Sake Tastings

  Impress your friends and inject some Asian inspiration into your next cocktail party by having a sake tasting.

Sake is the alcoholic beverage from Japan that is made by fermenting rice.  This might make sake sound like its manufactured like a special type of beer, but there are no bubbles, which leads some to believe it is more like a wine.  But sake is truly in a category of its own. 

Sake has a relatively high alcohol content, between 15% and 18% but it contains no sulfites, additives or preservatives so there is very little to none of those pesky hangover feelings the next day ;)  My favorite website for information about sake is John Gauntner's Sake World which answers just about every question an amateur (or pro) could have on the subject of Japanese alcoholic beverages.  Did you know that premium sakes are served chilled on ice and that an older, aged bottle of sake is in no way better than young bottle? Hmmmm? Read on to find out more about the type of sake you can try and their tasting profiles. 

Look out for different types of sake that might be sold in specialty stores in your area or go on-line at World Sake Imports (US) or Ozawa Canada for some ultra premium sake.  Pictured above is my all-time favorite, Onikoroshi "Demon Slayer", a Daiginjo sake from Wakatake.

Have fun with family or friends over the holidays with Japan's most popular drink -Kanpai!