Dassai 23 Junmai Daiginjo
Melon · Peach · Pear
Gorgeous fruit aromas with a smooth, velvety texture and an elegant, lingering finish.
View Dassai 23Sake Flavour Guide: Find Japanese Sake by Taste
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Sake Flavours:
Sake Flavours:
Find the Sake That Suits You
Explore sake by flavour profile, from fruity and aromatic to fresh and crisp, earthy and mineral, rich and mellow, and distinctive special styles. Compare aromas, texture and character to find sake that matches your taste.
Fruity & Aromatic Fresh & Crisp Earthy & Mineral Rich & Mellow Special Styles
Quick Flavour Finder
What Kind of Sake Are You Looking For?
01
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Fruity & Aromatic
Peach · Pear · Melon · Mango · Floral
02
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Fresh & Crisp
Clean · Light · Refreshing · Dry
03
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Earthy & Mineral
Umami · Mineral · Nutty · Savoury
04
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Rich & Mellow
Smooth · Full-bodied · Rounded · Deep
05
Explore special styles →
Special Styles
Sparkling · Nigori · Umeshu · More
Understanding the Profiles
How to Use Our Sake Flavour Profiles
Sake does not always fit neatly into just one flavour category. A bottle can be both fruity and crisp, or earthy and rich. Our profiles are designed to make comparison easier and help you discover sake based on the aromas, texture and character you enjoy.
Use the profiles as a starting point rather than a strict rule, then explore individual tasting notes to find your favourite.
A Simple Way to Choose
- ✓ Start with the aromas and flavours you already enjoy.
- ✓ Compare tasting notes across different sake styles.
- ✓ Look for more than one profile if you enjoy complexity.
- ✓ Follow the product link when a bottle sounds right for you.
Profile 01
Fruity & Aromatic Sake
Look for expressive aromas such as peach, pear, melon, mango, pineapple and flowers. Fruity sake can range from delicate and elegant to intensely aromatic, with many styles particularly enjoyable chilled.
Common tasting notes
Peach Pear Melon Mango Pineapple Floral
You may enjoy this profile if you like: fragrant drinks, tropical fruit, floral aromas or elegant white wines.
Recommended Fruity & Aromatic Sake
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Dassai 39 Junmai Daiginjo
White Flowers · Mango · Minerality
Floral and fruity on the nose with smooth texture, mellow character and a gentle mineral note.
View Dassai 39
Kameizumi CEL-24 Junmai Ginjo
Apple · Grape · Pineapple
A highly aromatic sake with ripe tropical fruit, balanced sweetness and acidity, and a refreshing finish.
View CEL-24
Profile 02
Fresh & Crisp Sake
Clean, light and refreshing sake with a crisp finish. This profile includes styles that may appeal to people looking for dry sake, from subtle and delicate bottles to sharper, more structured examples.
Common characteristics
Clean Light Crisp Dry Refreshing Bright
You may enjoy this profile if you like: dry white wine, lighter flavours, clean finishes or refreshing aperitifs.
Recommended Fresh & Crisp Sake
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Gangi Mizunowa Junmai Ginjo
Mango · Papaya · Clean Dry Finish
Light, elegant and refreshing with tropical fruit aromas and a balanced, clean dry finish.
View Gangi Mizunowa
Jozen Mizunogotoshi Junmai Ginjo
Honeydew Melon · Green Apple · Clean Finish
Extremely light, fresh and pure with an airy texture and a soft, clean finish.
View Jozen White
Ichinokura Mukansa Extra Dry
Brazil Nut · Umami · Apple Finish
Pure, clean and distinctly dry with a crisp palate, bright umami and a refreshing apple finish.
View Ichinokura Extra Dry
Profile 03
Earthy & Mineral Sake
Savoury, mineral and umami-led sake with flavours that can include nuts, grains, mushroom, cedar, cacao and deeper earthy aromas. These styles can offer plenty of structure and complexity.
Common tasting notes
Umami Mineral Chestnut Mushroom Cedar Cacao
You may enjoy this profile if you like: savoury flavours, nuts, umami-rich food or drinks with more depth and structure.
Recommended Earthy & Mineral Sake
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Tosatsuru Azure Ginjo
Mineral · Smooth · Clean
A distinctive, smooth sake made with deep-sea water, giving it a clean finish and balanced mineral character.
View Tosatsuru Azure
Ichinokura Enyu-Harmony Yamahai
Chestnut · Honey · Mushroom
Deep and umami-rich with mushroom and toffee notes, balanced by a smooth and silky texture.
View Enyu-Harmony
Urakasumi Kioke Kimoto Junmai
Cedar · Honey · Caramel
Woody and savoury in character with earthy cacao, pear, refined umami and bright acidity.
