Dassai 23 Junmai Daiginjo Sake Ultra Premium Japanese Sake 720mL

Brand: Dassai (Asahi Shuzo)

Release Name: Dassai 23 Junmai Daiginjo (Flagship)

Sake Style / Type: Ultra-Premium Junmai Daiginjo Sake

Rice Variety: 100% Yamadanishiki

Rice Polishing Rate: 23% (Polished Continuously for 168 Hours / 7 Days)

Volume: 720ml Bottle (Also Available in 1800ml, 300ml and 180ml)

Alc / Vol (%): 16.0%

Sake Meter Value (SMV): +4

Acidity: 1.3

Country: Japan

Region: Yamaguchi Prefecture (Chūgoku)

Brewing Method: Junmai Daiginjo (No Added Distilled Alcohol); Certified Vegan (720ml); Kosher Certified

Limited Edition: No (Dassai's Standing Flagship Junmai Daiginjo Release, Though Positioned as the Top Tier of the Range)

Award Winner: Not independently confirmed with a formal competition trophy for this exact product — notably presented as a diplomatic gift from Japan's Prime Minister to U.S. President Obama in 2014, and globally recognised as one of the definitive examples of premium Japanese sake

Dassai is produced by Asahi Shuzo, a family-run brewery founded in 1948 in the mountains of Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. Once on the brink of bankruptcy, the brewery made the bold decision to brew exclusively Junmai Daiginjo — the highest and most labour-intensive sake grade — combining traditional hand-crafted techniques like hand-washed rice with data-driven precision brewing. That singular focus transformed Dassai into one of the most internationally recognised sake brands in the world, expanding from rural Japan to markets including New York, and even sending a bottle into space as part of a research collaboration. Dassai's philosophy centres on brewing sake that is genuinely delicious to drink, rather than chasing volume or alcohol content, a commitment reflected across its full range from the accessible 45 through to the ultra-premium 23 and ultra-rare Beyond expressions.

Dassai 23 represents Asahi Shuzo's own challenge to themselves: brew the ultimate Junmai Daiginjo as a genuine flagship product, polishing Yamadanishiki rice continuously — 24 hours a day for a full seven days — down to just 23% of its original size, among the highest polishing ratios achieved by any sake brewery in the world. That extreme, patient process is what gives Dassai 23 its extraordinary refinement: a deep, layered structure that unfolds in "chapters" of flavour rather than presenting everything at once. Its reputation extends well beyond sake circles — this was the bottle Japan's Prime Minister Abe personally chose to present to U.S. President Obama during his 2014 visit to Japan, a genuine diplomatic seal of approval that speaks to how highly regarded it is even outside the drinks trade. The 720ml bottling is also one of the few certified vegan sakes in the world, a detail increasingly relevant to discerning buyers. As Dassai's flagship product — sitting above both the 39 and 45 in the range — it's the definitive choice for a special occasion, a serious gift, or anyone wanting to experience Japanese sake craftsmanship at its absolute peak.