aged sake Kyokuhou Daiginjou Omachi Einen Koshu [大吟醸雄町２１年古酒], an amber colored brew which has been aged for 21 years.

Enoki Shuzo brewery, which is located in the tiny port town of Ondo near Kure, should also be mentioned for their gold award for their port-like Hanahato Kijoshu [華鳩貴醸酒８年貯蔵] which is aged for 8 years. On this winner, judges commented, “Attractive ripe flavors of apricot and almond on nose. Refreshing balance. A well structured aged sake. Rich in aroma, creamy on palate with good texture.” Apparently it’s good on ice cream.

I wonder if these breweries will be among the 30 or so that are participating in the Nihonshu Sansan Sake Festival in Alice Garden. If not, I’m sure you pick up a bottle or two at Yamato-ya.

All the medal winners (for all categories, not just sake) can be viewed and narrowed down here and you can download a free smartphone app for iPhone here and Android here (although at time of writing it doesn’t seem as if the app had been fully updated to include all the 2013 medal winners).