Review: Sakes of SakeOne, 2025 Releases

It’s been more than a decade since we reviewed SakeOne‘s domestic sake lineup, which is brewed in Oregon and is one of the most widely available domestically produced sakes in the country. Here’s a look at three recent bottlings, including one older expression we’re trying again and some that are new to us.

Momokawa Diamond Medium Dry Junmai Ginjo Sake – Diamond can stand up against any typical Japanese sake, dry just as the name suggests, but nonetheless full of life: Salted melon, seagrass, and a sesame-laden finish. This is a simple and quite clean sake that is both versatile and approachable. Sake novices and more experienced enthusiasts alike should get a kick out of it. 14.8% abv. A- / $18

SakeOne G “joy” Junmai Ginjo Genshu Sake (2025) – We last tasted this in 2012 and while it looks the same, the abv has dropped by 1%, indicating perhaps some changes have been made. This iteration is clean with heavy melon and gentle sesame notes, but it’s sweet and unctuous to the point where it feels a bit syrupy. A drop of saline on the finish doesn’t do much to temper the fruity exuberance of overripe honeydew, but it’s at least a bit helpful at preventing the sake from becoming overly cloying. 17% abv. B / $20

Moonstone Coconut & Lemongrass Sake – A cloudy nigori style and aggressively flavored with bold coconut notes that come across almost like suntan lotion. The lemongrass is indistinct, mainly visible as a vaguely herbal character lingering on the finish. This is probably a solid choice for mixing into a lower-abv pina colada, but I struggled to drink much of it on its own. 13.5% abv. C+ / $18

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