Review: Oishii Sake – Clear and Cloudy
We’ve brought you coverage of sake from Arkansas. Up next is Virginia, where Oishii (“delicious” in Japanese) produces two varieties of sake (along with some new ready-to-drink offerings based on sake). While the operation uses Virginia water, it surprisingly also uses Arkansas-grown rice. Packaged in spirit-like bottles and clearly designed with low abv cocktail-making in mind, we tasted both varieties and offer some thoughts.
Prices for 750ml bottles are shown. Half-bottles and cans are also available.
Oishii Clear Junmai Sake – Made from 70% polished Titan rice, filtered. The nose is authentic and refreshing, showcasing clean honeydew melon notes and a sprinkle of salt, with just the lightest touch of soy-driven umami underneath. Refreshing on the palate, it’s very clean with notes of fresh linens, jasmine, and sustained melon notes. Again there’s a light note of soy on the finish, but it’s altogether pleasant and complementary, an engaging and approachable sake. B+ / $30
Oishii Cloudy Junmai Sake – Also 70% polished Titan rice, but unfiltered in the nigori style. A surprisingly bold umami element here dominates the experience with a brooding, soy-adjacent quality that tempers the underlying notes of honeydew and brown banana with flavors that run to rye bread and wet mushroom. Rounded and mouth-filling in body, it’s slightly salty on the finish with a reprise of soy and a slightly gummy consistency that clings to the sides of the mouth. It’s almost weedy at times, making it miss out on a much-needed, cleansing fade-out. B- / $30
Oishii Clear Junmai Sake
USD30
I just tried this. It’s not Sake and pretty awful. The mouth feel and finish border on disgusting. Some clown from Miami that is not Asian in the least, has no business making sake.