Sake, Soju, Plum Wine

Juicy, lifted and wonderfully expressive.
Assemblage 4 brings a more playful and vibrant dimension to IWA 5, combining generous texture with remarkable freshness. Notes of marzipan, citrus zest, sansho and fennel unfold across a sake that feels energetic, precise and beautifully composed.

With Assemblage 4, IWA continues to explore the possibilities of assemblage through contrast and balance. There is richness here, but it is never heavy. Instead, the sake moves effortlessly across the palate, with bright aromatics and savory complexity creating a sense of constant motion.

The nose opens with delicate notes of marzipan and fresh citrus zest, followed by the distinctive aromatic lift of sansho pepper. As the sake develops, subtle herbal and anise-like tones of fennel emerge, adding freshness and complexity.

On the palate, Assemblage 4 is juicy, supple and energetic. Its rounded texture is balanced by a lively, finely structured freshness that keeps the sake focused from beginning to end. Citrus and spice carry through the finish, leaving a clean, savory and mouthwatering impression.

The result is a Junmai Daiginjo that feels both sophisticated and spontaneous — expressive enough to enjoy on its own, yet versatile and dynamic at the table.

Style: Juicy · Dancing · Marzipan · Sansho · Citrus Zest · Fennel

Serving: Serve lightly chilled. Particularly rewarding with food, and worth allowing to develop in the glass as its temperature slowly rises.

Assemblage 4 captures IWA's signature sense of harmony while introducing an especially lively, vibrant and gastronomic personality.

Producer: IWA 5  |  Region: Toyama, Japan  |  Type: Junmai Daiginjo  |  Volume: 720ml

Gravitas, depth and beautifully layered complexity.
Assemblage 5 reveals a deeper, more contemplative side of IWA 5, combining richness and aromatic intensity with the precision and balance that define the project. Notes of plum, raspberry, jasmine, pineapple and almond unfold gradually, creating a sake of remarkable dimension and poise.

With Assemblage 5, IWA moves toward greater depth and concentration while preserving an essential sense of freshness. The aromatics are generous yet refined, with ripe fruit, delicate florals and subtle nutty tones coming together in a seamless, harmonious expression.

The nose opens with notes of plum and raspberry, followed by an elegant floral lift of jasmine. As the sake develops in the glass, hints of pineapple and almond emerge, adding richness and complexity without overwhelming its finely balanced character.

On the palate, Assemblage 5 is broad, layered and composed. There is a satisfying sense of weight and depth, yet the texture remains polished and controlled. Fruit, floral and savory elements build gradually toward a long, refined finish that is both generous and exceptionally precise.

The result is a Junmai Daiginjo with genuine gravitas — complex and expressive, but never excessive. It rewards slow tasting and continues to reveal new dimensions as it opens in the glass.

Style: Gravitas · Depth · Plum · Raspberry · Jasmine · Pineapple · Almond

Serving: Serve lightly chilled and allow time in the glass for the aromatics and texture to fully develop. An excellent choice for richer dishes and more contemplative drinking.

Assemblage 5 shows IWA at its most profound and layered, balancing generosity and depth with remarkable elegance and control.

Producer: IWA 5  |  Region: Toyama, Japan  |  Type: Junmai Daiginjo  |  Volume: 720ml

Intensity without weight.
Bright floral and vegetal notes gradually reveal deeper tones and IWA's characteristic white-pepper spice. The palate is energetic, seamless and beautifully balanced, culminating in a racy, tactile finish.

With Assemblage 3, IWA turns up the intensity while maintaining the sense of equilibrium that defines the project.

The nose is highly defined, opening with bright vegetal and floral impressions rather than overt fruit. Given time and air, deeper and more complex tones emerge, accompanied by the distinctive suggestion of white pepper that has become part of IWA's aromatic signature.

The palate delivers an impressive combination of presence and weightlessness. Energetic and finely structured, it builds toward a tactile, racy and intensely mouthwatering finish without becoming heavy. The result is a Junmai Daiginjo that feels simultaneously powerful and exceptionally controlled.

Assemblage 3 combines Yamada Nishiki, Omachi and Gohyakumangoku, five yeast strains, predominantly traditional Kimoto and reserve sake components. The individual components are polished to 35%, with no added alcohol.

Style: Intense · Floral · Energetic · White Pepper · Mouthwatering

Serving: Excellent with food and particularly interesting as it develops with air and temperature.

Assemblage 3 is where IWA's quiet elegance begins to show a distinctly more energetic edge.

Producer: IWA 5  |  Region: Toyama, Japan  |  Type: Junmai Daiginjo  |  Volume: 720ml

Purity comes into focus.
Assemblage 2 heightens the aromatic expression of IWA 5, building upon the balance and textural complexity of the inaugural release while placing greater emphasis on purity and aromatic definition. Floral and vegetal when cool, increasingly fruity and spicy as it warms, it finishes mineral, persistent and mouthwatering.

At cooler temperatures, the sake is taut, luminous and precise, showing delicate vegetal and floral qualities. As it warms, the expression becomes more energetic and expansive, with fruit and spice emerging alongside increased persistence.

