Junmai
Pure rice sake: rice, koji and water only. No minimum polishing — the fullest, most rice-forward grade.
- Rice left after polishing
- No minimum
- Added alcohol
- No
- Typical US price, 720 ml
- $38 median
- Bottles at Tippsy
- 50
Junmai (純米) simply means “pure rice”. Since 2004 there has been no minimum polishing ratio; many junmai use rice polished to 60–70%, some much less. With more of the grain left, junmai tends to be fuller, more savory and higher in acidity and umami.
This is the grade to explore if you like sake with food, or warm sake. Many traditional kimoto and yamahai sake are junmai.
How to drink it: room temperature or warm (40–50°C) brings out its depth; chilled it's crisp and savory. Pair with grilled meat, stews, fried food and aged cheese.
Junmai bottles you can buy in the US.
In stock at Tippsy, best-rated brands first.
Prices and bottle counts come from Tippsy's catalog on October 28, 2026. Sake 47 may earn a commission when you buy through these links. It never affects flavor data or rankings.
Other grades
Flavor profiles and rankings: Sakenowa (さけのわ) open data, built from drinkers' check-ins in Japan.