The undisputed favourite among Japanese sake aficionados is the “Dassai” brand. The brewery, Asahi Shuzo, was established in 1947 in Yamaguchi Prefecture, on the westernmost tip of Honshu. The sake is brewed in a building, built in 1770, which nestles in the pristine, isolated mountains with clear and clean natural water. Focusing on quality rather than quantity, the annual production is just 100,000 bottles.
Using only the finest of materials, over 90% of sake produced in Dassai's facilities is “junmai daiginjo”, the premium grade of sake in Japan. Its top grade “Dassai 23” is the sake that defines Dassai. Made with rice grains that have been milled down to 23% of their original size, this “junmai daiginjo” is the pinnacle of refined elegance, with a delicate flavour and a distinctive aroma.
This evening, the vice-president of Asahi Shuzo, Mr Sakurai, brings with him some rare vintage “junmai ginjo” sake from Japan to share with our guests. His recommended pairings of Dassai 23, Dassai 39 and Dassai 50 with Chinese cuisine will bring a pleasant surprise to our diners' palates. Mr Sakurai has also generously offered several bottles of sake to be raffled off in the evening's lucky draw!