View Urakasumi Kioke
Profile 04
Rich & Mellow Sake
Fuller-bodied sake with smooth, rounded textures and deeper flavours. Depending on the bottle, you may find rich umami, creamy textures, nuts, caramel, dried fruit or gently spiced notes.
Common tasting notes
Chestnut Caramel Creamy Nutty Rounded Deep Umami
You may enjoy this profile if you like: fuller-bodied drinks, creamy textures, rich food or deeper and more rounded flavours.
Recommended Rich & Mellow Sake
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Hatsumago Densho Kimoto Honjozo
Chestnut · Butterscotch · Hazelnut
Mellow and rich with robust structure and warming notes of roasted hazelnut, brioche and apple pie.
View Hatsumago
Urakasumi Honjikomi Honjozo
Creamy · Rounded · Clean Finish
Classic and elegant with a smooth, creamy texture, balanced weight and a bright, rounded profile.
View Urakasumi Honjikomi
Jozen Mizunogotoshi Junmai Blue
Brown Sugar · Chestnut · Raisin
Rich and full with maple-like sweetness, banana, mango and a deeper nutty texture.
View Jozen Blue
Profile 05
Explore Special Sake Styles
Looking for something a little different? Explore sparkling and cloudy sake, as well as Japanese fruit-led drinks such as umeshu and yuzu.
Sparkling Sake
Refreshing bubbles, from light and gently sweet styles to drier and more elegant bottles.
Explore Sparkling Sake →MIO Sparkling
Light, approachable sparkling styles with delicate fruit character and lower alcohol.
Explore MIO →Nigori & Cloudy Styles
Cloudy sake with distinctive texture and a softer, often rounder drinking experience.
Explore Specials →Umeshu / Plum Liqueur
Japanese plum drinks combining fruity sweetness with refreshing tartness.
Explore Umeshu →Yuzu & Fruit Styles
Bright citrus and fruit-led Japanese drinks for those looking for something fresh and distinctive.
Explore Yuzu →A Few Special Bottles to Explore
View all Special Styles →
MIO Sparkling Sake
Fruity · Delicate · Refreshing
A light sparkling style with gentle sweetness, moderate acidity and an elegant fruity character.
View MIO Sparkling
MIO Nigori Sparkling Sake
Cloudy · Soft · Sparkling
A distinctive combination of sparkling sake and the softer texture associated with nigori.
View MIO Nigori
Dassai Sparkling 45
Pear · Lime Zest · Pineapple
Light and silky with a drier character, refreshing citrus and a clean sparkling finish.
View Dassai Sparkling 45
Not Sure Where to Start?
Try Different Sake Styles
Compare different flavour profiles side by side and discover the style that suits your taste.
Try a Sake Tasting Set
Compare different sake styles at home and discover which aromas, textures and flavour profiles you enjoy most.
Explore Sake Tasting Sets
Choose by Preference
Find Sake for Your Taste
Already know the kind of flavour you enjoy? Use these shortcuts to jump to the most relevant profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Choosing Sake by Flavour
Which sake should I choose if I like fruity flavours?
Start with the Fruity & Aromatic profile. Look for tasting notes such as peach, pear, melon, mango, pineapple or floral aromas. Bottles such as Dassai 23, Dassai 39 and CEL-24 are useful examples of different expressions within this profile.
Which sake should I choose if I prefer dry drinks?
The Fresh & Crisp profile is a good place to start. Look for words such as clean, crisp, light or dry in the tasting notes. Gangi Mizunowa and Ichinokura Extra Dry are examples of sake with a cleaner, drier finish.
What is the difference between Fresh & Crisp and Rich & Mellow sake?
Fresh & Crisp sake generally feels lighter, cleaner and more refreshing, while Rich & Mellow sake tends to have more body, a rounder texture and deeper flavour. Individual bottles can still share characteristics from more than one profile.
Can one sake belong to more than one flavour profile?
Yes. Sake can combine several characteristics at once. A bottle may be fruity and crisp, or earthy and rich. The profiles are designed as a practical guide to help you compare sake rather than as strict categories.
Which sake flavour profile is easiest to start with?
There is no single profile that suits everyone. Fruity & Aromatic and Fresh & Crisp styles can be approachable if you already enjoy fragrant or lighter drinks, while a tasting set is useful if you would like to compare several styles before choosing a favourite.
Where can I shop sake by flavour?
Use the flavour profiles on this page to explore Fruity & Aromatic, Fresh & Crisp, Earthy & Mineral, Rich & Mellow and Special styles, then follow the collection or product links to shop the sake that suits your preferences.
Find Your Sake
Find the Sake That Suits Your Taste
Explore sake by flavour profile and discover bottles that match the aromas, texture and character you enjoy.
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