Akishika Autumn Deer "Bambi" Saké, Junmai

Oku Hiroaki is a 6th generation kuramoto (Sake Brewery President) at Akishika Shuzo in the Osaka prefecture. He is defying postwar brewing trends in Japan: instead of outsourcing rice from friends or fellow breweries, Akishika brewery farms 25 hectares of biodynamically grown rice. Oku's motto is 'From our own fields to bottle,' and in 2009 he converted the brewery to be as self-sustainable as possible. This adorable deer takes after its name (Akishika means 'autumn deer'). This is a very autumnal sake made from Yamada Nishiki rice polished to 70%. Notes of melon rind, almond, and salinity, and the creamy soft texture only improves as it warms up to room temperature. Savory and complex.