Can I drink this 2002 Vintage bottle of Sake?

Hello All,

In May 2023, I purchased a petite bottle of sake labeled "Vintage 2022" at the Niigata train station. Initially, it was refrigerated, but it has remained unrefrigerated since then, and we're now in October 2023.

Since I haven't opened it, do you believe it's still suitable for consumption?

Thank you,

No. It will be undrinkable. Sake needs to be consumed fresh.
There is a tiny niche of aged sake, but it is unlikely you managed to get one of those as it is a recent innovation.

Could you upload a photo of the whole label? (You can upload a photo on a random uploading site and post its address here.)

Are you sure it's "nihonshu"? I ask because nihonshu is not typically sold as "vintage". Perhaps it's another kind of alcoholic beverage that is typically consumed as vintage.

The Japanese word "sake" means both "nihonshu" and "alcoholic beverage".

Here is a link to the image

https://postimg.cc/MnkHfcr9

DON'T throw away it.
its value is about 10000 yen.
it is drinkable.
judging from the photos in many websites, it should be transparent.
so, if transparent, it should be OK. you can drink it.
if there are some precipitates, be careful.
it is really vintage. it is better to open in parties with friends.

just throw it away and don't risk getting an upset stomach

I agree with Ken. Vintage sake is a totally different thing from a typical fresh nihonshu. The color (brown and transparent), the taste (supposed to be like sweet like brandy or German wine) and everything is different.

The egg-shaped sticker on your bottle is of an association that has been working for decades to promote vintage sake, and they have a website. You can send them inquiries by filling out the form below (from top: Your name / email address/ subject / your question / check the box to show you're not a robot / click ���M to send)
http://www.vintagesake.gr.jp/inquiry

I wonder if the other side of your label has any information about it being made from ���� or �{���� which would tell that the sake is �Z�n type, or made from ������ or ����� which would be �W�n type.

According to the website, if it's the former, it should be kept in room temperature such as in closets anyway. Whatever it is, it should be kept for at least seven years before it matures to the perfect point.
http://www.vintagesake.gr.jp/aboutvintagesake/howtoenjoy

I'm really glad that the right people saw your question. It's a rare kind of sake that have been carefully matured. Please don't throw it away, and save it for your best celebration.

I forgot to mention that the name of your vintage sake is called ������ which is read as "ji-jo-u-shu". Since it's made from ���� (daiginjou), it would be ideal if you could keep it in a cool place with less humidity. Here is some information in Japanese language. Perhaps you can copy and paste the text to an automatic translator. Although automatic translators aren't that accurate, you will get the gist of what it says.

https://vintagesake.hatenadiary.jp/entry/2013/10/15/203000

Thank you everyone for helping me out with this.

Here is the back label of the bottle

https://postimg.cc/H82FbpMv

Very interesting. My comment was generic advice based on the majority of sake available to buy - I never expected a random bottle to be one of the few that might have been in the aged category. As others have said, fresh is usually better, but the occasional vintage does occur. Based on my reading, I was aware it was more of a recent innovation.
In the past I have spent $100 on sake as an anniversary present. It was not vintage, and not even good for vinegar/cooking as I had not noted the date on the label - poured it down the sink. Personally, not a sake drinker - not my thing.

I am going to guess that if it was being sold in the train station in Niigata in May of 2023, it should be fine to consume in October of 2023. Enjoy! And give us a review!!

Eddie Brown,

Thank you for your update.

Yes, since the other side of your label says that it's a �Z�n (nou-juku) type, it's best to keep it in a dark, dry and cool place, but as it says on the label, the color is how this specially aged sake is supposed to be. Unlike traditional nihonshu (rice wine), the deep color doesn't mean that the quality is bad.

The label also says that as it ages further, you might start seeing substances sinking at the bottom of the bottle, but you could still drink the upper transparent part. I found another website with photos that show examples of what is okay to be consumed.
https://inishiesake.com/%E5%8F%A4%E3%81%8F%E3%81%A6%E6%96%B0%E3%81%97%...

According to this other shop site, alcoholic beverages do not neccessarily have the date that it was actually made indicated. It only shows the date it was bottled and labeled which in your bottle's case is May 2019.

And since your bottle is called "Vintage 2002", it's natural to assume that it was made around the year 2002. So, I suppose it has been aged since then, and now ready to be consumed!

Again, note that it's not going to taste like regular rice wine but more like brandy or sweet German wine.

This may be an interesting read for the OP, or anyone interested in aged sake: https://sake-world.com/about-sake/sake-faq/aging-sake/

https://shop.sakecollective.uk/collections/koshu-aged-sake/products/as... and here's a bottle aged since 2000