“This sake has such a unique flavor. There are strong hits of black pepper and cedar. It's much different from other jumai's I have tasted, so it's a nice change up. If you don't like peppery or woody, do not buy.”
“Delicious! I’ve had it hot and cold, very refreshing, well rounded flavor and not overpowering. I actually prefer it warmed up a little it brings out an almost sweet honey note at the front. Highly recommend”
“When I first opened the bottle, I got a nice, distinct whiff of plantain, and my family all agreed. Another pleasant surprise was the strength of the peppery flavor; it went perfectly with our dinner. I'll definitely be buying another bottle.”
“I recently paired this sake with Tebasaki (see my Tebasaki Japanese Faves lesson on my Chef’s Apprentice YouTube channel) for a six bottle/six Japanese course/six guest sake night. Our guests loved the pairing, but to be honest I’ll drink almost any sake with any food. We served this sake in both a masu and an ochoko so that our guests could experience the taru-osity of the sake itself in the ochoko and also amped up with the masu’s cedar. One guest thought the masu made it overpowering but I don’t think you can have too much of a good thing.John Hornick”
“On a recent 6 course/6 bottle/6 people sake night I paired the Kiku-Masamune Junmai and it’s awesome Taru-osity with the Tebasaki from my Japanese Faves series on my Chef’s Apprentice YouTube channel. Everyone loved the sake and the pairing. I served this sake cold, in both a cedar masu and a glass ochoko so that our guests could experience the sake’s cedariness on its own, in the glass, and in cedar-bomb fashion in the masu. One guest found the masu’s cedar overpowering as it multiplied the sake’s taru taste and aroma, but I don’t think you can have too much of a good thing, so I loved it both ways. John Hornick”
