Konteki Tears of Dawn Daiginjo

Konteki is made by the Higashiyama brewery in Kyoto — the historic birthplace of sake — using Yamada Nishiki rice from a single, well-regarded local farmer, polished to 50%. Tears of Dawn is the more aromatic of the brewery's two flagship pours, built with a touch of brewer's alcohol to lift the nose and lighten the overall weight compared to its all-Junmai sibling. The result is genuinely plush: banana, anise, and a hint of truffle on a velvety, full-bodied palate that the brewery's own staff have compared to a classic Hollywood starlet. Try it at room temperature for the savory side to come forward.