1.
fine wine; fine sake; excellent liquor
High-quality alcoholic beverage, especially sake or wine. Often used figuratively to describe the sweet taste of victory or success.
勝利の美酒に酔う。
To savor the sweet taste of victory.
この蔵元は毎年美酒を生み出している。
This brewery produces fine sake every year.
長年の努力が実り、チームは優勝の美酒を味わった。
Years of effort bore fruit, and the team savored the sweet taste of a championship victory.
Compound of 美 (beautiful, fine) + 酒 (sake, liquor).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 勝利の美酒 (the sweet taste of victory)
- 美酒に酔う (to savor fine sake; to revel in success)
- 美酒を味わう (to taste fine sake; to enjoy a sweet victory)
USAGE NOTE:
The figurative expression 勝利の美酒に酔う is extremely common in sports journalism and news. In literal use, 美酒 is a somewhat literary way to praise the quality of sake or wine.