Nama-genshu

It is enough to translate "Nama-genshu" to understand what kind of sake it refers to. "Nama" means "live" or "raw" and " genshu " means "undiluted". Therefore, "nama-genshu" sakes are unpasteurized sakes that have not been diluted with water. Unsurprisingly, they are generally cuvées with a silky texture, high in alcohol, and decidedly leaning towards flavors of honey, grains, and nuts.

Unpasteurised sakes, or ‘nama’, are sought after for their great freshness and feared for their fragility. These are lively sakes that beautifully convey the power of their ingredients: water, rice, koji and yeast. Similarly, the undiluted ‘genshu’ cuvées seek to preserve the raw, natural character of the sake. These two ‘non-interventionist’ approaches to nama-genshu are reminiscent of the movement of wines without additives or "natural".

They are more vulnerable drinks but also so much more alive!