Sake may have an ever-growing fan base but Japan’s national drink remains intimidating to many.
Does its strength make it a wine? Does its brewing method make it a beer? What do we mix it with? Or do we drink it straight?
The first mistake of drinking sake is to call it sake. Translated from Japanese, the word “sake” just means “alcohol”. If you want to drink it traditionally, it’s known as “nihonshu”.
The second mistake is to tar every bottle of sake with the same brush. Like many alcohols, there are plenty of variances inside the world of sake, starting from the type of rice used for its production (usually yamadanishiki, gohyakumangoku or miyamanishiki) and ending with the temperature it’s served at. Of course, there are also different strengths, styles and textures. No wonder it seems a little intimidating.
Sake can generally be split into a few different categories, depending on how much of the rice grain is ‘polished’ before it’s ready to be used. The higher the polish percentage, the more premium the bottle. You’ll also want to pay attention to the fermentation style chosen by the “toji” (master brewer).
Each distillery uses a slightly different method and the best way to figure out your favourite is by completing the hard task of, well, trying them all. The most premium sakes are Daiginjo sakes, followed by Ginjo. If you see the word Junmai, that refers to a sake made with no minimum polish percentage.
Still not sure where to look for the best sakes? We’ve rounded up the finest bottles worth trying to get your journey started.
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Akashi-Tai Junmai Ginjo Sparkling Sake
This small batch sake comes from an independent, family-run brewery that prizes quality above all else. That's detectable from the first sip of this sparkling variety. Made for popping open and toasting special moments, the sake is packed with fruity peace and warm banana notes mingling with lighter citrus and melon flavours. It's best served like Champagne: chilled and in a flute of saucer.
Buy now £12.00, Amazon
Akashi Tai Ginjo Yuzushu Sake
Akashi Tai's Ginjo Yuzushu Sake is light and citrusy, a fragrant, premium bottle that deserves to be enjoyed slowly without interruptions. It's a little more flavourful than the standard bottle, incorporating macerated yuzu fruit while brewing to give it a little extra sparkle.
Sweet and zesty, you'll love this sake most in cocktails, letting its fruitier side come to life. Its stronger flavour means you'll want to pair this sake with just as strong-flavoured foods: it'll overshadow any mild flavours.
Buy now £25.49, Master of Malt
Tosatsuru Azure Deep Sea Water Junmai Ginjo Sake
This extra special sake starts its life in the deep blue sea - which you may have already guessed from its title.
Combining deep-sea water from the Kochi Prefecture coast with yamada nishiki rice, it offers a beautifully clean finish and pairs well with seafood dishes.
The beautiful bottle design means you'll probably find yourself drawn to this alcohol before you've even tasted what's inside. And, once you have, prepare to be a repeat purchaser as there aren't many sakes quite so refreshingly blended. Serve at room temperature to properly enjoy this striking bottle.
Buy now £39.99, Amazon
Ozeki Premium Junmai Sake
Junmai sake takes the drink back to its basics, combining nothing other than rice, water, yeast and koji with no minimum polishing ratio. Ozeki's premium offering is a brilliant example of everything a traditional sake should be, stripped back to its origin but with plenty of nuanced flavours to soak up.
This budget friendly sake is easy to drink with just the right amount of dryness. One of the best things about this bottle is its versatility - drink it chilled if you're a sake beginner, at room temperature if you're already familiar with the flavours or heated to enjoy traditionally. It also mixes well in cocktails.
Buy now £21.20, Amazon
Sawanotsuru Deluxe Sake
Sawanotsuru Deluxe Sake is a great entry level sake, ideal for those who'd like to try the drink but without throwing themselves forward, full throttle. It's an ideal balance of interesting, herbaceous notes and plenty of traditional background, with a smooth, slightly sweet finish that goes down a treat.
Its stylish bottle is a great one for gifting and its versatile flavours make this an obvious choice to bring along for any Japanese-themed dinners. The hotter you drink it, the sweeter it becomes.
Buy now £21.50, Amazon
Asahi Shuzo Kubota Senju Ginjo Sake
Kubota is a great brand to reach for if you're trying to drink more sustainably. The brand's Senju Ginjo is more environmentally friendly than most without waving goodbye to good taste. This gentle sake comes with subtle melon flavours accompanied by lemon and a hint of sweetness.
It's very smooth on the tongue, a great sake for those looking to drink the optimum bottle without paying a fortune to do so. Being a Ginjo sake, it's made with a minimum 40 per cent polishing ratio, ensuring an elegant, refined, fragrant finish.
Buy now £15.00, Harvey Nicols
Gekkeikan Nouvelle Junmai Ginjo
Gekkeikan's Nouvelle Junmai Ginjo sake is made with quality pure rice wine and without the addition of any brewer’s alcohol. This slightly more intense (while retaining its signature fruity notes) sake is one best served chilled or at room temperature, with strong flavoured foods like yakitori chicken or ankake meatballs that balance its heavy notes.
This delicious bottle comes from Japan’s hugely popular Gekkeikan brewery and, if its perpetual sold-out nature is anything to go by, it's one that pretty much everyone will enjoy.
Buy now £24.79, Japan Centre
Tonoike Shuzo Sanran Daiginjo Sake
This award-winning sake is brewed entirely from Yamada Nishiki rice (widely thought to be the best rice for producing Daiginjo sake) and pure Japanese spring water, which may account for its especially smooth taste.
Well-balanced, soft and fruity, it's one that's widely appreciated from all kinds of sake drinkers and works just as well with food as it does as a standalone drink. Best served chilled, it's crisp and slightly dry and definitely a bottle to remember.
Buy now £24.59, Japan Centre
Tamagawa Tokubetsu Junmai
If you're a fan of Scotch whisky, you'll love this sake. Tamagawa Tokubetsu Junmai is smooth and silky, a rich, nutty sake that goes well with cooler weather. Overflowing with umami flavours, this is a sake best served warm when its subtle fruitiness really performs.
So, if you're looking to try sake traditionally for the first time, this is a brilliant bottle for doing so. It's a heavier mouthful than most and fully leans in to a warm, comforting dinner setting, served alongside rich dishes and perhaps a second glass.
Buy now £38.99, Selfridges
Dassai 39 Migaki Sanwari Kyubu Junmai Daiginjyo
You'll find this sake pretty regularly in bars and restaurants so, if you do (likely) become a fan of it, rest assured you won't struggle to find it again. As one of the most versatile sakes around, it's soft enough to avoid intimidating newcomers but rich enough to be pleasing for those who've already sampled their fair share of sakes.
Dassai comes in a few different varieties and the 39 is a brilliant midpoint between its two counterparts, the 23 and the 49. If you're looking for something subtle yet acidic, juicy but not overpowering, this is the bottle to opt for. Expect savoury, green and vegetal notes in each sip.
Buy now £59.99, Amazon
Verdict
It may not be the most traditional sake around but it's certainly the most delicious. Our favourite sake to drink is Tosatsuru's Azure Deep Sea Water Junmai Ginjo Sake, with its crisp finish and delightfully refreshing notes.
