Taiyō Shuzō
Tokubetsu Honjōzō Taiyōzakari
Alcoholic
Beverages
Tokubetsu Honjōzō Taiyōzakari is a sake produced by Taiyō Shuzō in Murakami, Japan’s Niigata Prefecture. It is one of the core offerings of the Taiyōzakari brand, intended to be enjoyed with food, with an emphasis on a gentle aroma and clean flavor.
It is made primarily from Gohyakumangoku rice, alongside other varieties, rice kōji, water, and added distilled alcohol. The rice is polished to 60% of its original grain weight, and the sake contains 15% alcohol. Its nihonshudo (Sake Meter Value) is +4, with an acidity of 1.2.
It has a mild, understated aroma and a clean, dry taste that pairs easily with a variety of dishes. It is particularly recommended at room temperature or warmed, although it can also be enjoyed chilled.
Producer
Taiyō Shuzō is a sake brewery in Murakami, Japan’s Niigata Prefecture, best known for its Taiyōzakari brand. It was established in 1945 through the merger of 14 local breweries, one of which dated back to 1635, while the brewery’s current name and its flagship brand name were adopted in 1950.
Its production draws on Murakami’s sake-making traditions, locally grown rice, and groundwater associated with the Miomote River. It uses rice varieties such as Koshitanrei, Takanenishiki, and Gohyakumangoku, and its range includes honjōzō, junmai, ginjō, and daiginjō sake, seasonal releases, and sake-based fruit liqueurs.