Tedorigawa - "Silver Mountain" Yamahai Junmai (720ml)

Tedorigawa is produced by the Nagayama Honke brewery in Ishikawa Prefecture, a house with more than a century of history in Japan's Hokuriku region. The brewery works with Kanazawa yeast, a strain known for a mild aroma profile and low acidity, to build sakes with richness and complexity while staying smooth and balanced. The winery gained wider recognition after its work was featured in the documentary "The Birth of Sake," which introduced international audiences to its traditional, hands-on approach to brewing.

Silver Mountain is made from a blend of Yamadanishiki and 500 Mangoku rice, polished down to a 60 percent ratio. The sake follows the old yamahai method, a slower, labor-intensive process in which no lactic acid is added to the starter; natural, ambient yeasts are instead allowed to enter and shape the fermentation over time. This traditional technique gives the finished sake its characteristic depth and a touch of funky, textural complexity rarely found in more modern brewing styles.

On the palate, drinkers will find honey, maple, and toasted nut notes alongside a cream-like richness and a bright, cutting acidity that carries through a long finish. A mild astringency typical of yamahai sake is balanced by a faint sweetness, making for a dry, sharp, and ultimately smooth pour. It is versatile with temperature, tasting equally good chilled, at room temperature, or gently warmed, and its bold structure pairs beautifully with grilled fish, roasted vegetables, or richly spiced Middle Eastern fare.