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Sake Fair

Sake is, at first glance, a simple creation made from rice, water and yeast - pristine and uncomplicated. But the apparently simple ingredients and production process disguise the inherently complex nature of sake brewing.

With the 21st Sake Fair, city'super will resolve the sake enigma for us all. This year, we present the latest sake technology, Nanbubijin Super Frozen Namagen, and the Katsushika Hokusai limited-edition AWA sparkling sake collection. Sake lovers, this one's for you!

3 (Tue) – 18(Wed) Mar 2020
@ New Town Plaza store

5 (Thu) – 18(Wed) Mar 2020
@ Times Square, Harbour City and ifc mall stores and city'super E-Shop

Brewers Story Ukiyo-e Edition Awa Sparkling Sake Amazing Facts Of Sake Japanese Fruits Liquor New Items

E-Shop Exclusive Offers

city'super super e members and customers can enjoy 10% off and super e-gold members can enjoy 20% off select sake at the city'super E-Shop in Sake Fair 2020 during the promotional period. The city'super E-Shop offers free delivery on orders of HK$800 or more (HK$400 or more for super e-gold members). Enjoying delicious sake at home is that easy.


Latest Sake Technology: Super Frozen

If you prefer refreshing cold sakes, Super Frozen, Japan’s latest technology in sake-making, is sure to bring your lots of pleasant surprises!

This is the first time Super Frozen technology is applied to sake, which instantly freezes nama sake at -30℃. The sake is kept fresh all the way from Japan to Hong Kong, and once defrosted you’ll get to experience the namazake as if you are drinking it directly at the sakagura for the freshest enjoyment.

Does this tickle your fancy? Bring this exquisite sake home from city'super today!

  • Nanbubijin Super Frozen Junmai Daiginjo Namagen
    An irresistible sake with intense fruitiness and a rounded body.

Iwate and Aomori prefectures were once known as the “Nanbu” area; Nanbu Toji is also one of the top sake makers in Japan. Apart from making beautiful sakes, current brewery owner Mr Kosuke Kuji is also passionate about promoting sake culture and innovating and developing new products. This year, the company has redesigned its sake labels, adding in elements of style and energy, as well as using new technologies to brew sake.


Sake Fun Fact: Soft Water vs. Hard Water

Hello sake fans! Did you know 80% of sake is actually water? That’s why the quality of water is so important as it can majorly impact a sake’s body and texture. Water can be categorised as “hard” and “soft”, and is differentiated by its calcium and magnesium content. Hard water contains more minerals, which speeds up the fermentation process with the resulting sake being richer and dryer. Soft water means a longer fermentation time, giving the sake a milder and sweeter flavour.

Here are two selected sakes by Akita Seishu. Which one do you prefer?

Made with soft water: Dewatsuru Ideha-No-Mezame Daiginjo
Established in 1865
Aged for an extended period of time under low temperature, and made with natural soft water. Delicate body with a rich flavour.

Made with hard water: Kariho Yamadabo Tokubetsu Junmai
Established in 1913
Made using renowned sake rice Yamadaho from Hyogo Prefecture and the brewery’s special yeast. Crisp and refreshing with a touch of minerals.

Akita Seishu comes from excellent terroir featuring a water source. The brewery has skilfully crafted various premium sakes using hard and soft water to suit the different preferences of sake lovers.


The Highest Honour: Gold Award Sakes

The Annual Japan Sake Awards has been running since 1911, and is one of the most trusted review organisations within the Japanese sake industry. Outstanding sakes are selected and given the Gold Award during this major spring sake event; its brewing process must be meticulous and its taste, aroma and balance must be of the highest standard.

city'super is excited to recommend this Gold Award-winning sake to you!

Tenju Daiginjo Gold Award
A delicate mouthfeel with an elegant fragrance, this sake is very rare with only very limited stock.

Established in 1974, Tenju Brewery focuses on creating sakes that make people happy, which brings about longevity – just like its name. Tenju’s sakes also frequently appear on the Gold Award winners’ list, so there is no double about its exceptional quality.


For Sake Collectors: Ukiyo-e Edition Awa Sparkling Sake

Are you a lover of Japanese culture and fancy an occasional glass or two of sake with friends and family? Then you may want to add this beautiful, premium “Katsushika Hokusai” ukiyo-e edition of Awa sparkling sake to your ever-expanding collection!

Katsushika Hokusai was a ukiyo-e painter of the Edo period, and no doubt the most well-known ukiyo-e artist in Japan and the world. With both Tokyo Olympics and Awa Sake Association’s third anniversary being in 2020, Katsushika Hokusai’s iconic print of Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji is used to create the Awa sparkling sake label, aspiring for sparkling sake to one day become Japan’s go-to sake for toasting.

Visit any city'super store today and bring home the Katsushika Hokusai limited edition Awa sparkling sakes: Dewazakura Awa Sparkling Sake, Tenzan Awa Sparkling Sake, Nanbubijin Awa Sparkling Sake, and Dewatsuru Ashitae Sparkling Sake.

Each Awa sparkling sake’s Katsushika Hokusai ukiyo-e illustration is different. Which one do you like most?

 

Best Seller

BORN Premium Sparkling Junmai Daiginjo

CHIKURIN Hana Houhoushu Stripe (300mL)

CHIKURIN Houhoushu Stripe (300mL)


Lesson in Sake: The Beauty of Polishing Ratio

The “rice polishing ratio” is often seen on sake bottles, but what does it mean? Rice polishing ratio is actually the percentage of rice that remains after the husk of the brown rice is polished off. For example, if 40% of the grain has been polished off, then 60% of it remains, and its rice polishing ratio is 60%.

