Japanese brewer ages saké in wine barrels to cater for western tastes

A brewer in Japan is catering to European tastes by ageing one of its sakés in oak wine barrels.

Drinks firm Wakaze Inc, which launched in Yakatame to the north of Japan’s Honshu Island in 2016, exports its Orbia saké to markets such as France and Hong Kong, specially designed to be enjoyed with “western” and “non-Japanese” cuisines.

Orbia comes in two varieties, Sol and Luna, with distinct “sourness and sweetness” which the brand claims ins designed to match well with heavy and savoury western dishes. Sol —aged in red wine barrels — has an ABV of 14.6% and acidity level 10 times higher than what is expected of saké, but a “mild, round taste”, with notes of red berries and dried fruits imparted from oak-ageing.

Luna, meanwhile, is aged using barrels that were previously used to finish white wine. With an ABV of 15.5%, it is sweeter than Sol, and features citrus, honey and vanilla notes.

The drinks maker claims oak ageing with these barrels is central to the brewing process, as it allows the sake to have a smooth finish despite its high acidic content.

“I prefer wine over saké in the first place,” Takuma Inagawa — Wakaze’s president — told The Japan Times.

Collaboration between brewers, distilleries and wineries has become increasingly popular across the industry.

In March 2017, The Dyfi Distillery in the Welsh village of Corris released what is believed to be the world’s first gin aged in a 100-year old white port barrel.

And in October, Scottish brewery Innis & Gunn began selling what it claims is a “barrel-aged” beer in its core range; a technique which involves cutting up the staves of rum and bourbon barrels, toasting the pieces and adding them back to the beer for five to 10 days while it’s in the tank.

And by the end of 2017, distiller Jameson announced it would begin selling its hybrid whiskey finished in IPA barrels worldwide after a successful trial in Ireland.

Retailing at €38 (£33.53) in Ireland, the Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition is a triple distilled Irish whiskey finished in craft IPA-seasoned barrels.