Kawatsuru - Zenigata Cup

Small cup sake from Shikoku, made for exactly this kind of situation. Dry and clean enough to cut through fried or salty izakaya food without asking anything of the drinker.

Kawatsuru is a brewery based in Kanonji City on the island of Shikoku, in Kagawa Prefecture, with a history stretching back to 1891. The Zenigata Cup takes its name from the famous sand drawing of a giant coin on the nearby Kotohiki Beach, a local landmark that has been associated with the region for centuries.

This is a Junmai sake, meaning it is brewed with only rice, water, koji, and yeast, with no added distilled alcohol. It is made using Omachi rice, a heritage variety prized for producing sake with earthy, full-bodied character and some textural weight.

The cup format, a small ceramic vessel sealed with a foil lid, is a beloved and practical Japanese tradition, common at train stations, convenience stores, and festivals throughout the country. It holds 180ml, which is one traditional go of sake.

For a bottle shop customer, it is an honest and well-made single-serving sake from a real regional brewery, and the packaging itself is a piece of Japanese drinking culture worth experiencing. It works equally well on its own at room temperature or gently warmed.