Dassai 39 Junmai Daiginjo Sake 720mL (6 Bottle Pack)

Brand: Dassai (Asahi Shuzo)

Release Name: Dassai 39 Junmai Daiginjo

Sake Style / Type: Premium Junmai Daiginjo Sake

Rice Variety: 100% Yamadanishiki

Rice Polishing Rate: 39%

Volume: 6 X720ml Bottle

Alc / Vol (%): 16.0%

Country: Japan

Region: Yamaguchi Prefecture (Chūgoku)

Brewing Method: Junmai Daiginjo (No Added Distilled Alcohol)

Limited Edition: No (Dassai's Standing Mid-Tier Junmai Daiginjo Release, Positioned Between Dassai 45 and Dassai 23)

Award Winner: Not independently confirmed with a specific competition trophy for this exact product — Dassai as a brand holds exceptional global prestige and reviewer acclaim across its range

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 39 occupies a genuinely distinctive middle ground within the Dassai range — polished more heavily than the accessible 45, but not as intensely refined as the ultra-premium 23, giving it a deliberately balanced character that borrows the best of both: the rich fruit of the 45, layered with some of the subtler, more complex aromatics of the 23. Made from Yamadanishiki, widely regarded as the finest sake rice, this expression takes rice polishing seriously — reducing each grain to just 39% of its original size to access only the purest starchy core, a labour-intensive process reflected in its refined, wine-like acidity and long finish. Reviewers have repeatedly called it "a role model for Junmai Daiginjo" — the wine most illustrative of what the category can achieve at its best. Dassai's broader reputation adds real weight here too: the brewery brews exclusively Junmai Daiginjo, has grown from near-bankruptcy into one of the most recognised sake names in the world, and is served at state dinners and Michelin-starred restaurants globally. This 39 expression is an excellent, food-friendly choice for sushi, fresh salads, green vegetables or a cheese plate, and a strong pick for customers who've already tried Dassai 45 and want to trade up.