The story behind Kikusui
Kikusui has been brewed in Shibata City, Niigata Prefecture since 1881, when Setsugoro Takasawa founded the house. The name means Chrysanthemum Water, borrowed from the Noh play Kikujido, a story about eternal youth. Four generations of the Takasawa family later, it is still family run.
Niigata is snow country, and that matters here. Heavy winter snowfall feeds the subterranean snowmelt water used through the entire brewing process, and local rice such as Gohyakumangoku does the rest under the Echigo Toji master brewers. No added sulfites, no preservatives. Kikusui also pioneered packaging unpasteurized, undiluted sake in aluminum cans to block out light and air.
Explore the Kikusui range
Four expressions reach our shelves, from a 200mL can of unpasteurized nama to a 720mL Junmai Ginjo. Each pours differently.
| Expression | Type | Proof / ABV | Tasting notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kikusui Nama Sake 200mL | Nama (unpasteurized) | Not stated | Fresh, lively, faintly fizzy; drink very cold and soon |
| Kikusui Perfect Snow Sake 300mL | Nigori (cloudy) | Not stated | Coarse filtered, creamy rice sweetness, soft texture |
| Kikusui Junmai Ginjo 300mL | Junmai Ginjo | Not stated | Melon and banana aromatics, clean dry finish |
| Kikusui Junmai Ginjo 720mL | Junmai Ginjo | Not stated | Same profile, larger format; serve chilled in a wine glass |
| Funaguchi Original Gold | Honjozo Nama Genshu | 38 (19% ABV) | Unpasteurized, undiluted, bold; ice cold or on rocks |
| Kuramitsu | Junmai Daiginjo | 30 (15% ABV) | 23% polish rate, super premium, IWC Gold Medal |
Which Kikusui is right for you?
The entry point is the Kikusui Nama Sake 200mL at $4.99, a single serving can that rewards you for drinking it fresh. Step up to the Perfect Snow Sake 300mL at $7.99 if you want the cloudy, creamy nigori style, or the Junmai Ginjo 300mL at $9.99 for a clean aromatic pour. The Junmai Ginjo 720mL at $21.99 is the bottle to keep in the refrigerator for guests. Larger formats and the super premium Kuramitsu we bring in on request.
Small format, gentle melon aromatics, low commitment at $9.99.
Cloudy, creamy and unfiltered, built for spicy tuna rolls.
A full bottle at $21.99 that serves a table chilled.