What is Sake?

Sake is a Japanese alcoholic beverage that is made from fermented rice. Often referred to as "Japanese rice wine", sake(pronounced "sah-keh") is actually closer to beer than wine in its brewing process, however, it is light in color with a hint of sweetness.

Four ingredients are required to make sake: rice, koji, yeast, and water. The rice grains are polished to remove the bran, then mixed with koji mold, yeast, and water in fermentation process that converts the starches into sugar, which then ferments into alcohol.

What is the appeal of Sake?

Can be enjoyed both chilled and warmed

A wide range of food pairings

Containing umami such as amino acids

Made from raw materials

Craftmanship

What makes Nigori sake cloudy?

Cloudy or milky sake is called Nigori, which has become increasingly popular in the U.S market due its lightly sweet taste and rich, creamy texture. nigori sake is unfiltered or roughly filtered so that some of the rice sediment is left in the sake, giving it a cloudy or milky appearance.

FAQ

What is Nigori?

Nigori style Sake is coarsely filtered to allow flavorful and aromatic sediments to remain, creating a creamy, cloudy, and generally sweeter Sake.

How should I drink sake?

Sake is traditionally poured into square wooden boxes or small sake cups, but sake can also be enjoyed from a wine glass.

Should Sayuri sake be served warm or cold?

This varies depending on the sake and your taste preference. Hakutsuru Sayuri Nigori should be served chilled.

Is sake a wine, beer, or spirit?

None of the above! Sake is in a class of its own. It is made from fermented rice, so in that way, it’s more similar to beer, but the taste experience is more like that of wine. Try Hakutsuru Sayuri Nigori and find out!

How does the alcohol content of sake compare to wine?

Sake is slightly stronger than most wines - with Hakutsuru Sayuri containing 12.5% alcohol by volume (ABV).

Is sake meant to be sipped or taken as a shot?

Definitely sipped! Preferably from a wine glass.

What foods go well with sake?

Japanese food, of course! As well as many other foods from different cuisines. Please see our Product page for Suggested Pairings.