MIO Sparkling Sake

MIO is a sparkling sake made from nothing but rice and koji, with no added sweeteners or flavoring. The sweetness comes from the rice itself, which is worth saying out loud in a category where added sweeteners are common.

Peach, ripe persimmon, freesia, and fresh bread on the nose. Pear and peach on the palate, with yellow rose and a little baking spice, and a soft fizz underneath.

At 5% it's light. Serve it between 32 and 41°F, and use the range: nearer 32 it tastes cleaner and sharper, nearer 41 the rice sweetness opens up. Chilling the glass helps too.

The name refers to the wake a ship leaves in shallow water. The shallowness stands for the low alcohol, the foam for the bubbles.