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Staff Favorites - Hope Cooc

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Reviews

Shiokawa "Cowboy Yamahai" Junmai Ginjo Genshu Sake (720ml)

Review Date: 04-21-2023

Cowboy Junmai Ginjo sake is bold and big for a sake. At 19% abv you definitely feel the intensity. You get umami, big lush fruits, and cooked rice on the palette, all the while being hit in the face with the alcohol, but ending in a smooth finish. It is great for serious sake lovers that want a bolder tasting sake and can be served room temperature or slightly chilled at 40 degrees centigrade or 104 degrees Fahrenheit. It pairs best with richer dishes as well!

Price: $34.99

Kawatsuru "Olive" Junmai Ginjo Sake (720ml)

Review Date: 04-21-2023

Longtime brewery worker, Miki Fujioka, recently got promoted to being the head toji for Kawatsuru brewery. She is making waves with this olive sake! The sake itself uses Sanuki olive yeast that is native to the area. The olive yeast does not give out a briny flavour to the sake. Instead the sake is lighter and more delicate overall. You get sweet, lush green apples, and floral notes on the nose. The palette consists of minerals, cotton candy, and ripe stone fruit. Because this sake is delicate, I suggest it is best served well chilled and by itself or with dishes that are lighter like a salad or sashimi.

Price: $39.99

Tedorigawa "Silver Mountain" Yamahai Junmai Sake 720ml

Review Date: 04-21-2023

Tedorigawa brewery is featured in the documentary film, "Birth of Sake." The brewery is located in Ishikawa prefecture and has been around for over 114 years. The Silver Mountain Yamahai Junmai is a rich complex sake with high acidity. You get honey, maple, and I want to say yogurt on the palette. It is delightful to drink at room or even chilled!

Price: $29.99

Nikka "Miyagikyo" Japanese Single Malt Whisky (750ml)

Review Date: 04-21-2023

Miyagikyo is an incredible NAS (non aging statement) whisky that is reasonably priced. It is the youngest of the Miyagikyo whisky lines, but it is still well balanced in flavours. You get a smoky finish with hints of tobacco lingering on your palette. Like any Japanese whisky's, you get robust floral and smoky notes from the start that mellow out on the finish. This delicate whisky is best enjoyed neat or on the rocks.

Price: $69.99

Heiwa Shuzou "Tsuru-Ume" Suppai Plum Wakayama Sake (720ml)

Review Date: 04-21-2023

Lush aromas of ume fill the glass almost immediately. The texture of the sake has some viscosity and weight to it. Ume, citrus, and dark cherry notes are what I get on the palette. This sake is best served well chilled, or even on the rocks as an after dinner aperitif.

Price: $36.99

Heiwa Shuzou "Tsuru-Ume" Lemon Wakayama Sake (720ml)

Review Date: 01-18-2023

If you're looking for a playful and dessert style sake look no further! This is the limoncello of sake! The ume gives you a sweet creamy texture, while the lemon gives you that perfect balance of tartness. They use not only the juice of the lemon, but the skin of it too that awakens your tastebuds. Drinking this well chilled is highly recommended and experiment with it too in a cocktail, you'll be surprised by how versatile this sake is!

Price: $39.99

2009 Langoa-Barton, St-Julien

Review Date: 01-11-2023

Cherry cola and sweet sappy fruit aromas resonate on the nose. The tannin structure is well defined and rounds out on the pallet. You get blueberry, tobacco, oak, and a tough of sweet fruit at the finish. I would highly recommend decanting for a few hours to get the most out of this wine.

Price: $99.99

Nikka "From The Barrel" Blended Japanese Whisky (750ml)

Review Date: 01-04-2023

This full-bodied whisky is full of surprises. On the nose, you get cracked pink peppercorn, oak, poached pear, and floral notes. The pallet starts off with sweet toffee followed by hits of cocoa and zesty baking spices. Nikka from the barrel is well-balanced and is wonderful on its own, but also enjoyable in a Manhattan or a high ball.

Price: $59.99

WA: 94

Mantensei Kinoko Junmai Ginjo Sake (720ml)

Review Date: 12-18-2022

Sake brewer, Kuramoto Touda-san is a self proclaimed fungi investigator, hence the name Kinoko which translates to "mushroom." His loves for mushrooms highly influences his sake and pairs well with them too. This sake is earthy and has more umani notes to it like fermented soybeans, kelp, and burnt caramel. It is more savory, so I suggest paring this with heavier dishes like gamy meats, stews, and of course mushrooms!

Price: $36.99

LALO Blanco Tequila (750ml)

Review Date: 11-15-2022

From the producers who brought you, Don Julio, comes Lalo. Lalo’s concept is to continue his father and grandfather’s legacy by producing the best Blanco tequila without any preservatives. This tequila is very approachable and great for people who want to explore a new tequila. Meeting Lalo was an honor in hearing his story about wanting to preserve and pay homage to the agave and keeping his tequila as clean and pure as possible. You get sweet herbaceous notes of fresh-cut grass, and lemongrass, with a touch of earth. It rounds out mid-pallet and has a soft, silky finish. Very enjoyable and such a great value!

Price: $42.99

WE: 93

Mii no Kotobuki "Pastoral Beauty" Hojo Biden Yamahai Junmai Sake (720ml)

Review Date: 09-10-2022

Red licorice is a heavily present on both the nose and pallet. The Junmai is clean, vibrant with vanilla, almonds, and honey. It is a bit higher at 16-17% giving this sake a richer mouthfeel as well. It is produced in Kyushu, Japan and uses Itoshima Yamada Nishiki rice, a delicate long grain, that can be a tad tricky when it come to growing in the Fukuoka prefecture. Mii No Kotobuki does an excellent job producing this small batch sake.

