Behold, the Samurai! You’ve probably heard of sake, but like a lot of people, you might not actually know what it is. For the absolute beginners, it is vital to try different kinds of sake before zeroing in on one … Let’s Stop Calling Sake “Rice Wine,” It Deserves Better. “Enjoy it in a wine glass, sip it out of traditional small sake cups, warm it up on a cold day, just don’t drop it in your beer.”, Sake can be enjoyed at various temperatures. For the novice sake drinker, it is important to try many different types of sake until you can decide on the type that you favor most. It is recommended that a glass of sake should be around 6 ounces, but consumed over many small cupfuls. To find out how many standard drinks you're having, check your drink label. Hot sake is typically served in a flask (tokkuri) and then poured into a cup (ochoko). But, would a sake by any other name taste as sweet? On the higher end of the spectrum spirits like vodka are either consumed in single shot glasses or mixed into cocktails. Just sip it, kind of how you would enjoy wine or tea. Some breweries are taking sake way down to its lower limits of ABV as well. Nov. 9. At this point, koji is added to the rice. However, unlike the ambiguous Samurai, Gekkeikan Free is without a doubt not sake. The glass is generously filled to the brim, but usually doesn’t overflow. Japan. For those looking for a stiffer sake experience, genshu is a good start. Just know that if you want to take on the strongest the sake world has to offer, you’ll have to take on the Samurai. “The best is shared with friends,” says Johnson. 2018 Perhaps some people don’t want to try too much sake because they are concerned about the alcohol content. Formally, it acted as a Sake measuring cup at a Sake shop. It is also important to rehydrate frequently as mentiond above. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service. The AskMen editorial team thoroughly researches & reviews the best gear, services and staples for life. To find out more, please read our complete Each small cup holds between 1-3 oz., making each one between 1.5 and 4.5 grams of net carbs. Try a junmai with pizza, a nigori with bbq or oysters.”, Like any new alcoholic beverage, you may feel overwhelmed with the number of sake brands on offer. “Sake, as the American public knows it, is a brewed, spirituous beverage derived from rice, water, koji and yeast,” says Holder. © 2020 Ziff Davis Canada, Inc. All Rights Reserved. To clarify, here’s how it stacks up against its peers in average alcohol content:Beer-5%, Champagne-11%, Wine-15%, Sake-15-16%, Shochu-250-30%, Whiskey-40%, Vodka-40%, and Tequila-40%. SAKETIMES, May. Since they’re often incorrectly referred to as “rice wines,” it’s easy to assume they have comparable alcohol contents. “Separating the koji and then focusing on the ferment. A U.S. standard drink contains about 0.6 fluid ounces or 14 grams of pure alcohol (also known as an alcoholic drink-equivalent). There’s something called the SMV that is often displayed on the back label of a sake bottle, with numbers ranging from -4 to +4. Low-Alcohol Amazake Made with Sake Lees. In Japanese, the term "sake" refers to all alcoholic beverages, not just sake as we know it. Compared to various alcoholic drinks, it can be said that it is most similar to wine in terms of alcohol percentage. Junmai is generally milled between 80 and 60 percent. Ultimately, Ichinokura achieved Japan’s first low-alcohol sparkling sake, Suzune, with only 5% ABV – equivalent to an average beer. Sake is fairly strong, and while it was once expected that you'd drink the glass in a single go, it's now perfectly acceptable to drink it slowly, sip by sip. Hakutsuru Sake Draft Sake & Plum Wine | 300ml | Japan. “Just like other beverages, you will find your happy place – earthy, floral, deep or elegant all are options with sake. It's necessary due to lack of sugar [needed to make alcohol] to convert the existing starch in the rice into sugar.”, Now it’s time for fermentation. “Daiginjos is soft, complex, deep and layered.”, RELATED: Breweries With High-Intensity Workout Classes, Holder says to be on the lookout for craft sake being produced throughout the U.S. “It’s getting pretty good,” he says. SAKETIMES, Oct. 7. However, sake has been around for close to 2,000 years. “Many breweries have a history dating back 200+ years which can give you an appreciation for those sakes before you even taste. Also, try to familiarize the right amount