Homare Lychee Nigori

Homare Lychee Nigori is a lychee-flavored nigori sake in a 300ml bottle, made in Massachusetts. Nigori means the sake is filtered coarsely, so fine rice particles stay suspended and give it a cloudy, milky look. Styles like this usually have a softer, creamier texture than clear sake, with a gentle sweetness and low acidity. Expect the lychee to come through as floral, perfumed fruit with a lightly grapey, rose-petal edge, over a rounded rice-and-cream base. There is no tannin and no oak, as with any sake, and the finish tends to be short, soft and fruity rather than dry or sharp. The label doesn't state an alcohol percentage, but flavored nigori bottlings generally sit in the range of a typical sake, so check the bottle. The sweetness and fruit make it a good partner for heat and salt. Try it with Thai or Sichuan dishes, spicy tuna rolls, Korean fried chicken, coconut curries or crispy shrimp, where the sugar and creamy body soften the spice. It also works alongside fresh fruit, mild soft cheeses or a simple dessert such as coconut rice pudding. Serve it well chilled, around 40 to 45°F, straight from the refrigerator. Cold keeps the sweetness in check and the lychee aroma lifted. Turn the bottle gently over once or twice before opening, since the rice sediment settles and shaking hard will foam it. It does not need decanting. A small white wine glass, a tulip-shaped sake glass or a stemless tumbler will concentrate the aroma. Traditional ochoko cups also work for sharing. This is a drink-now bottle. Nigori and fruit-flavored sakes are made for freshness and don't gain from cellaring, so keep it cold and unopened, away from light and heat. Once opened, reseal and refrigerate, and finish it within a couple of days. The single-serve 300ml size suits two glasses, which makes it an easy way to try the style.