Price: $29.99

Yamada Shoten "Everlasting Roots" Tokubetsu Junmai Sake 900ml

Review Date: 09-03-2022

This is one of the best value sake for a 900mL bottle! The creamy, savory texture dances beautifully on the pallet along with cloves, citrus, nutty aromas, touch of smoke, and earthy notes. This sake is richer and drier and would pair well with hearty meats and cheeses.

Price: $29.99

Jack Daniel's "Barrel Proof" Single Barrel Select Tennessee Whiskey (375ml)

Review Date: 09-03-2022

This single barrel is quite enjoyable. The aromatics of this whiskey come off strong with notes of cinnamon, toasty oak, cloves, toffee, and chocolate. It is not too intense on the pallet, and you get subtle hints of citrus, banana chips, caramel, and baking chocolate. It rounds out mid-pallet with a lingering white peppercorn heat on the finish.

Price: $29.99

WE: 94

Huchu Homare (JoTo) Watari Bune Ferry Boat "55" Ibaraki Junmai Ginjo Sake 720ml

Review Date: 08-28-2022

Best served cold or room temperature, this wine opens up beautifully in the glass with pineapple, overripe melon, and wild flowers. You get a zesty acidity that lingers on the pallet. Definitely worth the try!

Price: $39.99

Limit of 3 per customer

Konteki "Tears of Dawn" Daiginjo Sake (720ml)

Review Date: 07-30-2022

Banana cream and anise seeds are present throughout the pallet. This Daiginjo is light and dry with a smooth finish. It is recommended to be served cold between 40-60 degrees. Fresh oysters and fish go well with this sake.

Price: $39.99

Yellow Spot 12 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

Review Date: 07-10-2022

Out of all the Spot Whiskeys made by Jameson out there, I have got to say that this one is my personal favorite. The sweet corn, sweet bread, nuttiness dances ever so playful on the pallet. It is made using both malted and unmalted barley in a single pot and finished in Malaga casks. In the beginning, it starts off hot, but with a little decanting this whiskey opens up beautifully and ends with a soft finish.

Price: $99.99

WE: 94

Nikka Coffey Still Japanese Grain Whisky (750ml)

Review Date: 06-23-2022

The Coffey Grain is probably one of my favorite go to Japanese whisky. It is predominantly made from corn and finished in matured oak and American oak to give it a soft and sweet finish. This whisky is essentially a bourbon and has notes of toasted candied nuts, caramel, with a slight char. To be completely honest, it is such an easy drinker that I can definitely drink an entire bottle in one sitting if I really tried (I do not recommend or encourage that whatsoever). The Coffey Grain is best enjoyed neat and can be prepared in a cocktail. Might I add, a matcha highball is refreshing on a hot day! Try it!

Price: $54.99

WA: 92

WE: 90

Gin Mare Mediterranean Gin (750ml)

Review Date: 06-08-2022

Olives are greatly present throughout the glass. You get rosemary, thyme, butter green olives, and lemon rind. The texture of this gin is oily and softens out on the finish. This is great served on its own, or in a dirty martini.

Price: $36.99

Port Charlotte (Bruichladdich) 10 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)

Review Date: 04-23-2022

If you are a peated whisky fan, you'll enjoy this single malt. There is a sharpness to this whisky that is not for the faint of heart. You get intense peat that hugs your tongue and it is delightful! Overall, it is a must try and a great deal for a 10 year!

Price: $59.99

WA: 91

Redwood Empire "Pipe Dream" Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

Review Date: 04-06-2022

Hmm, where should I start with Redwood Empire? A fun little fact is that Redwood Empire promises to plant a tree with every bottle sold. So, from here we’re already off to an amazing start. Diving into their Pipe Dream Bourbon, you get enriching flavours of vanilla, baking spices, and toasted pecans. The mouthfeel of this whiskey is delicate with a hint of a black pepper spice at the finish. I personally enjoy drinking Pipe Dream by itself, but it is equally as delicious in a cocktail as well. If you’re looking for a new bourbon to try, I highly recommend grabbing a bottle on your next visit!

Price: $29.99

WE: 94

More Favorites

Hope Cooc is also a fan of the following items. To become a fan of Hope Cooc, click here to join Hope Cooc's Personal Sommelier Service.

2017 Schnaitmann "Steinwiege" Pinot Noir Württemberg ($29.99)

Billecart-Salmon "Le Réserve" Champagne ($64.99)

Billecart-Salmon "Le Rosé" Champagne ($94.99)

Boulard-Bauquaire "Carte Noire" Brut Blanc de Noirs Champagne ($39.99)

Boulard-Bauquaire "Trepail" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne Vieilles Vignes ($44.99)

Contratto Aperitif Liqueur (1L) ($27.99)

Frank August Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($74.99)

Alvarado Street Brewery "Mai Tai" Tropical IPA, California (16oz can) ($4.99)

Nikka "Taketsuru" White Label Pure Malt Japanese Whisky ($59.99)

Redwood Empire "Lost Monarch" Whiskey (750ml) ($29.99)

Arran 10 Year Old (New Label) Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) ($59.99)

Martin Miller's Westbourne Strength London Dry Gin (750ml) ($36.99)

Wild Turkey "Rare Breed" Small Batch Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey ($59.99)

Lo-Fi Aperitifs Gentian Amaro (750ml) ($21.99)

Condesa 'Prickly Pear & Orange Blossom' Mexico City Gin (750ml) ($34.99)

Condesa "Clasica" Extra Dry Mexico City Gin (750ml) ($34.99)

Suntory Roku Japanese Gin ($29.99)

Nikka Days Blended Whisky (750ml) ($39.99)