Nigori
にごり酒
定義
Cloudy sake that retains rice solids from being pressed through a coarse mesh rather than a fine filter. Nigori has a milky white appearance, a creamy texture, and a sweeter, richer flavor profile than clear sake.
詳細解説
Nigori ranges from lightly hazy to thick and porridge-like, depending on the mesh gauge used during pressing. The retained rice particles contribute a distinctive creamy mouthfeel and often a sweeter taste, as some of the starch has not fully converted to alcohol. Nigori is popular as a dessert sake or a gateway drink for newcomers to sake. Sparkling nigori varieties, which trap natural CO2 from ongoing fermentation, have become especially trendy. Despite its rustic appearance, nigori legally qualifies as seishu (clear sake) because it passes through some form of filtration, unlike doburoku.