Creating sake drinkers one post at a time
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Do you drink sake? No? I think I know why!
You don’t know what it will taste like.
You don’t know which brands to buy.
You can’t read the labels! It is just too hard!
I will help you navigate the new and exciting world of sake.
I will review sake available in Australia, one post at a time. I will also tell you more about sake – grades, kinds and different flavour profiles. Bookmark SakeGuide for a handy reference when faced with an impenetrable drinks menu and a clueless waiter!
Read MoreRecent Blog Posts
January 11, 2015 |
Best places to drink sake in Sydney
Happy New Year, dear sake lovers! It is time for me to atone for my sins of not blogging more often. I have so much to tell you! It has been a great year for sake. The popularity of Japanese cuisine shows no signs of abating, and sake is coming along for the ride. Importantly, though, sake has broken through the “fad of the moment” barrier and migrated to wine lists of many non-Japanese restaurants. It is becoming mainstream. Here’s what we’ve seen: Not only the consumption of sake in countries like UK and Australia rose significantly, the customer base expanded to include the under 35 generation. Sake is no longer just for the...
October 30, 2014 |
Sake and food pairing – a simple approach to a big problem
Why you don’t order sake At a recent dinner at Toko, I looked around and saw that most people were drinking wine or cocktails. Not that there is anything wrong with drinking wine, or cocktails, but Toko has the best sake list in town. It is simply a crime not to take advantage of that! I think there is a two-part explanation of the reluctance to order sake. First of all, most people outside Japan know absolutely nothing about sake (the state of things I am trying to change). Secondly, those who do know a little, still need proper advice on choosing a particular bottle . Even if a diner has enjoyed sake in the past, they will not always know many sake brands...
August 31, 2014 |
Déjà Vu Sake Company – focus on subtle greatness
Australian sake import scene is becoming a crowded space. Australia is far from being a large country, yet it is the world’s 9th biggest sake importer. A few local companies are now competing for your palates and wallets. There are the Japanese heavyweights Daiwa Food and JFC, the pioneers of artisanal brews Black Market Sake, and the believers of making sake accessible to all, Chef’s Armoury. Restaurants like Toko import their own exclusive range of stellar sake. Then there is Deja Vu Sake Company, which has a relatively small portfolio of 5 brewers. Headed by the charming Yukino Ochiai and her husband Andrew Cameron, Déjà Vu Sake was established in 2012 to supplement their existing fine wine distribution business. Japanese-born...
July 24, 2014 |
How sake is made – the brewing process
It is time to shine the spotlight on the mystery of sake brewing. When you, the lover of sake, understand each step of sake brewing, all the technical terms, like muroka and nama, will become clear. I also hope that seeing the complexity and precision of sake making will make you appreciate this fascinating brew even more! 1. Rice comes first Sake brewing starts with rice. Long before the kura (brewery) owner assembles his brewing team for the season, the rice farmers plant foundations of next season’s sake. Sake rice – sakamai – is different from table rice. The stalks are taller, the grains are bigger, and...
May 22, 2014 |
Dancyu magazine’s top sake of 2014
Dancyu is a cult foodie magazine in Japan. Each year, the editors put together a special Sake edition, where, among other things, they compile lists of top sake. 2014 edition has several lists of best of the best, around several themes: modern, traditional, local, food-friendly, neo-classic. I plan to go through all of them, but tonight I give you the top 7 modern sake – according to Dancyu! (My sensei John Gauntner thinks they are spot-on). Juyondai, Nabeshima, Dassai are all on this list – no surprises there! I wish the entire lineup was waiting for me in the fridge. Alas, in Australia, we only have Dassai 23. 1. Jūyondai tokubetsu honjōzō 2. Jikon Tokubetsu...
April 26, 2014 |
Top 10 sake brands in Australia
So, I have created a few sake lists…but those lists were not really Australia-specific. Here’s the top sake brands you can buy and drink in Australia right now. We might not have the incredible variety the sake drinkers enjoy in Japan, or even US, but we do have some real gems! In no particular order: 1. Dassai – a sleek marketing machine of brand, Dassai has established its presence at top restaurants all over the world. Aromatic, delicate and delicious. Dassai 50 is my favourite. I’ve seen it on the menu at Izakaya Masuya and Toko in Sydney. Plenty of other places probably have it too. 2. Hakkaisan –slightly heavier...
April 22, 2014 |
The beginner’s guide to umeshu
Sake -nihonshu – is not the be all end all of traditional Japanese liquor. In fact, over the last couple of decades, the lesser known beverages have overtaken sake. The biggest winner of the popularity contest is shochu, which is a Japanese traditional distilled liquor. Shochu tastes a little like sake, but has alcohol content closer to vodka. Another quiet achiever is umeshu. The chances are, it has sneaked onto the menu at your neighbourhood Japanese restaurant, without you ever noticing. Just like sake, umeshu is a drink with unique flavours and considerable charm, and is worth knowing more about. What’s in the name? “Umeshu” is made up of two words – “ume” (Japanese...
March 30, 2014 |
An insider’s review of Juyondai sake
Well, wasn’t someone lucky. Julian Houseman, my fellow Sake Educational Council alumni and big-time sake evangelist, has recently gained entry to the El Dorado of sake – a special Juyondai dinner where he got to drink 13 Juyondai varieties. Read his notes here. Enjoy – the article is for real sake geeks. I have nothing more to say….The sake envy renders me speechless! ...