At warmer temperatures, the palate gains body and breadth while retaining its clarity, introducing mineral, earthy and gently bitter elements with a mouthwatering, savory finish and nuances of licorice.

The assemblage is composed from Yamada Nishiki, Omachi and Gohyakumangoku, along with five different yeast strains, predominantly traditional Kimoto and reserve sake components. All individual components are polished to 35%, with no added alcohol.

Style: Pure · Floral · Vibrant · Mineral · Precise

Serving: Particularly compelling as it moves from cool to cellar temperature. For the collector interested in following the evolution of IWA, Assemblage 2 marks an important refinement of the original vision — clearer, brighter and increasingly expressive.

Assemblage 2 is where IWA's purity of vision becomes unmistakable.

Producer: IWA 5  |  Region: Toyama, Japan  |  Type: Junmai Daiginjo  |  Volume: 720ml

Little Sumo Junmai Genshu — Hyogo Prefecture, Japan (200ml Cup)

Little Sumo is brewed in Hyogo Prefecture — Japan's most celebrated sake-producing region and home to the legendary Nada district, where the mineral-rich 'Miyamizu' spring water has been the foundation of Japan's finest sake for centuries. Miyamizu — literally 'shrine water' — is prized for its high mineral content, which promotes vigorous fermentation and produces sake of exceptional richness, structure, and depth. Little Sumo is a Junmai Genshu — a pure rice sake (no added alcohol) bottled undiluted at full fermentation strength, giving it a robust 18% ABV and a stout, rich character that packs an extraordinary amount of flavor into a small package. The rice is polished to 70%, retaining more of the grain's natural richness and contributing to the sake's full, textured mouthfeel. Fermented with proprietary yeast and Miyamizu spring water, it strikes a compelling balance between sweet and dry — fruity, nutty, and built for food.

The nose is inviting and expressive: aromas of melon and plum with a rich, generous character. On the palate, it is full-textured and layered — Asian pear, banana, and almonds, balanced between sweet and dry with a satisfying nuttiness on the finish. Stout, rich, and punchy — it truly packs a lot into a small package. Best served chilled at 45–50°F.

"Aromas of melon and plum, and rich texture with flavors of Asian pear, banana and almonds. Balanced between sweet and dry with elements of fruit and nuttiness. Packs a lot in a small package!" — Little Sumo, Producer

• Brewery: Little Sumo, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
• Classification: Junmai Genshu (undiluted, no added alcohol)
• Prefecture: Hyogo
• Rice: Polished to 70%
• Water: Miyamizu mineral-rich spring water
• Yeast: Proprietary
• Sake Meter Value: +6.0 (dry)
• Acidity: 1.4
• ABV: 18%
• Size: 200ml (cup)
• Tasting Notes: Melon, plum, Asian pear, banana, almonds, rich texture, sweet-dry balance, nutty finish
• Serve: Chilled (45–50°F)
• Best Paired With: Yakitori, Korean BBQ, fatty sashimi, gyoza, grilled meats, izakaya dishes

Hyogo's legendary Miyamizu water in a cup-size package — Little Sumo Junmai Genshu is rich, punchy, and one of the most fun sakes on the shelf.

Jokigen Junmai Sake Green Label — Yamagata Prefecture, Japan

Sakata Shuzo has been brewing sake in Yamagata Prefecture — in the Tohoku region of northern Japan — for generations, drawing on the soft, mineral-pure waters of Sakata and the cold mountain climate that makes Yamagata one of Japan’s most celebrated sake-producing regions. The brewery’s Jokigen label (“good mood” in Japanese) is a fitting name for a sake built around pleasure, generosity, and the kind of fruit-forward character that makes it as welcome at the casual table as at the considered dinner.

The Green Label Junmai is brewed from Hyogo-grown Yamada Nishiki rice — the undisputed king of sake rice — milled to 70% and fermented with Jokigen’s proprietary house yeast. Yamada Nishiki is prized for its large grain size, low protein content, and exceptional ability to develop glossy texture and tropical fruit character during fermentation. At SMV +2, this is technically dry, but the lush, fruity aromatics and medium-full body give it a richness and generosity that belies the numbers. An atypically fruity Junmai — and all the better for it.

Clear and bright in the glass. The nose is vibrant and inviting — fresh toasted grains, lush tropical fruit, and a lift of muscat grape. On the palate it is medium-full bodied with a beautiful glossy texture, flavors of fresh apple, muscat, and ripe stone fruit, and a soft but dry finish that keeps it food-friendly and endlessly sippable. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

• Brewery: Sakata Shuzo, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan
• Style: Junmai
• Rice: Yamada Nishiki (Hyogo), milled to 70%
• Yeast: Jokigen House Yeast
• Water: Sakata Soft Water
• Sake Meter Value (SMV): +2 (dry)
• Acidity: 1.6
• ABV: 15%
• Size: 720ml
• Tasting Notes: Toasted grains, tropical fruit, fresh apple, muscat grape, glossy texture, soft dry finish
• Best Paired With: Grilled fatty salmon, roast chicken, Thai red curry, yakitori, miso-glazed vegetables

Yamada Nishiki rice. Yamagata soft water. A Junmai that rewrites what “dry” can taste like.

