Light, Fragrant and Crisp — Daiginjo Made for Easy Drinking

Daiginjo is the top polishing grade, the rice milled to 50% for a clean, fragrant style, and this Hakutsuru is the more delicate, easy-drinking expression of it. A whisper of brewing alcohol is added to lighten the body and lift the aroma, giving melon and pear notes, delicate floral aromatics and a crisp, refreshing finish. At 15.5% from the 1743 Nada brewery, it is an elegant, approachable introduction to premium sake, lovely chilled.

Why Sommeliers Choose This

Top polishing grade: daiginjo, rice milled to 50% for a clean, fragrant character
Light and crisp: a touch of added brewing alcohol lifts the aroma and keeps the body elegant and refreshing
Fruit and flowers: melon and pear with delicate floral aromatics and a clean finish
Hakutsuru pedigree: from Nada, Kobe, the home of fine sake, by a house founded in 1743

How to Serve

Lightly chilled: serve at 10–15°C to keep the aromatics fresh and the finish crisp
Wine glass: a tulip glass shows the melon and pear better than a small cup
Avoid heat: warming flattens the delicate fragrance, so keep it cool
An easy aperitif: light enough to open a meal, clean enough to drink through lighter dishes

大吟醸 — Daiginjo, and the role of added alcohol

Daiginjo (大吟醸) means the rice has been polished to at least 50% of its original size, the most demanding milling grade, then fermented long and cool to develop fragrant, fruity aromatics. Unlike a junmai daiginjo, a straight daiginjo has a small, carefully judged amount of distilled brewing alcohol added near the end of fermentation. Far from cheapening it, this is a deliberate stylistic choice: the alcohol draws out aroma compounds and lightens the body, giving a cleaner, more fragrant and more delicate sake. Hakutsuru has practised this craft in Nada since 1743, in a district famed for its hard water, premium rice and centuries of toji tradition.

Learn more: The SushiSushi Guide to Hakutsuru Sake

Is daiginjo with added alcohol lower quality than junmai daiginjo?

No, just different. Both daiginjo and junmai daiginjo polish the rice to at least 50%, so both sit at the top milling grade. The difference is that junmai uses only rice, water and koji, while a daiginjo adds a small measured amount of brewing alcohol to lighten the body and amplify the aromatics. Junmai daiginjo tends to be a touch richer and rounder; daiginjo tends to be lighter, crisper and more overtly fragrant. Neither is better; it comes down to the style you want. This one is the lighter, more aromatic and very approachable side of premium sake.

Product Details

Grade	大吟醸 — Daiginjo
Brand	Hakutsuru (白鶴), founded 1743
Rice Polish	50%
ABV	15.5%
Sake Meter Value	+3 (off-dry)
Acidity	1.3
Volume	720ml
Serve	Lightly chilled, 10–15°C
Origin	Nada, Kobe, Japan

What does Sake Meter Value (+3) mean?

Sake Meter Value, or nihonshu-do, is a rough measure of dryness. Positive numbers lean dry, negative numbers lean sweet, with zero around the middle. At +3 this daiginjo sits just on the dry side, off-dry rather than bone dry, which keeps it crisp and refreshing while still showing its fruit. It is a useful guide rather than the whole story, since acidity and aroma also shape how sweet or dry a sake actually tastes.

What temperature should I serve it at?

Lightly chilled, around 10–15°C. Like all daiginjo, its appeal is in the aromatics, so gentle chilling keeps the melon, pear and floral notes fresh and the finish crisp. Do not warm it, which dulls the fragrance. A wine glass helps the aroma open. Take it from the fridge a few minutes before serving so it is cool rather than ice-cold.

How should I store it?

Keep it cool and out of direct light, ideally refrigerated, particularly once opened. Premium daiginjo is delicate and its aromatics fade with heat and light. Stand the bottle upright, and once opened enjoy it within a week or two while the fragrance is at its best. Unopened and kept cold, it holds well for several months.

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Hakutsuru, Daiginjo, 720ml