Daiginjo grade sakes all have a rice polishing ratio of 50% or lower, which means double or more of the amount of rice is needed to produce daiginjo sakes than junmai or normal sakes. Here are three premium sakes with great depth, clear impression and unparalleled smoothness:

 

Tsugu Junmai Daiginjo (Rice polishing ratio: 35%)

Crafted by sake masters from Japan’s Asahi-Shuzo Sake Brewery, this sake is the top of its range with a yearly production of only 2,500 bottles. Koshitanrei rice from Niigata prefecture is polished until only 35% remains, then a house yeast mash is used for fermentation, and through low-pressure extraction, the purest 60% of the sake is bottled.

Born Chogin Junmai Daiginjo (Rice polishing ratio: 20%)

Made 100% with Yamada Nishiki rice from Special A-ranked fields in Hyogo prefecture, this sake has a rice polishing ratio of 20% and is aged for five years at -8°C. Produced only in small batches for the strictest temperature and quality control, this sake has an exquisite aroma, silky smoothness and a beautiful, lingering finish.

Dassai Beyond (Rice polishing ratio: undisclosed)

Asahi Shuzo spent a decade creating this masterpiece, its origins began as a simple yet challenging quest: to surpass the excellence of its famous Dassai 23, which was widely praised as a “perfect” sake. While the rice polishing ratio of Dassai Beyond is not disclosed, in order to obtain grains of the same size, about a third of the grains were removed even before the polishing process. The remainder goes through a rice polishing process even stricter than the Dassai 23, so less then 20% of each grain remains. Based on this, one can make the assumption that the rice polishing ratio of this sake is about 8-9%. 
Made using only Yamada Nishiki (the most expensive sake rice), along with very strict brewing standards, this sake is the finest expression of Dassai sakes with an elegant floral aroma, unmatched smoothness, complex flavours and a stunning length of finish.


Sake Appreciation 101: What is Namazake?

When it comes to top sakes, seasonal brews direct from the sakagura is no doubt the best. This time we would like to recommend the “bright young thing” of the sake world – namazake.

While most sakes are pasteurized twice, namazake is unpasteurised, so various enzymes remain in an active state. When compared with normal sake, namazake has a unique impression of light sparkling feeling as if the enzymes are “dancing” on your palate. Unpasteurised sake is very prone to change, so city'super takes extra measures to ensure proper shipping and storage. From the sakagura to when a customer picks up the bottle, the namazake is chilled so you can enjoy the freshest and highest quality products.

  • Daina Chokarakuchi Junmai Nama
    This seasonal sake is made with sake rice from Nasu of Tochigi prefecture. Refreshing, powerful, and great for pairing with food.
  • Hakkaisan Echigo Junmai Daiginjo Namagen
    A winter-only, freshly pressed namazake. Crisp and packed with umami, this namazake is great with seafood and hot pot.
  • Shichida Junmai Daiginjo Muroka Nama
    Refreshing, flavourful and rich with rice aroma.
  • Dewazakura Dewasansan JM Ginjo Namagen
    With a banana aroma, this sake has an excellent balance in acidity.

 


For White Valentine’s Day: Japanese Fruit Wines

Valentine’s Day is now behind us… which means March 14, or White Valentine’s Day, is up ahead! Guys, are you ready to return the favour to your loved one?

Don’t fret, city'super has rounded up the sweetest surprises: lovely Japanese fruit liqueur in beautiful packaging that are sure to put a smile on your beloved’s face! Come and take home one of these fail-proof gifts!

 

Kuroushi Umeshu
Made with the famous Kuroushi Junmai Genshu and premium Nanko plums, which give this umeshu a smooth, rounded mounthfeel and lovely aroma.

Okunomatsu Momotoro Peach Liqueur
Made with white peaches from the neighbouring Fukushima prefecture, this peach liqueur is sweet, aromatic and rich, and lets you enjoy the beauty of Japanese sake and peaches at the same time.

Eikun You's Time Light Yuzu Liqueur
Yuzu is soaked in premium ginjo for added depth and elegance. This liqueur has an alcohol level of 5% so it is easy to drink. The beautiful bottle design makes it an excellent gift.

Which of these three fruit liqueur do you like most? Cast your vote!

Limited-edition Promotional Sake Privilege Pack

To thank the sake fans for their continuous support for our sake fairs over the years, Sake Fair 2020 is introducing for the first time a limited-edition promotional Sake Privilege Pack. Customers can now purchase a set of vouchers worth over HK$2,300 at the promotional price of HK$2,020. The pack included 23 pieces of HK$100 sake vouchers, a variety of gift redemption coupon and shopping coupons. It is available for purchase from the city’super E-Shop from now and stores starting from March 5, 2020, while stock lasts.

Sake Fair Complimentary Gifts

Limited-edition wine bag

Tsugaru Vidro Handmade Sake Glass Set

Nousaku Tin Sake Cup Set

In addition, you can receive complimentary gifts by spending a certain amount on designated products in a single transaction at Sake Fair 2020 at city'super stores (except E-Shop). Get a limited-edition wine bag with a net purchase of HK$1,200 or above; a Tsugaru Vidro Handmade Sake Glass Set when making a net purchase of HK$4,600 or more; or a Nousaku Tin Sake Cup Set with a net purchase of HK$18,000 or above, while stock lasts.

 

^Promotional products are available at selected stores only. While stocks last. The above product details are subject to change without prior notice. Photos are for reference only.