15th Anniversary Private Lab Hinotori
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed within 1–5 years of release, though its unique Kijushu style allows it to develop fascinating caramelized and nutty complexities with careful medium-term cellaring.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
blue cheese, foie gras, fruit tarts
✨ Technical Specifications
Aramasa's 'Private Lab' series serves as the experimental playground for eighth-generation president Yusuke Sato, and 'Hinotori' (meaning Phoenix) is its undisputed crown jewel. This release is a modern reincarnation of Kijushu, an ancient style of sake dating back to the Heian period (9th century) where sake is used in place of brewing water during the final stage of fermentation. To celebrate the 15th anniversary of this boundary-pushing label, Aramasa crafted this highly limited expression. Brewed using the brewery's own historic Kyokai No. 6 yeast and fermented in traditional wooden casks (kioke) using the ancestral Kimoto method, it represents a seamless bridge between ancient heritage and avant-garde craftsmanship. The resulting sake is incredibly rich and complex, offering a luscious, honeyed sweetness balanced by a vibrant, wine-like acidity and a deep, savory umami backbone.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1852 in Akita Prefecture, Japan, Aramasa Shuzo is one of the sake world's most revolutionary and revered historic breweries. Under the avant-garde leadership of eighth-generation owner Yusuke Sato, the kura strictly champions traditional, natural brewing methodologies, utilizing only native Akita rice cultivars, wooden fermentation vats (kioke), and the time-honored kimoto method without additives. Aramasa is famously the historic birthplace of Kyokai Yeast No. 6, isolated here in 1930, which the brewery now uses exclusively across its entire production. Renowned for vibrant acidity, exceptional clarity, and wine-like complexity, Aramasa produces iconic cult expressions including the unpasteurized No. 6 series, the terroir-focused Colors collection, and the rare, boundary-pushing Private Lab series featuring labels like Invisible Pink Unicorn.