• Brewery: Miyake Honten Shuzo
• Classification: Junmai, Kimoto
• Prefecture: Hiroshima
• Rice Type: Shinriki (神力)
• Polishing Ratio / Seimaibuai: 85%
• Alcohol: 19-20% by volume
• SMV: +5
• Acidity: na
• Bottle Size: 720ml

Sempuku Shinriki 85 is a Kimoto Junmai Muroka Genshu from Hiroshima Prefecture, brewed with the rare Shinriki sake rice polished to 85%.

Warm rice, baked pear and white currant are joined by green tea, wildflower honey, white pepper and subtle toffee notes. The palate is rich and concentrated, with pronounced umami, lively acidity and a complex combination of sweetness, bitterness and savory character leading to a long finish.

The sake is brewed using the traditional Kimoto method and is neither charcoal filtered nor diluted with water after brewing. At 19% alcohol, it retains the full intensity of the fermentation while the minimal polishing preserves much more of the character of the Shinriki rice.

For me, the story of the rice is as interesting as the sake itself. Shinriki was once nearly lost, and Miyake Honten revived it from a tiny amount of surviving seed. This sake deliberately looks backward stylistically, showing how expressive Junmai can be when the goal is not extreme polishing, but rice character, acidity and umami.

Serve: Chilled, room temperature or gently warmed, approximately 50–105°F. The profile changes considerably with temperature, so it is worth trying in more than one way.

Pair with: Grilled pork, yakitori, mushrooms, braised meats, aged cheese, miso-based dishes, grilled vegetables, or richer seafood.