I'm a tourist going to japan by the end of september. Not a regular drinker but have lots of family and friends who are. İt will be their first sakes and I think they'll keep being free-drinkers of all alcohol instead of focusing on one type.

so I'm looking for ones that will be good for a one-time event. can also be the beginner-friendly options.

I'm a certified sake sommelier (kikisake-shi) and I kept noticing beginners get overwhelmed by labels, regions, and rice-polishing percentages before they even taste anything.

So I wrote up the SSI's four flavor-style framework (aromatic / airy & velvety / full-bodied / matured) as a starting point — no Japanese terms required, just "what do you already enjoy?"

Full article here if useful— here

Curious what type most of you naturally gravitate toward — I'd guess airy & velvety is the most common "gateway" style for people new to sake?

I will be spending two days in Niigata in September and am looking for recommendations for breweries to visit. Goal is taking some of the good stuff home.

We will also be driving around Hokkaido for 10 days, so any suggestions there are very much appreciated as well.

Hi everyone!

I’m going to Japan in October. Tokyo and Kyoto only this trip. Any recs for breweries or favorite sake spots to hit in either one of those?

In Tokyo we are staying around the Kanda area and Kyoto we don’t have a place yet but are getting that this week and I’d love to get a stay near a cool sake spot.

Thanks in advance!

Found these unopened in a Japanese secondhand shop, all the same price. Anything worth getting? My wife and I are curious, but we don’t want to buy any bad or ‘meh’ ones.

Since I had a drink at an izakaya, please post your thoughts on the restaurant and the food in the comments section.

Sake #49 — Nanbu Bijin Shinpaku “Southern Beauty” Junmai Daiginjo.

This one was super balanced, very smooth, and incredibly easy to sip. It almost drinks like water because of how light and seamless it feels.

There’s just a very slight alcohol warmth on the finish, but nothing harsh or distracting. The balance and smoothness was excellent. Definitely a bottle I could drink a lot of without realizing it 😂

4/5

Hi! I’m from Japan and I’ve recently become very interested in exploring sake more deeply.
I’d love to exchange opinions with sake lovers from different countries.
I’m especially curious about how people outside Japan perceive sake.
What do you enjoy most about sake, and how is sake culture different in your country?

I had an opportunity to visit Sakagura in NYC, which touts to have the largest sake selection for a restaurant in the US. I asked the sake sommelier if they had a good Omachi sake and brought this one, which he said was no longer on the menu.

This is the best Omachi sake I've ever had and have been trying to find how to order it. I would buy a case of this if I could to enjoy and share with family and friends. But, I can't find anywhere that either stocks it or currently has it in inventor for US delivery.

Help me, Omachi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope!

Chiyomusubi Oyaji Gokuraku Junmai Ginjo Sake

This one was very smooth and easy to sip from the start. Strawberry was immediately noticeable on the first sip, followed by softer plum-like fruit notes.

There was much less alcohol presence on the finish, which made this considerably more enjoyable for me. The fruitiness also worked really well alongside sushi.

Not quite a 5/5 for me, but definitely one I enjoyed and would drink again.

4/5 🍶

Only two more until #50!

Hey, folks. So, my only experience with sake is at sushi restaurants except for years ago when I bought a random bottle from the liquor store to try it out. I had zero idea what I was buying. Now I’m looking to learn a bit more and get to know some “baseline” sakes. Like, what the common man’s go to sake? What is the sake equivalent to Budweiser. Just the standard “This is good, affordable sake. No frills. Just sake.” I’m not looking for the IPA beer of sakes, I’m looking for the Budweiser or Coors Banquet of sakes. Does that make sense?
P.S. I’m in north Florida, if that helps at all.

I’m just barely getting into sake but had No 6 last night at an izakaya and was blown away.

I understand it may be difficult to purchase No 6 but where can I buy cult or higher end sake while I’m in Japan for the week?

In my opinion, the ranking was:
1 - Hakutsuru Daiginjo
2 - Hakutsuru Tokusen Yamadanishiki
3 - Hakutsuru Superior Junmai Ginjo
4 - Hakutsuru Sayuri Nigori
5 - Hakutsuru Junmai Draft

But I liked all of them.

Hohai Natsugin (Junmaiginjo)

Continuing my sake journey with #47 — Ryujin Kakushi “Dragon God” Junmai Ginjo.

Smooth start with a noticeably fruit-forward profile. Apricot comes through immediately, followed by ripe tropical fruit and a touch of sweetness.

The initial sip is really enjoyable, but there’s a noticeable alcohol warmth/burn on the finish that holds it back for me. It does soften a little as you continue drinking, but never completely disappears.

Overall, good fruit and a smooth opening, but I’m realizing more and more that a clean finish with minimal alcohol presence is probably the biggest thing I look for in sake.

3.5/5 🍶

Finally got around to trying Yoshinogawa Winter Warrior Junmai Ginjo, which had been on my list for a while.

My notes:
Very clean and light with subtle pear, melon, and floral notes. Smooth and easy to drink initially, but it leans more crisp and dry than fruity. There’s a noticeable alcohol presence on the finish that lingers a bit and ultimately held it back for me.

Still enjoyable and well balanced, but I would’ve liked more fruit and a softer, cleaner finish.

3.5/5
That makes 46 different sakes tried
🍶🤩

Been storing in the cupboard for 3-4 years never been open

I'm pretty excited about all of these as I've had different ones from each of these breweries before and they've all been outstanding. I usually pair them with sushi or other raw fish dishes. Any comments on these?

Picked it up from the HMart in Doraville, GA

Used short grain sweet rice and Koji rice. First two pictures before, last three after two weeks of fermenting and then one week of crashing in the fridge then siphoning.

Okay, goes down pretty smooth. No idea how strong it is but I'm guessing typical wine strength. A little more mild than I expected, not a ton of flavor, but no nasty sour/fungal notes either. I'll give it a 7 out of 10.

Tried Joyo Yamadanishiki Junmai Ginjo tonight as sake #45 on my tasting journey.

This one surprised me because I was expecting a little more fruit.

My notes:
Very light and clean with a subtle grape note, but overall I didn’t find it very fruit-forward. It leans dry and has a pretty noticeable mineral finish that almost reminds me of sparkling mineral water.

I wouldn’t call it alcohol burn at all. It’s more of that crisp, slightly sharp mineral sensation on the finish.

Easy enough to drink, but it’s missing the fruity sweetness I usually gravitate toward.

3/5

Still glad I tried it. Getting closer to #50 🍶

PS: I never drink from a wine glass , I was just curious if it made a difference in any way

Crafted using the historical hashira-shochu method originating from the Edo period, this Abe Plus release combines junmai sake with house-distilled shochu (kasutori shochu), added to the sake mash right before pressing for a complex and hybrid flavor profile.
Nose: Gentle bouquet, subtly scent of grapes
Palate: Classic juiciness and sweetness from junmai sake pairs gentle citrusy acidity, without any harsh alcohol heat
Finish: Crisp and refreshing dry finish signature of shochu

Always a quiet pioneer and one of my favorites. Some directly from the brewery and some saved over the last 6 months. Some of the cleanest tasting yamahai, and the classic super dry junmai has a coffee-like finish.