Kire
キレ
التعريف
A tasting term describing the clean, sharp finish of sake — how quickly and completely the flavor disappears from the palate after swallowing. Good kire is one of the most prized qualities in Japanese sake aesthetics.
بعمق
Kire is the opposite of lingering heaviness. A sake with excellent kire leaves the palate refreshed and ready for the next sip or bite of food. This quality is particularly valued in the tanrei karakuchi (light and dry) style of Niigata and is achieved through thorough fermentation that leaves minimal residual sugar, balanced acidity, and clean yeast character. Kire does not mean the sake lacks flavor — rather, it means the flavor arrives clearly, delivers its message, and departs cleanly. It is this quality that makes sake such an outstanding accompaniment to sequential courses of Japanese cuisine.