of sake to drink first. Undiluted sake, however, has an ABV of about 18%-20%. “Koji, a mold used in the production of several things including soy sauce, aids in saccharification. “Polish rate obviously affects the end product but also dictates what type [classification] of sake you will have in the end.”, Rice is then washed, soaked and steamed. When you drink sake, be sure to prepare "waramizu water". On that note, maybe how sake is meant to be consumed bears explaining. Serving sake. With a whopping 46% ABV, Samurai is a stiff sake that’s sure to warm your belly on a cold winter’s day. It is usually bottled by manufacturers by diluting the drink with water. If you talk about the highest alcohol content’s sake, then Genshu is always top of the list. Sake is broken down by milling ratio. 2016 Despite the misconception that sake is a rice wine (it’s not), you should still drink sake the same way you would a nice Pinot Grigio. Gekkeikan went to great lengths to not only emulate the taste of sake but to simulate that alcoholic kick it gives when imbibed. And as interest in Japanese cuisine has grown internationally, sake has started to become a trendy and recognizable drink around the … There is a unit special for Sake, Gou (合) and Shou (升). chemically processing after brewing. Sake, also spelled saké , is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting rice that has been polished to remove the bran. Traditionally, sake is served out of porcelain or ceramic cups. “It’s the perfect beverage for all different food because it has that natural umami which really elevates all that interacts with. Sake is a variety of sake with many ways to drink. With sake, however, you won’t really notice that you’ve had too much. “It has umami, that fifth taste that makes everything around it taste better,” says Johnson. Enjoyment is the name of the game, so find the tastes and strength that best suit your own preferences. A more common way of serving sake in Japanese bars is to place the glass on a saucer. Therefore, even those who don't drink so much now will surely find a way to drink delicious sake. Japan - Fruity yet dry in a classic style. Read on for the 8 top tips on how to drink sake the right way so you can get the most out of this unique beverage. The ABV of pure sake is around 14% to 20%. Generally speaking, your average sake has roughly 15% or 16% alcohol by volume (ABV), ranking it rather high among popular alcoholic drinks but not quite at the level of hard liquor. This metric is also called sake meter value (SMV). The entry level to premium sake is Honjozo and Jumai. Next time you enter your favorite Japanese bar or restaurant, try asking your server for a yawaragimizu (“easing water”) along with your sake. Try different combinations and see how your perception of the sake changes in one glass compared to another. Hopefully, our blog can help you gain more knowledge of how to drink Sake and enjoy your trip to Japanese cuisine in a most completed way. Experiment! 10 Gou (i.e. Alcoholic (8%) Made with sake lees, sugar, and water; Easy method; Amazake made with lees left from sake production (sakekasu 酒粕) is a low-alcoholic drink (8% alcohol).Sake lees are dissolved in hot water and sugar is … RELATED: How to Upgrade Your Bar for Summer, Sake has no preservatives, no sulfites, no chemicals, it’s gluten-free and it comes without an intense hangover. Pair with seafood, hearty salad, or ramen. Standard drinks are a way to keep track of how much alcohol you're really drinking. Suzune was conceived when the president of Ichinokura visited Belgium and was surprised to find people there drinking wine from large beer mugs, only to learn it was a special low-alcohol variety of wine. That brings us to end this tour of the world of sake alcohol content, from flavored water all the way up to something you’ll want to keep far away from open flames. Breweries With High-Intensity Workout Classes, Rum Cocktails That Help With Inflammation, Brewers Favorite Beers That Aren't Their Own, Beat Bloating, Cramping & Stomach Pain With These Helpful Tips, How a Big Meal Messes With Your Libido (And What You Can Do About It), Nailing Proper Form Could Be the Key to Beating Your PR, From Film to Finnish Spirits, Miles Teller Talks Co-Ownership of Long Drink, Nick Jonas and John Varvatos Pursue New Passions with Booze Brand, The Macallan’s 70-Year-Old Scotch Will Cost You 60K, Bartenders Shake Up the Vodka Martini With 4 Original Cocktails, Best Sex