Mukai Shuzo Kyō no Haru Nigori, Kyoto, Japan
Regular price $42.00
Unit price per
720 ml
Mukai Shuzo is situated at the northern tip of Kyoto Prefecture, nestled along the Sea of Japan in the picturesque fishing village of Ine. This small community of just over 3,000 residents is built around Ine Bay and is world-renowned for its "funaya" or boathouses—traditional homes where the ground floor opens directly to the water, allowing residents to park their fishing boats beneath their living quarters. The brewery itself is built right along the bay, maintaining such proximity to the water that customers can steer their boats directly up to the dock to pick up their sake.
Founded in 1754, this tiny brewery remains a family-run business with a legacy spanning 270 years. The current Toji (Master Brewer), Kuniko Mukai, is the eldest daughter of brewery owner Yoshihisa Mukai. At her parents' encouragement, Kuniko left her village to study fermentation and brewing at the Tokyo University of Agriculture. In 1998, after graduation and a year of intensive labor as a brewery worker, she assumed the role of Toji at the age of 22, becoming one of the first female Master Brewers in Japan. Today, she is celebrated as an exceptionally creative brewer, crafting unique sakes that showcase her outgoing, curious nature and innovative spirit.
This Nigori sake is crafted through a distinctive process: after fermentation, the sake is pressed clear, and the rice sediment is then carefully added back into the brew to achieve its signature cloudy appearance and velvety texture. Kuniko spent hours testing various blends to achieve the ultimate balance of flavor and mouthfeel. The resulting brew is unpasteurized (namazake), undiluted (genshu), and non-charcoal filtered, creating a dry and complex profile. With a rice polishing ratio of 67% and an alcohol content of 17.5%, it delivers a robust, well-balanced experience that combines vibrant acidity with a rich, substantial texture