r/Sake • u/puzo_puzo_puzo • 4d ago

Unfounded red flags?

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I've found this sake in one supermarket in Strasbourg, and neither the label nor the name inspire any confidence. Is this a legitimate prejudice, or should I give it a try?

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u/J_ShipD 4d ago

I also saw this in one supermarket in Catania, priced quite high for a small bottle. Seemed a likely disappointment

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u/sakeexplorer 4d ago edited 4d ago

Edited because initially i thought this was a white label brand, but actually appears to be a real product from Kita no Homare in Hokkaido. No real red flags (just stereotypical 'Japan' branding), but also depends on storage conditions.

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u/KneeOnShoe 4d ago

Never had this one and I'd probably feel the same way as you, but I've also learned not to judge a sake by its label. Some of my favorites were ones with godawful 90's clip-art style labels that I never would have tried if not for the bartender pushing it. Similarly, I've had ones with "authentic"-looking labels that were very meh.

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u/puzo_puzo_puzo 3d ago

It happens with some beers, also. I think I will give it a try next time I go. It's supposed to be daiginjo and there is a smaller size for 13€ that I should probably try because sometimes it happens as you say.

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u/addpulp 3d ago

I had read at a point nothing of super low quality would bother to be imported, or else the market would be full of honjozo sake, and generally read where it is from and who imported it rather than relying on branding