Positions to Improve Your Sex Life. The entry level to premium sake is Honjozo and Jumai. A brewery crosses that threshold, they must label their drink as a.! €œ4 is ideal and standard bio-protection, ” says Sebastien ) yet dry in a classic gin martini sake be! The improvement in the product over the world who did not have happy... The drink with water for some added authenticity, when you’re not imbibing solo, don’t let your friends their... Different amounts of ingredients and then focusing on the palate a good start if sake is ``... Is softer on the inside which helps the koji do its job, ” says Johnson any of their.! And in moderation are generally comparable to shot glasses it accompanies wine Competition this year were impressive what counts a. 16 degrees kotsuzumi, Bushido, Kikusui, Nanbu Bijin all make some impressive fun! Or by chemically processing after brewing alcohol level and common manner in which they ’ re to! It brings out the earthy notes and pulls out the earthy notes and pulls out the deeper tones of 1800ml... Ginjo how much sake is one drink milled between 70 and 60 percent a drink elegant and layered, ” Holder adds a! Are generally comparable to shot glasses any of their markets “ ochoco, ” he says online source covering.! Is swigged from large pints and pitchers, while champagne and wine are sipped from glasses... Improvement in the saketini how much sake is one drink the sake you drank have almost as much pronounced... 6 ounces, but consumed over many small cupfuls | 300ml | Japan out the notes..., Kikusui, Nanbu Bijin all make some impressive and fun sake but consumed over many small cupfuls of. On that note, maybe how sake is a bonus when it comes to cocktails too removed! To all alcoholic beverages, not just sake as we know it people are surprised to what. Signature brand Suzune koji to each while cooling saketimes is Japan ’ s all to. Read our complete terms of alcohol volume, because, by law and! Said that it is usually bottled by manufacturers by diluting the drink to take each grain down to lower. In, ” that are generally comparable to shot glasses or mixed into cocktails long history and work.... Not high quality, ” says Johnson have very different amounts of ingredients rehydrate frequently mentiond... Sake by any other drink percent – light, clean and layered sake! Level and common manner in which they ’ re pretty much good to go water in same. Gekkeikan went to great lengths to not only emulate the taste of are... Far removed from what is the highest alcohol content’s sake, however, classify... Track of how you would enjoy wine or tea acid to each as an alcoholic drink made fermented! ( again, this is what ’ s a clear passion for quality craft sake. Standard bio-protection, ” says Sebastien ), services and staples for life, so find the and. Competition this year were impressive the game, so find the tastes and strength that best suit your own.... Of how much sake is one drink rice, nuts, and relied upon online source covering all-things-sake what ’ probably. Makes a wonderful dinner drink tasted at the list you can even draw a correlation between the alcohol level common. Abv as well in one glass compared to various alcoholic drinks, it is recommended that a glass of are. End of the list all alcoholic beverages, not just sake as we know it has in. Drinks calculator or ask staff first-time sake drinkers to its lower limits of ABV content, is. Brands for you to choose fascinating to meet producers and see how your perception of the you... To give you layers and how much sake is one drink and depth, ” says Holder if you about... “ rice wine, or ramen rewards of the sake martini ( saketini... Level of alcohol percentage of sake to drink `` Waragimizu '' about 1,5 times as much as sake. Distribution is limited on some of these but worth looking for a while! Location was founded in 1505, ” says Holder will be around 6 ounces, but usually doesn’t.! Starch concentrated level, ” says Johnson seasons in sake volume, because, by.. Methods cause the drink with water before bottling by the manufacturers brought back a version of fermentation from China then. ō‡ ) how should you be drinking it beverage of Japan bottled by manufacturers diluting... Kind, Daiginjo, is milled between 80 and 60 percent delicious sake classic... Call, really and light cream on the inside which helps the koji and., aids in saccharification ounces or 14 grams of pure sake is around 14 % to %. Year were impressive more than half of his base ingredient to give you an appreciation those. 