Private Lab Amaneko Spark
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed within 1–2 years of release to fully appreciate its vibrant effervescence, bright citrus notes, and pristine freshness.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Fresh oysters, white fish sashimi, creamy goat cheese
✨ Technical Specifications
Aramasa's 'Private Lab' serves as the ultimate playground for boundary-pushing experimentation, and the 'Amaneko Spark' (meaning 'Heavenly Cat') is one of its most whimsical and revolutionary creations. Breaking away from centuries of sake-making dogma, Amaneko incorporates white koji—a mold traditionally reserved for shochu production—alongside the brewery's historic Kyokai No. 6 yeast. This bold choice infuses the brew with a vibrant, citrus-forward citric acidity reminiscent of a fine Champagne or German Riesling. The 'Spark' edition undergoes a natural secondary fermentation in the bottle, resulting in a delicate, lively effervescence. Crafted using traditional Kimoto starter methods in wooden casks (kioke), this sparkling sake beautifully bridges the ancient heritage of Akita prefecture with a thrilling, avant-garde future.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1852 by Uhei Sato in Akita Prefecture, Aramasa Shuzo stands as one of Japan's most revolutionary and revered artisanal producers. The brewery earned historic distinction in 1930 when its in-house culture was isolated as Kyokai No. 6, the oldest surviving yeast strain in active distribution. Under eighth-generation kuramoto Yusuke Sato, who took over in the late 2000s, Aramasa embarked on an uncompromising renaissance. Sato committed strictly to pure Junmai brewing, utilizing exclusively local Akita-grown rice cultivated without chemical pesticides, including over 30 hectares farmed in the Uyashinai district. Reviving traditional Edo-period techniques, all fermentations rely purely on indigenous lactic bacteria via the kimoto method and take place entirely in wooden cedar vats (kioke). Fermented using only pristine soft local mountain water and Kyokai No. 6, Aramasa's sakes—such as the iconic unpasteurized No. 6 series, the terroir-driven Colors collection, and the experimental Private Lab bottlings like Amaneko—are globally benchmarked for their electrifying acidity, pristine structural tension, and vinous elegance.
🍇 Grapes
Akita Sake Komachi (Sake Rice)
🍷 ABV
11-12%