Namazake - The Story of Unpasteurized Sake

About this episode

Andy and Jim explore the history and significance of namazake in the modern sake market.

In an amazing oversight, Andy and Jim realize they’ve never dug into the history of namazake and its path toward becoming a mainstay of the modern sake market. What was the first commercially available namazake? When did it hit shelves? And most importantly, is it really only drinkable fresh? Listen in for fresh, unheated sake talk, and kampai! Vocab for this episode Namachozo 生貯蔵 - Stored unpasteurized/heat treated, then pasteurized on bottling. Namazume 生詰め - Pasteurized before storing, then bottled without another pasteurization. Namanama 生生 - Sake that has not undergone any pasteurization (usually just nama) Jukusei 熟成 - Matured or aged. Namajuku 生熟 - Aged namazake Recommendations: Andy - Daijiro Kimoto Junmai Namazake Jim - Kikusui Jukusei Funaguchi Don’t forget to support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/SakeDeepDive Also, check out Andy’s websites at: https://www.originsake.com/ and https://www.originsaketours.com And buy Jim’s book, Discovering Yamaguchi Sake wherever you order your books (print and ebook available)! Our theme music is from Lotus Lane by The Loyalist - Preconceived Notions Available at https://soundcloud.com/preconceived-notions Under a Creative…

People in this episode

Hosts: Andy, Jim

Topics covered

• namazake
• sake history
• unpasteurized sake
• sake market
• sake recommendations

Keywords

• namazake
• unpasteurized sake
• sake history
• sake recommendations
• sake market

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Patreon, Originsake, Originsake Tours

Products: Daijiro Kimoto Junmai Namazake, Kikusui Jukusei Funaguchi

Books & works: Discovering Yamaguchi Sake, Lotus Lane

More episodes of Sake Deep Dive

• Koshi no Kanbai - Snow Country Sake · May 31, 2026 · 55 min
• Itami - Sake's Other, Other Birthplace(?) · March 31, 2026 · 1h 3m
• Niigata - How Snow Country Sake Fueled the Jizake Boom · January 31, 2026 · 55 min
• Brewery Hierarchy - Sake Making Structure · December 31, 2025 · 53 min
• Hiyaoroshi - Autumn Sake Season is Here · October 31, 2025 · 38 min
• Sugidama - Sake Brewing's Evergreen Symbol · September 30, 2025 · 43 min