Sake is polished rice, koji, water and patience — and its grades are simply a map of how much rice was milled away and whether the bottle was left undiluted. This guide explains junmai, honjozo, daiginjo, genshu and umeshu through five bottles from $19.99 to $59.99, all available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, our family-owned store in San Diego, California. Browse the full sake collection and the wine collection for more.
Five Bottles That Explain Sake and Umeshu
- Gekkeikan Black and Gold Sake — $19.99. A full-bodied junmai-shu at 15.6% ABV, brewed in Folsom, California by Gekkeikan — founded in Fushimi, Kyoto in 1637. The brewmaster blends two house sakes from rice milled to 60% and 70% for honeydew, papaya, anise and roasted-nut depth in the distinctive black bottle.
- Choya Shiso Umeshu Sake — $24.99. Not brewed sake but umeshu — ume fruit, sugar and cane spirit at 15% ABV from CHOYA of Osaka, flavoured with shiso (perilla) extract for its ruby-red colour and refreshing aroma over the classic sweet-tart ume base. Serve chilled or over ice.
- Akashi-Tai Shiraume Ginjo Umeshu Sake — $27.99. Plum wine built on real sake: shiraume plums macerated six months in premium ginjo sake (Yamadanishiki milled to 58%) at Akashi Sake Brewery in Hyogo, in a 500mL bottle at 14% ABV. Rich prune and almond with a refreshing dry finish.
- Akashi-Tai Honjozo Tokubetsu Sake — $39.99. Honjozo milled like a ginjo: 100% Gohyakumangoku polished to 60%, a small addition of distilled alcohol before pressing, 15% ABV and a semi-dry Sake Meter Value of +2. Crisp, savory and precise, brewed by fourth-generation Toji Kimio Yonezawa in Akashi City, Hyogo.
- Akashi-Tai Daiginjo Genshu Sake — $59.99. The top pour: Yamadanishiki polished to 38% and bottled genshu — undiluted — at 17% ABV. Melon, citrus and flowers over a long orange-peel finish with a touch of star anise. The connoisseur's pick of this lineup.
How to Read a Sake Label
Junmai means rice, koji and water only; honjozo allows a small addition of distilled alcohol that lifts aroma; daiginjo means at least half the rice was polished away — the Akashi-Tai Daiginjo goes to 38% remaining — for delicacy and perfume. Genshu means undiluted, so expect fuller flavour and higher alcohol. Umeshu is a different tradition altogether: ume fruit steeped until sweet and tart. Serve premium sake chilled in a wine glass, and see our blog, FAQs and shipping policy for more.
Frequently asked questions
Should sake be served warm or cold?
Premium grades like daiginjo and ginjo are best chilled, where their fruit and floral aromatics stay intact. Fuller junmai styles such as Gekkeikan Black and Gold work chilled, at room temperature, or gently warmed.
What does the polishing ratio mean?
It is the percentage of the rice grain that remains after milling. Lower means more was polished away and the sake is typically more delicate and aromatic — 38% for the Akashi-Tai Daiginjo Genshu versus 60% for its Honjozo Tokubetsu.
What is umeshu?
Umeshu is Japanese plum wine: ume fruit steeped in spirit or, in Akashi-Tai Shiraume's case, in ginjo sake itself, with sugar. It pours sweet-tart and is served chilled, over ice, or with soda.
Can I buy sake online at Del Mesa Liquor?
Yes — all five bottles in this guide are available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, our family-owned store in San Diego, California, subject to shipping eligibility in your state.