Honjozo Sake
Honjozo is a premium "special designation" (tokutei meishoshu) sake that contains a small, legally controlled amount of distilled brewer’s alcohol added to the fermenting mash. By law, its rice must be polished to at least 70% (30% of the grain removed), and the added alcohol cannot exceed 10% of the rice's total weight
The added alcohol acts as a technical brewing agent to draw out specific flavors and aromas trapped in the rice. This results in a sake that is characteristically lighter, smoother, and slightly drier on the palate compared to pure Junmai