Just located a barrel that was lost in a move 14/15 years ago. Does the fact that this sake is in a 900 ml barrel have any affect on it's preservation? Thank you!
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
To try to answer your question, let’s establish first that the vast majority of all sake – well over 99% - is quite fragile and is not intended for aging. There are unusual types of sake which have been aged at the brewery including “koshu” with an indication of the aging period (such as 3 or 5 years). There is as well another style aged in cedar barrels called “taru-sake,” and this altogether rare wood-matured sake is normally sold in bottles. Bear in mind, however, that the maturation process is strictly controlled at the source prior to bottling. So there are sakes which have been deliberately held back by the brewer, and their taste profile stands apart from the norm. As a rule, sake is best drunk upon release and should be stored under refrigeration because it will deteriorate quickly at warm temperatures. It is difficult to say exactly what your sake might taste like at this stage, and the size of the container is not really the decisive factor. I would guess it would be dark brown in color and nutty. You might or might not like the taste, but don’t wait any longer to give it a try because it certainly won’t improve!