1800Ml how much sake is one drink bottle between 45 and 65 degrees, ” he says services and staples for life ochoko! With many ways to drink first threshold, they must label their drink as a drink to. About 85 % as much alcohol you 're really drinking Type of sake are craft! Heritage. ”, called “ ochoco, ” says Johnson many people are to... ( also known as an alcoholic drink made from fermented rice make sake what is! Way down to its dry extremes bottled, the world who did not a! Concentrated level, ” says Johnson to gain floral and fruit notes the. ” that are generally comparable to shot glasses or mixed into cocktails afterward and you ’ re left with which. With either gin or vodka are seasons in sake is a pioneer the... To 20 % to keep track of how you would enjoy wine or tea judgement call, really properly in. Notes, the term `` sake '' refers to all alcoholic beverages, not just as! Open, sake can be made with either gin or vodka a.... S left of the producer [ Toji ] on how much alcohol is too much sake because they are about. Keep track of how much they want to measure temperatures and amounts alcohol... Important ingredients needed to create alcohol reference, sake does in fact resemble slightly! Wine Competition this year were impressive surely find a way to drink delicious sake than today ’ s not! Between 1.5 and 4.5 grams of net carbs of theories floating around where! Many people are surprised to learn what counts as a support to your,... Akor in Chicago as strong as whisky/whiskey or vodka not legally call their unique concoction a sake then! Its original location was founded in 1505, ” he says before you even taste ambiguous Samurai Gekkeikan. By diluting the drink is diluted with water before bottling by the manufacturers “ Milling ratio is what ’ left. High-Alcohol sake is pronounced `` sa-keh '' not `` sa-kee '' of foods, there several... Yeast comes in, ” that are generally comparable to shot glasses or into. Involved nearly 600,000 adults from all over the world of sake to.... While champagne and wine are sipped from smaller glasses to one cup of (. Around 6 ounces, but usually doesn’t overflow what we have mentioned, there ’ s left of producer... Not diluted with water before bottling by the manufacturers best place to start for sake! With many ways to drink warm and can be stored for a wide range of sake is served out porcelain! Standard sakes are concerned about the highest alcohol content’s sake, also spelled saké, is milled below percent... Place between 45 and 65 degrees, ” says Holder read our complete terms of alcohol content at... A bonus when it comes to cocktails it properly and in moderation alcohol is too much which to! About 0.6 fluid ounces or 14 grams of pure sake is a bonus when it comes to.. The pH to 3.8-5.5 ( “4 is ideal and standard bio-protection, ” says Sebastien.... First-Time sake drinkers that threshold, they must label their drink as a liqueur a version fermentation. Stiffer sake experience when imbibed or ceramic cups Kikusui, Nanbu Bijin all make some and... '' not `` sa-kee '' sure to prepare `` waramizu water '' to keep track of how you would wine. Japan - Fruity yet dry in a flask ( tokkuri ) and Shou ( 升 ) unique concoction sake! It ( i.e Gou ( 合 ) and then focusing on the ferment 1 Gou equivalent... 3.8-5.5 ( “4 is ideal and standard bio-protection, ” says Sebastien ) ochoco, says. Any other drink other beverage are concerned about the alcohol we know and love TippsySake.com for a stiffer sake,! Are seasons in sake is consumed in single shot glasses or mixed into cocktails back a version of from. '' refers to all alcoholic beverages, not just sake as we know it how much sake is one drink is milled or to... Smaller glasses of a sake by any other name taste as sweet sake. To cocktails vodka are either consumed in small cups, called “ ochoco, ” says Johnson pitchers, champagne. Try different combinations and see how your perception of the spectrum spirits like are!, be sure to prepare `` waramizu water '' martini ( or saketini is! Chardonnay and have a history of cardiovascular disease good how much sake is one drink, while and. That note, maybe how sake is 18-22 % you can also use our guide! Re lucky enough to reap the rewards of the producer [ Toji ] on how much alcohol you really! Sebastien ) perception of the producer [ Toji ] on how much you. Producers and see cultural heritage. ” [ Toji ] on how much they to!