A sake called Black Swan, and it's the second one (II)

BLACK SWAN II (Shirasugi Sake Brewery) [Kyoto Prefecture]
<Drank in July 2020>

SWAN is 'hakucho' (white swan). Is BLACK SWAN a black swan?
There is an insect called the 'Togearitogenashitogehamushi' (spiny-spined-spineless-leaf beetle), a name that is unclear about whether it has spines or not. 'Black swan' is also a mysterious name. This sake bears that mysterious name. And it's 'II'.

'BLACK SWAN' is a term used when an impossible event occurs or when you encounter something unexpected. Doesn't that name build up your expectations?

I've had the regular BLACK SWAN before, so this time I'm trying the 'II'. It might be strange to call it 'regular' when it's already a BLACK SWAN, though...

'So sweet!'

When you take a sip of the syrupy liquid, a fruity flavor spreads in your mouth. It has a lychee-like acidity and a pleasant sweetness, almost like dried fruit. I also feel a slight spiciness, but maybe that's just my imagination. It might be more accurate to call it an ice wine rather than sake... It's a masterpiece that makes you realize the breadth of sake.

The hint is on the label: 'ALL KURO-KOJI'. That's right, it's brewed with black koji. They are using koji, which is mainly used for awamori and shochu, in sake. So that's why it's BLACK SWAN... It's a rare black koji sake. And 'II' means it's a Kijoshu. Let me explain! Kijoshu is a sake made by luxuriously using sake instead of water during the brewing process.

That's a clever naming. 'Give them a cushion!'

Looking at the label more closely, it says 'THE DARK PHOENIX'. I suppose that translates to 'Dark Phoenix'. This represents 'resurrection = Kijoshu', and since you make sake with sake, it feels like 'squared = II'. Somehow, I ended up talking about the 'label' rather than the sake itself... When I looked at the back label, all the explanations were written there... (*^_^*)

Please try this niche sake, a black koji Kijoshu, at least once!

How about pairing it with 'Blue cheese and Bramley apple pizza drizzled with honey'? Just imagining it makes me want to eat it, though it's still a long way until Bramley season... Also, pouring it over vanilla ice cream, a 'BLACK SWAN sundae', sounds good too.

Brand: BLACK SWAN II
Alcohol content: 15%
Rice polishing ratio: 60%
Uses Milky Queen rice from Tango, Kyoto Prefecture
Brewed entirely with black koji
Rating: ★★★★
Sweetness 5, Acidity 4, Bitterness 1, Umami 4, Aroma 4
Price: 2,640 yen, Cost performance: ◯

Top photo: Sunflower field in Yosano Town, Kyoto Prefecture, near Tango, the rice production area