10 Best Habu Sake For Sale In The USA

Haha! In the sake world, “habu” refers to a type of snake. While sake is made from rice, many drink makers ferment with a special mold called koji, hence “snake wine.”

In all seriousness, habu sake is actually a real thing and it’s pretty good. Maybe not worth chasing down for all sake lovers, but worth a shot for those who want to try something new.

What Is Habu Sake?

Habu sake is a type of sake made and aged for one year in Miyazaki, Japan. It’s traditionally bottled in small batches and sold at breweries or sometimes directly to customers.

“Habu” refers to the habu snake, which has heat-sensing organs that allow it to follow trails left by escaping prey. Making habu sake requires broadening one’s horizons and looking at things from a different perspective.

Koichi Nishikawa, the brewer of Fukucho Brewery, says that all koji for making habu sake is grown at his brewery since they ferment until the end.

10 Best Habu Sake For Sale In Usa

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10. HAKUSHIKA MIRAI HAZU KURA JUNMAI NIGORI

This habu sake is made from koshihikari rice and bottled unfiltered. It’s best served chilled or with some ice cubes.

The smell is very mild, with some slight hints of fruitiness. The taste is also mild, but the rice’s flavor shines through more than anything else. It has a nice balance of acidity and sweetness that makes it worth sipping on all by itself on an especially hot day.

9. KUROUZU GINJO NAMA HAZU SAKE

This is another koshihikari sake, made in the traditional way. The taste of this Grammaire-shiboritate rice shines through in a sophisticated yet subtle way. Even people who aren’t fans of sake often enjoy Kurouzu’s light flavor.

8. KUROUZU GINJO NAMA HAZU SAKE

This sake is made with koshihikari rice. It’s great to drink on its own, but even better to pair with food.

The flavor starts out fruity and sweet but finishes cleanly. You can taste the umami that comes from the fermentation process, but it’s not too heavy. This is a great sake to have with sashimi or grilled fish, or if you’re tired of drinking the same old stuff for your next cocktail party.

7. MIYAMOTO SHUUZOU MIEIZA NAMA HAZU SAKE

While this may be the least expensive habu sake for sale, it’s not lacking in quality. Miyamoto Shuzo is a prominent brewer with over 200 years of history-making Japan’s most famous sakes.

The flavor has hints of fruitiness and sweetness but doesn’t overpower the taste of rice at all. This is another great choice to drink on its own or with food.

6. KUROUZU GINJO HAZU SAKE

Miyamoto Shuzo’s kudzu ginjo habu sake is made with koshihikari rice, fermented for over 18 months. The result is a rich yet mellow flavor that will please even the most demanding drinkers’ palates.

This habu sake is best served chilled and goes great with traditional Japanese dishes such as sushi or sashimi. If you’d like to experiment with the taste, even more, try it with some light olive oil as a dipping sauce for your crispy deep-fried shrimp!

5. MIYAMOTO SHUUZOU MIEIZA NAMA HAZU SAKE

This is another great example of a koshihikari rice habu sake. It’s perfect to drink with some light appetizers or something with spice like curry. The flavor profile isn’t super heavy and has a lot of complexity for its relatively low price.

4. KUROUZU GINJO NAMA HAZU SAKE

Kurouzu Ginjo is one of the more affordable habu sake but has a refined taste that works well on its own or paired with food. It’s made with koshihikari rice and will go great with some spicy food like curries or tacos.

3. TAKATA SAKE HAZU NAMA GINJO

This sake is best served chilled or on ice and mixes well with food too. The kurouchi finish gives it a nice dry edge that will cut through spicy dishes nicely. It’s made with Yamada Nishiki rice and is fermented over two months before bottling.

2. KUROUZU GINJO NAMA HAZU SAKE

Miyamoto Shuzo’s Kurouzu habu sake is made with Yamada Nishiki rice, giving it light but flavorful finish that’s perfect for pairing with food. It will go great with lighter dishes like Japanese or Southeast Asian cuisine.

1. HAKUSHIKA MIRAI HAZU KURA JUNMAI NIGORI 

Hakushika Mirai’s habu sake is made with Yamada Nishiki rice, which gives it a nice clean flavor that goes great with food or all by itself on a hot day. The umami from the fermentation process is subtle but very pleasant.

This is the best habu sake for those who aren’t familiar with craft sake, as it’s easy to drink and won’t make you cringe after a few shots like some more traditional styles can.

This is a good beginner’s habu sake but has enough complexity for more refined palates as well.

History Of Habu Sake Company

The Miyamoto Shuzo has existed for more than 50 years and is one of the most popular sake makers in Japan today. They use Yamada Nishiki rice to make their habu sake, which gives it a great base for getting creative with. This is another good one to try on its own or on the rocks.

Miyamoto Shuzo is a brewery with over 200 years of history. Their Yamada Nishiki habu sake is made with koshihikari rice and fermented for more than two months before bottling. It’s perfect to drink with both light and heavy dishes. Miyamoto Shuzo also offers free shipping on orders over 10,000 yen.

At a relatively low price point, Miyamoto Shuzo is a great choice for anyone looking to expand their sake horizons.

The flavor profile isn’t super heavy or complex, but this sake has enough going on to make it worth buying even if you’re just getting into craft sake. It’s also easy to drink and won’t make your palate cringe after a few shots.

Conclusion

Habushu is a tasty, potent Japanese drink that contains the venom of an extremely dangerous creature to humans – not something you want to take lightly. But with its intriguing taste and strong presence in Okinawan culture over centuries, it’s become one of their most popular alcoholic beverages! Other names for this spirit include Habu Sake or Okinawa Wine depending on where they’re from but what we know as habu Snake Wine everyone calls simply “Haboush” here on Earth.