Hakutsuru Juicy Yuzu

Juicy Yuzu is a yuzu-flavored sake from Hakutsuru, listed under the wine and sake category. Yuzu is the Japanese citrus that sits somewhere between mandarin, grapefruit and lemon, with a floral, slightly resinous peel aroma. Expect that scent first, followed by bright citrus juice, a soft sweetness and a clean, quick finish. Flavored sakes in this style are usually lighter and fruitier than a traditional junmai or ginjo. They typically have low tannin, since sake has essentially none, and no oak. The body is light to medium, and the acidity is lively enough to keep the sweetness from feeling heavy. Check the label for the exact alcohol percentage, because bottles like this are often lower in strength than standard sake. Serve it well chilled, around 4 to 8°C (40 to 46°F). Cold temperatures keep the citrus sharp and the sweetness tidy, while a bottle left to warm tends to taste flatter and more syrupy. It does not need decanting. Pour it straight from the bottle into a small white wine glass or a tulip-shaped sake glass, which concentrates the yuzu aroma better than a wide tumbler. A few ice cubes in a rocks glass also work if you prefer a longer, more diluted drink. At the table, the citrus acidity suits salty, fried or fatty dishes. Think tempura, karaage, gyoza, sashimi, grilled shrimp and ceviche. It also handles mildly spicy food such as Thai salads or lightly chili-seasoned noodles, where the sweetness cools the heat. Lighter desserts such as fruit sorbet, panna cotta or a simple citrus tart match its flavor without competing. This is a drink-now bottle. Fruit-forward flavored sakes are made for freshness rather than aging, and the yuzu character fades with time. Once opened, reseal it, keep it in the refrigerator, and finish it within a few days for the brightest flavor.