Have you heard of the sake maker "Noguchi Naohiko Research Institute"?

Noguchi Naohiko Research Institute, located in Komatsu, Ishikawa Prefecture, made a full comeback last year with Noguchi Naohiko as its master brewer. The brewery was established in November 2017 with the concept of studying the techniques, spirit, and lifestyle of artisans and passing them on to the next generation.


This time, I purchased a honjozo unfiltered unpasteurized sake made with rice harvested in 2018.

I'm not particularly tolerant of alcohol, and my body doesn't really crave it, but the sake here is truly delicious. I love it.

Of course, preferences vary, but with one sip, the fresh, refreshing fruitiness of pear gently spreads throughout your mouth. First of all, it's delicious. Then, as soon as you swallow it, you feel like it's seeping into your body...? In short, it's very easy to drink.

It's apparently a sake to enjoy with meals, highly acclaimed by sushi chefs and Japanese chefs.

Noguchi's first encounter with sake was while catering for a fashion exhibition. The first time he tried it was from the 2017 Vintage collection with a green label. It wasn't love at first sight, it was love at first sip. It was also the beginning of his interest in pairing "alcohol" with "food."

The other day, I stopped by a store in Komatsu Airport to buy some, but the exact same brand was sold out. However, they had the 2018 Vintage collection, so I bought the owner's top recommendation, "Honjozo Unfiltered Nama Genshu (the one in the photo above) made with rice harvested in 2018."

Not only is the sake delicious, but the website and the tasting tour at the brewery, which requires a reservation, are well-branded and really nice. Amazing!

FASHION HEADLINE previously ran news about the release of limited edition products, so if you're interested, please check it out here as well.