Sake guide
Sake is the national drink of Japan and is rapidly becoming a popular choice for drinkers around the world. Whether you’re a sake connoisseur or a complete beginner, let the Japan Centre be your guide to the rich world of sake.
Sake is the national drink of Japan and is rapidly becoming a popular choice for drinkers around the world. Japan Centre prides itself on its extensive supply of sake, from the varied offerings of master brewers such as Gekkeikan to rare, award-winning sake from smaller suppliers. Whether you’re a sake connoisseur or a complete beginner, let the Japan Centre be your guide to the rich world of sake.
Standard Sake
Standard sake is a comparatively inexpensive, everyday variety of sake. It can be thought of as the sake equivalent of table wine.
Standard sake is brewed using modern, quicker fermentation methods. Distilled alcohol is added after fermentation for a clearer, cleaner flavour.
Standard sake is the most versatile of all the sake varieties. It can generally be enjoyed on any occasion, served cold, at room temperature, or gently warmed, either on its own or with any entree or main course.
Honjozo
A higher quality than standard sake, Honjozo is made with rice polished to between 60-70% of its original size. Brewed alcohol is added after fermentation for a cleaner, more delicate flavour.
Junmai
Junmai is of a similar quality to Honjozo sake. No distilled alcohol is added to Junmai, so its flavours are fuller and more mellow.
Ginjo
Ginjo is the second highest sake grade. It is made using slower, older brewing methods and rice polished to at least 60% of its original size. Brewed alcohol is then either left out for Junmai Ginjo, or added for regular Ginjo.
Sake cocktails & recipes
Strawberry sake cocktail
Enjoy a sweet, sumptuous, cocktail, perfect for Valentine’s Day, with this strawberry sake cocktail. This tempting cocktail combines the sweetness of strawberries, the acidity of yuzu juice, and the unique fragrant fruitiness of sake. Whip up this delicious cocktail and raise the romance in the room.
Japanese sake cocktails
Let our Japanese Sake Cocktails take you on a truly delicious journey. These quick and easy recipes pair Japanese classics with well loved mixers to create unique combinations which nod to cocktails you may be more used to. Great for parties and other social occasions, these extraordinary cocktails are sure to impress.
Sake mojito
Give a Japanese twist to a classic cocktail with this recipe for sake mojitos. Substituting the rum for sake, this mojito is a little less sweet and slightly drier than standard mojitos. Great for summer BBQs or parties, this light and refreshing drink is delightfully minty and even more refreshing than a regular mojito.
Sake fizz
Enjoy a bubbly celebration of Japanese alcohols with this sake fizz recipe. Sake is as varied in its flavour as wine or beer, and it can be mixed with other ingredients to make unique cocktails. This recipe combines sake with sparkling wine and yuzu juice for a fun and fizzy alcoholic citrus drink.
Sake makers
Ozeki
Ozeki Sake was first established in 1711 in Imazu, Hyogo Prefecture. As time has gone on, Ozeki has cemented itself as one of Japan’s major sake brewers. They were also one of the first Japanese sake brewers to set up a facility in the US (in Hollister, California, in 1979), making them well positioned for introducing authentic sake, made by Japanese brewers, to the US and the rest of the world.
Shirataki Shuzo
Shirataki Shuzo brewery has been using the same traditional sake making principles based on founder Minatoya Tosuke’s desire, brewing sake out of the clear mineral water in Echigo Yuzawa Town, Niigata Prefecture since 1855. Combining natural charcoal filtered water with locally-grown Koshihikari rice, Shirataki Shuzo is regarded as one of the leading breweries in Japan.
Gekkeikan sake - in store & online
The Japan Centre is a direct supplier of Gekkeikan sake in the UK.
At Japan Centre Leicester Square, we are pleased to have some sake sommeliers in the UK as our experts in store. They have selected some of the best sakes, from the finest breweries to be imported directly from Japan, creating one of the largest ranges of sake in the UK. If you have any questions about sake, how it is made or which bottle to buy, the sommelier team at Japan Centre will be only too happy to help.
