The 'Echigo Takayanagi' brand, made exclusively by Ishizuka Shuzo, uses only rice grown in Takayanagi, Kashiwazaki. The brewery’s hallmark mochigome yondan shikomi (four-step sticky rice brewing) creates a sake with a soft sweetness that doesn’t linger on the palate, making it ideal as a food pairing sake. With a clean finish and a hint of fruity ginjo aroma (melon-like), it pairs exceptionally well with dishes that highlight natural flavors, such as wild vegetable tempura or lightly fried seafood like shrimp, crab, and small river crabs.