Winemaker Description 

If you've ever encountered a "warm sake" skeptic, heat up a bottle of this Kenbishi "Kuromatsu" and prove to them that warm sake can be one of life's greatest pleasures. With the right amount of heat (around 104°F), hints of cashews, rice, caramel emerge. This 180ml bottle is designed especially for the microwave – remove the cap and heat for 20 seconds.

One cup sakes were first introduced during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and are perfect for taking on a picnic, a game, or alongside takeout.

Jokigen Junmai Ginjo “Red Label” — Sakata Shuzo, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan (720ml)

Jokigen — meaning “good mood” in Japanese — is the flagship sake of Sakata Shuzo, a celebrated brewery in Yamagata Prefecture known for producing some of Japan’s most expressive and food-friendly sake. The Red Label Junmai Ginjo is built on a foundation of Oyama Nishiki rice — a specially developed sake rice created by a group of Toyama farmers who chose Sakata Shuzo as the brewery best equipped to unlock its full potential. Milled to 55%, brewed with Jokigen’s proprietary house yeast and Sakata’s famously soft local water, the result is a classically fruity Junmai Ginjo with a subtle savory quality that sets it apart from sweeter expressions of the style. A model of the Yamagata school: layered, balanced, and deeply satisfying.

The nose opens with fresh pear, cherry blossom, and ripe apple — bright and inviting. On the palate, the sake is medium-bodied and elegant with bold notes of stewed black cherry, orange zest, and a clean savory finish that lingers with quiet complexity. At 16% ABV with a near-neutral SMV of +1 and acidity of 1.5, it is dry enough to pair with rich, umami-forward dishes while remaining approachable and pleasurable on its own.

“The Jokigen is a model Junmai Ginjo, with bold notes of cherry and apple balanced by savory undertones. Classic Yamagata style with its subtle layers of fruit and light sweetness. Made from specially grown Oyama Nishiki developed by a group of Toyama rice farmers looking to develop the ultimate sake rice.”

• Brewery: Sakata Shuzo, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan
• Style: Junmai Ginjo
• Rice: Oyama Nishiki, milled to 55%
• Yeast: Jokigen House Yeast
• Water: Sakata Soft Water
• SMV: +1 (near-dry)
• Acidity: 1.5
• ABV: 16%
• Size: 720ml
• Best Paired With: Grilled duck breast, miso-marinated black cod, maguro sashimi, richer seafood and umami-forward dishes

A model Yamagata Junmai Ginjo from one of Japan’s most respected sake breweries — Jokigen Red Label is the benchmark for what Oyama Nishiki rice, brewed with precision and purpose, can deliver in a glass of sake.

About Damso Blueberry Soju

Damso Blueberry Soju brings a vibrant, berry-forward twist to the classic Korean spirit. Infused with bold blueberry flavor, it’s light, smooth, and refreshingly easy to drink — whether sipped chilled on its own or shaken into a cocktail.

Serving Suggestions

• Chilled neat or over ice
• Mixed with sparkling water, lemonade, or tonic
• In a blueberry soju smash with fresh mint and lime
• Paired with Korean BBQ, spicy dishes, or light Asian cuisine

• Spirit: Soju
• Flavor: Blueberry
• Origin: South Korea
• Size: 375ml
• Closure: Screwcap

Junmai Sake — Dry Hopped | Brooklyn, New York / USA
Size: 750ml  |  American Craft Sake

Brooklyn Kura is New York City’s first sake brewery, founded in 2018 in the Industry City complex in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Drawing on traditional Japanese brewing techniques while embracing the creative spirit of American craft culture, they have built a reputation for sake that is genuinely innovative — approachable for newcomers, compelling for enthusiasts, and unlike anything else on the shelf.

“Occidental” — meaning “of the West” — is their most distinctive expression. A Junmai sake dry-hopped in the tradition of American craft brewing, it pours a beautiful pale pink with a bouquet that is floral, yeasty, and IPA-like in the best possible way. On the palate, velvety smooth citrus and ripe fruit flavors are perfectly balanced — refreshing, complex, and utterly original. East meets West, sake meets craft beer, and the result is something that makes you say “Ahhhh.”

“Named ‘Occidental’ which means ‘of the West,’ this sake definitely holds true to its name… The bouquet is emboldened with a yeasty, IPA-like hint that boosts the delightful floral aroma. This sake’s velvety smooth citrus and fruit flavor is perfectly balanced.”
— Brooklyn Kura

Style: Junmai (pure rice sake), dry-hopped
Serve: Chilled, in a wine glass or sake cup. Pairs with sushi, oysters, spicy Asian dishes, or light salads.

Producer Description 

Kawatsuru translates to “river crane” and comes from the sighting of a crane in the river behind the brewery. Crane of Paradise is described as “umakuchi,” a combination between sweet, dry and umami flavors. The perfect summertime sip!

Juicy notes of grapefruit and freshly cut grass, with a hint of salted pineapple. Crisp, dry finish with an almost effervescent energy behind it.

Try with Pizza with prosciutto/speck or smoked salmon with cream cheese.