Post #195576 by captnkirk on Sun, Oct 30, 2005 1:40 PM

I have a few books on sake but I am no expert.
They all seem to say aging an unopened bottle of sake is not a good idea and aging opened sake is a very bad idea.

The book "Sake pure and simple" states: If aged under less than ideeally contolled conditions, a sake can become cloying. It is best to consume sake soon after you purchase it. Do not try to age it in storage like you might age a fine red wine.

"The sake handbook" says: Run-of-the-mill sake does not age well and becomes unbalanced, but a decently make and properly made koshu (aged sake) has an earthy, balanced and settled flavor and fragrance that may not be the best for drinking in quantity, but can be very satifying for one glass. It has its fans and its foes.

I recomend the following books if you want know which are the best:
Sake a drinkers guide
The sake handbook
The book of sake
The insiders guide to sake

They rank the sake against each other and tell you what kind of flavors to expect in each one.

If you want to brew you own sake (perfectly legal in the USA anywhere you can make wine or beer) the I recommend this book:
Sake (U.S.A.) by Fred Eckhart

All of these book are still in print and can be found in the beer and wine section of the local book store, or of course on Amazon.com or any other internet bookstores.

[ Edited by: captnkirk 2005-10-30 13:43 ]