Which kind of sake goes best with the various kinds of Japanese cuisine? Here’s a pairing guide to help you decide!   Junmai Ginjyo The acidic and dry finish of Junmai Ginjyo sake balances the textures of sashimi well, especially for fatty fish such as salmon and tuna Honjyozo The light and smooth finish of […]

We’re separating the myths from the legend – here are 5 debunked myths about sake that you should know!   “Sake is a rice wine” Sake is actually brewed from fermented rice grains, in a process similar to brewing beer instead! “Sake has very high alcohol content, and can easily cause hangovers.” Sake’s alcohol percentage […]

In Japan, heating up Japanese Sake is called ‘Okan suru’ and Japanese Sake served warm is called ‘Kanzake’. This uniquely Japanese method of heating sake has a long history and which dates back over 2,000 years. By heating sake, you are able to enhance and experience the complex flavours in the beverage. These flavours can spread across the […]

Ever wondered how sake is brewed? Here’s an exclusive peek into the Kiku-Masamune (菊正宗酒造株式会社) brewery and their authentic Kimoto sake brewing methods!   It starts with the growing of rice, which is subsequently polished, washed and steamed The koji mix is then prepared by steaming rice and cooling it repeatedly, before sprinkling mould spores onto […]

The sake brewing process is a delicate and complex one, dating back over 2,000 years. Though having advanced over time, the process is still reliant on the same three ingredients, responsible for sake’s rich, refined taste: Rice – While the type of rice used in the brewing process is important, the way they are planted […]

Did you know that the taste of sake can be measured in numbers? The Sake Meter Value (SMV – 日本酒度) measures how dry or sweet the sake is, based on a scale of positive and negative numbers. Dry sake is measured on the positive scale (up to +15), and sweet sake is measured on the […]

Don’t be intimidated by Japanese sake terms – here’s an easy guide to help you understand what they mean! Junmai Daiginjyo Regarded as the highest grade of sake Has a light, refined taste Best enjoyed chilled Junmai Ginjyo Has its rice grains milled to at most 40% of its original size Has a complex, fruity […]

Ever wondered why the taste of shochu varies from one to another? Here’s why!   Shochu can be distilled from many different types of ingredients, and each kind of ingredient imparts a uniquely different taste to the shochu! Rice (or kome) shochu has a fairly thick taste. The aroma of grain is similar to that […]

Two great drinks are not like each other – here’s how you can differentiate sake and shochu!   Manufacturing Process Shochu: Shochu is produced through distillation, similar to how brandy and vodka is produced Sake: Sake is brewed in a process not dissimilar to beer, and not ‘fermented’ like in the case of wine, contrary […]

There are people who drink their beer bottled, whereas some others crave for pints of draft beer. In summary, here are the main differences: Sunlight vulnerability: Bottled beer is more easily affected by sunlight, with the ultraviolet rays easily penetrating the bottle glass, which might alter the taste slightly For draft beer, this is not […]

The flavour of rice deteriorates faster, the longer it sits in its already-polished state. This is why we believe in polishing our rice only when it’s about to be consumed; doing so also seals in its nutrients for as long as possible. More importantly, freshly-polished rice tastes great, with its chewy, fluffy texture and sweet […]

Here’s how you can serve up the perfect bowl of oishii Japanese rice at home – just follow our step-by-step cooking guide! Lightly stir rice grains under running water Pour away milky water – repeat wash process for at least three times Make rice have a stickier texture by adding up to 220ml more water […]

Round off the busy workday by making yourself a refreshing glass of Kiku Fizz, a sake cocktail originally created by the renown Kiku Masamune brewery. Glass: Cocktail glass Garnish: Olives(1～3) or lemon peel Ingredients: 1 part sake 1 part dry gin Instructions: Stir all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice Strain into a chilled cocktail glass

Beat the sweltering heat with this refreshing oolong-hai recipe! Glass: Highball glass Ingredients: 6 parts oolong tea (can be substitute with sencha, or green tea) 4 parts shochu (imo or mugi shochu recommended) Ice Instructions: Fill highball glass with ice to the rim Pour shochu Add oolong tea Stir