5 great sparkling sake for the festive season!

Following my article about sparkling sake, I decided to follow it with 5 quick recommendations for sparkling sake available outside Japan. I think that the selection of sparkling sake has massively improved in recent years. You can choose between sweeter and drier variants, have more affordable or luxury brands and enjoy sparkling sake on its own or with a variety of dishes. Spark your New Year party with something different and have a bottle of sparkling sake!

Continue Reading5 great sparkling sake for the festive season!

5 great sake to drink warm

Kanzake Time Follow-Up!

Following the article about kanzake, I present five recommendations for the sake which are great to drink warm or even hot. In addition, I am including a special TSUKI kijoshu sake from the Kanpai London brewery, which has just been released. I think that the fact that you can drink sake at different temperatures makes this drink really unique. You can follow my recommendations or try any other sake warm during these cold winter months. Let me know if you like it and what other sake you tried hot. Kanpai!

Continue Reading5 great sake to drink warm

Kanzake Time Follow-Up!

5 Sake to drink in Summer 2021

Summer requires summer sake. Everything is seasonal in Japan, and sake, the drink that counts 1000 years of history, is not an exception. However, summer sake is a relatively new concept and the term natsuzake (夏酒, summer sake) only appeared in 2007 coined by the Sake Service Institute (SSI) as a response to low demand for sake during the hot summer months in Japan. So I decided to look at the sake available here in the UK and came up with a list of 5 sake to drink in summer 2021.

Continue Reading5 Sake to drink in Summer 2021

Kamoizumi Red Maple Sake: Sashaying With Style, Flavour And Beauty

We've got a new contributor, Jamie Ryder, sake sommelier and the owner of Yamato Magazine. I have reviewed Kamoizumi Red Maple last year in the post 5 great sake to enjoy this autumn. So now you can compare our tasting notes. Kampai!

Continue ReadingKamoizumi Red Maple Sake: Sashaying With Style, Flavour And Beauty
Read more about the article Sweet meets sour: Maruishi Nito ‘White Rabbit Label’ Yamadanishiki 65 junmai
Maruishi Nito ‘White Rabbit Label’ Yamadanishiki 65 junmai

Sweet meets sour: Maruishi Nito ‘White Rabbit Label’ Yamadanishiki 65 junmai

Another excellent review from Jordan Smithcroft! White Rabbit stands as one of the most interesting and delicious junmai sake I’ve ever had the pleasure to taste. All the more impressive if one notes my general gravitation towards junmai, honjozo and futsushu. It’s the perfect choice for both junmai enthusiasts, looking for a twist on the well-established flavour and aroma characteristics of their favourite premium class, as well as those dedicated to the more typically fruity (junmai) ginjo grade, looking to ease themselves into exploring less polished nihonshu.

Continue ReadingSweet meets sour: Maruishi Nito ‘White Rabbit Label’ Yamadanishiki 65 junmai
Read more about the article Masumi Hiyaoroshi Sleeping Beauty the epic (but worthwhile) search for autumn sake!
Masumi Hiyaoroshoi Sleeping Beauty

Masumi Hiyaoroshi Sleeping Beauty the epic (but worthwhile) search for autumn sake!

Caressing the beautifully presented 720ml brown glass bottle of Masumi Hiyaoroshi, I couldn’t wait to see how all of this came together in the sake. Stored in the fridge since delivery, I brought this up to just below room temperature for the grand opening, which I decided to do unaccompanied by food.

Continue ReadingMasumi Hiyaoroshi Sleeping Beauty the epic (but worthwhile) search for autumn sake!
Read more about the article 5 best sake for cold and rainy autumn
5 best sake for a rainy day

5 best sake for cold and rainy autumn

Here my recommendations for the 5 best sake for rainy and cold late autumn days. But you can drink these sake during winter too. And on crisp and sunny days! These sake will go great with comfort food. Some of them are amazing on its own. If you decide to follow my recommendations (and I don't see why not!), let me know what you think. Kampai!

Continue Reading5 best sake for cold and rainy autumn
Read more about the article 5 great sake to buy online in the quarantine
5 sake to drink in quarantine

5 great sake to buy online in the quarantine

The world is in the lockdown but you can still buy sake online. I have compiled a quick list of sake I would recommend buying. It's based on the online availability (some stocks look like being dried out), possible occasions, offers and my preferences. Also, I decided to feature some of the smaller specialised sake online shops to support them during this difficult time. Pick any sake from the above or go to the websites of the amazing featured online sake shops and choose something you like. Write a comment on how your sake journey is navigating through the quarantine and enjoy a sip or two of sake! Stay home and keep safe! Kanpai!

Continue Reading5 great sake to buy online in the quarantine