News Upstate

Dassai Blue Launches Nigori Sparkling Sake

HYDE PARK, NY — DASSAI Blue, the U.S. extension of the prestigious Japanese sake brand DASSAI, is releasing its newest sake: Nigori Sparkling. This sparkling cloudy sake is the fourth and latest to be produced at their newly opened, 55,000- square-foot, state-of-the-art Sake Brewery in Hyde Park, NY. The coarsely strained sparkling sake is created in the same style as a champagne and then naturally fermented in the bottle.

DASSAI Blue’s Nigori Sparkling starts with premium Yamada Nishiki rice, the “king of sake rice”, polished down to 50%. The sake is made through a natural fermentation process that uses only rice, koji and no added sugar. This Nigori Sparkling sake is the equivalent of “brut nature”. The refreshing effervescence is achieved through the brand’s in-bottle second fermentation process. DASSAI Chairman Hiroshi Sakurai says, “The beautiful bubbles rising from the bottom of that white, misty glass, along with its aroma and well-balanced flavor, will surely captivate everyone.”

Timed perfectly with the arrival of summer, DASSAI Blue Nigori Sparkling is light, fresh, and effortlessly bubbly. It has a bright aroma and a subtle sweetness you can only get from a cloudy style Nigori made from Yamada Nishiki rice.

The refreshing bouquet is reminiscent of green apples with a soft hint of sweetness derived from the rice. The taste is very fresh due to an initial cooling sensation from the fizz, followed by the spread of juicy fruit flavors combined with invigorating acidity in the mouth. It has a balanced finish that leaves a pleasant sweetness with good sharpness.

DASSAI Blue Nigori Sparkling is an exciting addition to DASSAI Blue’s current offerings which include the popular Type 23, 35 and 50 sakes. The numbers refer to the rice polishing ratio of these expertly crafted Junmai Daiginjos.

The DASSAI Blue Sake Brewery is located at 5 St Andrew Rd, Hyde Park, NY 12538 (2 hours north of Manhattan via car or Amtrak). The tasting room is open for tours and tastings by reservation only through Tock, as well as walk-ins for by-the-glass purchases.

DASSAI Blue Nigori Sparkling will be sold at the brewery, Union Square Wine & Spirits, Ambassador Wine & Spirits, Rolling Barrel Wine & Liquor and other retailers and restaurants throughout New York for a suggest retail price of $19.