Dokutsu Jukuseishu ’92, ’97, and ’02

As we were sitting at the counter at a cozy bar, Ishii, sipping sake and munching on deep-fried satsuma age the owner made that day, our eyes were set on the series of beautiful pictures of Azuma Rikishi cave on the big screen. After seeing how the bottles are aging in the huge cave where sake and tiny bats co-exit very happily, how can you resist the temptation to try an Azuma Rikishi tasting set?

LA Sake and Tokyofoodcast

This week, LASake and Tokyofoodcast’s first rendezvous at Ishii finished with a flight of Azuma Rikishi Daiginjo Dokutsu Jukuseishu from 1992, 1997, and 2002. All three daiginjo bottles were aged in the cave. All three brews from each year were very clean and a had good balance of umami, but compared to the refined older sisters from the previous century, 2002 felt so young!

Ishii in Shinbashi is conveniently located close from the JR Shinbashi Station, but well hidden away in a maze of allies surrounding Karasumori Jinja. The small establishment with only six seats at the counter and two tables in the back fills up very quickly, but I was lucky to be able to make a reservation at the last minute. This place has been my favorite for sometime to go for comfortable hospitality with fish and sake Ishii-san carefully picks. So, I highly recommend anyone give this place a try. When you finally find the place on the little alley and see only a sign with the name lit up and just a small black sliding door you can’t peek inside, don’t be intimidated! It’s such a welcoming home for sake enthusiasts, and even if you are not sure about your Japanese, Ishii-san can help you out.

Before you call for reservation, which is a must, you can find Ishii’s sake list and reservation availability on his blog at http://umazake0141.blog25.fc2.com/

About Ishii

Yummy sanma dishes at Ishii

Address: 2-15-10 Shinbashi, Minatoku, Tokyo
東京都港区新橋2-15-10 石橋ビル1階
Phone: 03-3593-0141
Website in Japanese: http://www.umazake0141.com/
Access: I recommend using the map on Ishii’s web site. Or, if you find Karasumori Jinja, take a couple of steps straight from the torii with your back to the shrine, take the first right into the ally. Ishii is on your left a couple of restaurants up from the corner.