Proper Sake, 'Soft Power' Kimoto Daiginjo Namachozo 750ml

Kimoto Daiginjo Namachozo style sake

Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Soft Power is a Kimoto Daiginjo Namachozo style sake made with Titan rice (40% milled) from Isbell Farms in Central Arkansas. Among the more elegant in the line of Proper Sake, the very modern yeast #1801 in this brew highlights the rich aromas and the highly milled rice allows the yeast to really shine. Mineral water simulating the harder water profile of the Ishikawa region of Japan. Brewed in 3000L stainless steel tank 16% ABV

Proper Sake Co. is Tennessee’s first sake brewery, founded in Nashville in 2016 by Byron Stithem, who produces all of the brewery’s sake by hand with a clear commitment to traditional Japanese technique. The portfolio centers on small-batch, pre-modern styles—often unfiltered (nigori) and unpasteurized (namazake)—made using the labor-intensive kimoto method, allowing native lactic fermentation to build depth, savory umami, and layered complexity rarely seen in contemporary sake. Using sake-grade rice (primarily sourced from Arkansas) and minimal intervention, the sakes tend toward dry, muscular profiles with notable structure and elevated alcohol around 18% ABV, offering both intensity and warmth. While best served slightly chilled (45–55°F) to emphasize nuance, they also perform exceptionally well when gently warmed. In addition to sake, the brewery produces kojidriven beers, underscoring a broader fermentation ethos. Proper Sake represents a serious, terroir-driven American expression of classical Japanese sake, appealing to consumers interested in kimoto, namazake, and bold, umami-forward styles that stand apart from polished, mass-market imports.