It was just after six o’ clock on a brisk Thursday evening when I arrived at the New Otani Hotel in Little Tokyo.  Tonight, Sushi and Tofu magazine put together a sake tasting offering a selection that included 51 different sakes.  While my knowledge of the intricacies involved in wine tasting could be classified as “limited” at best, I consider myself well practiced in the area of consumption.  My first experience with wine tasting came when I was a young teenager.  By some rare stroke of luck, a good friend was able to procure a 1991 vintage bottle of Mad Dog 20/20 (Red Grape Flavor).  The full body of this delicious port drove my young mind to new and uncharted territories, a place where inebriation and Mike Tyson’s Punch Out could run hand in hand.  Years quickly passed and as I became more mature so did my taste in wine.  During my college years I was officially sponsored by the wine company Franzia.  While this partnership held great promise, I was eventually dropped from the “Only The Box Rocks Party Team 2000” for numerous conduct violations which ultimately lead my arrest and subsequent county jail time.  After locating the tasting area in the hotel and gazing into a room solely dedicated to the drinking of sake, I realized that it was going to be a beautiful evening.

At the conclusion of a brief powerpoint presentation on sake brewing and serving etiquette, it was time for the tasting to begin.  As I wandered about the room I saw many of the Cooking Club regulars.  Shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries, we discussed the sakes we had tasted and which ones we had enjoyed.  To compliment all of the wonderful drink, guests were also provided a delicious buffet and sushi bar.  By the end of the night I had tasted 37 of the 51 sakes.  Had I not been driving I certainly would have gone for the gold, but instead I decided to adhere to this ancient Japanese saying “Thirty-five good to drive, forty-five D.U.I.”

After experiencing the majority of the sake selection provided, I will now give my top three sake recommendations.

1. Shimeharitsuru Jun: Without a doubt my favorite sake of the night.  The flavor is light, crisp and extremely smooth.  After talking with the server I was informed that due to its limited production, this sake can only be purchased by restaurants.  So if you ever see it on a menu when you are dining out, indulge yourself, you will not regret it.
     
2. Kubota Manjyu: This is a delicious sake with a flavor that is light and bouncy.  Due to these descriptive facts I was forced to re-taste this sake several times so I could wallow in its immaculate splendor.
     
3. Yuki No Matsushima: This sake has a full body, is ultra dry and is very strong.  While I do not know the literal translation of this name, I would venture to guess that it might mean “Liquid Wingman” or perhaps “Prelude to a Night of Regret.”

In conclusion I can say that I had a fantastic time at this year’s Sushi and Tofu sponsored sake tasting.  Join me next month as we enter back into the cooking world.  Until then be safe, and when in doubt serve more sake.