America is falling in love with Asian spirits. TyKu, an American company, recently provided samplings of two of their products for review.  The first of those is TyKu Sake, a super premium Junmai-Ginjo.

In previous articles, readers learned that the special junmai-ginjo designation means that at least 40 percent of the impurities of the rice grains have been milled or polished away, leaving only the best parts for brewing.  The literature provided with the sake suggests that TyKu sake be served slightly chilled.  Coming in at only 15% ABV, TyKu Sake is easily drinkable to anyone who enjoys a fine wine or craft brew, but without the heaviness that some of those beverages can sometimes leave behind.

The author will admit that he wasn’t all too familiar with sake, having a bad experience in tasting many years before.   However, TyKu was light, crisp and refreshing.  The bouquet was similar to that of a nice wine, smelling of fresh fruits and flowers.  A familiar flavor of soft, fleshy pears lingers on the tongue.  A subtle distinct earthiness is detected upon swallowing. The finish is clean, leaving little or no aftertaste.

TyKu Sake could be enjoyed with your evening meal, perhaps with pork or light, grilled fish or poultry.

TyKu Sake is a product of the United States, brewed and bottled in Oregon, where the koji is hand-made in the only cedar-lined koji room in the states.  It can be found along with its counterpart, TyKu Liqueur, in many metro area. stores.