Yaegaki, whose name symbolises celebration and joy, is one of the most popular junmai daiginjo's in the US, known for its fruity flavors and silky texture.

It's popularity in the US isn't by accident - it takes a whole lot for sake brands to break out of Japan and gain serious popularity in foreign markets. Yaegaki has actually produced sakes in the US since 1987. In 2003, the sake brewer made a move to Vernon, South California, and currently remains the only Japan-based sake brewery in the area. This has allowed Yaegaki to keep prices affordable and build out a distribution and awareness across the US - of course, having a good product helps as well. Yaegaki currently straddles its US brewery and its original brewery in Himeji, in the Hyogo Prefecture of Japan.

Himeji Castle. (Image Source: Inspiring Vacations)

Going back to the brewery's origins, Yaegaki translates to "Eight Layered Wall", which comes from a famous Japanese poem that chronicles the Shinto deity of Himeji who created an eight layered wall of clouds around his palace in celebration and protection of his wife. The brewery was founded in 1666, with the "Yaegaki" brand itself created in 1881, making this one of the oldest breweries around at over 350 years of history. 

Now, with two breweries across Japan and the US, it's the mark of a good quality brand when they tell you transparently what's made where - today's pair of Yaegaki's, the Mu Junmai Daiginjo and the Mu Junmai Daiginjo Black Label are both made in the Himeji brewery in Japan.

Keeping 350 year old traditions alive.

The "Mu" label comes from the Japanese word for "nothingness" - it was created in celebration of Yaegaki's 320th anniversary in 1986, where the brewery had sought to preserve its human-made nature of its sake brewing craft rather than transition to machine-made sake. The "return to basics" principle inspired the characterisation of "nothingness", hence "Mu".

Yaegaki Mu Junmai Daiginjo - Review

The Mu Junmai Daiginjo expression is brewed using a combination of Yamada Nishiki and Gohyakumangoku rice polished to 50%, and it is bottled at 15% ABV. Yaegaki says this is a Light, Slightly Sweet profile.

Tasting Notes

Color: Clear 

Aroma: Bright with light notes of melon, little bit confectionary like bubblegum and then fresh lightly milky and tart yogurt. Gentle wafts of fresh coconut shavings.

Taste: Really fresh green apple slices - it's crunchy almost with a light sweetness but somewhat tart - very aromatic. Also freshly picked Chardonnay green grapes. Alittle bit of basil as well, very gentle herbaceousness. Smooth and medium-bodied.

Finish: Short but aromatic, leaving a delightful green apple candy scent.

My Thoughts

This was fantastic! Although it's fruity, it's only lightly sweet and even more lightly tart. It's very easy to enjoy and almost reminds me of an apple cider but with a side of fresh yogurt. Very refreshing and enjoyable, summer-y almost. I can see why this is so popular - it is fruity but not overly sweet with just the slightest touch of acidity to balance it out. It really lives up to the hype. Can't see why anyone wouldn't enjoy it - it's not complex but it drinks so easily.

Yaegaki Mu Junmai Daiginjo Black Label - Review

The Mu Black Label is brewed from 100% Yamada Nishiki rice polished to 40%, and finally bottled at 16% ABV. This is supposed to have a Light but Moderately Sweet profile. 

Tasting Notes

Color: Clear 

Aroma: Alittle bit darker and heavier with notes of red apple, a little bit of mulled wine. It's more concentrated and richer in its sweetness, almost like blackberry jam. 

Taste: Definitely alot heftier here but still remarkably fruity - here it's more on pinot noir black grapes, ripe red apples and and alittle bit of nuttiness of walnut. It's creamier and thicker, but still moves quite seamlessly. There's a little bit more creamy but slight sourness that is reminiscent of rice pudding.

Finish: It fades more gently but retains the mellow but strong note of grape yogurt, with just alittle bit of nutty zing and black pepper.

My Thoughts

This is surprisingly complex and expresses flavors that are really impressive - I've really not found sakes to have such rich and deep yet sweet flavors. Towars the palate it is almost reminiscent of a Madeira wine - bold dark but sweet and slightly tannic flavors, and just a touch of nutty funkiness and black pepper.

The flavors are incredibly interesting and really enjoyable to sip effortlessly. Quite frankly this is such an easy drinker and so approachable.

Overall

I'd like the Mu to a slightly sweet but bright and lighter bodied white wine, perhaps a Chardonnay, while the Mu Black Label treads more closely to a bolder, darker, slightly spicy Madeira red wine. They're both fruity and generally sweet but what's nice is that while both have so much flavor, they're never overly sweet with just the right tartness to balance it out, and have great textures that never do get thin or watery.

Both are ridiculously interesting and easy to drink and so thoroughly enjoyable. It really is a wonder that they're always the first to sell out, which was the case at the Singapore Sake Matsuri Festival where I tried this, which I heard was also what happened at last year's event.

Definitely a must try.

Kanpai!

@111hotpot