second-grade alcohol; second-class sake
Refers to a former official classification for sake (日本酒) under the old grading system, indicating a lower grade than 一級酒. Now obsolete as an official category, but may still be encountered in historical or nostalgic contexts.
In the old days, second-grade sake was a friend to the common people.
Compound of 二級 (second grade) and 酒 (alcohol/sake), referring to the second tier in the former sake classification system.