How to Mix Sake into Delicious Drinks: Simple Cocktail Arrangements

How to Drink Delicious Sake: Stick to the Same Type

Sake is divided into various types according to the brewing process. Like delicious food, the first step to enjoying sake is becoming familiar with what tastes you prefer. We will introduce the basic types of sake and how to choose one that suits your palate.

Eight Types of "Tokutei Meishou Shu" Divided by Rice Polishing Ratio and Raw Ingredients

Sake is a traditional Japanese alcoholic beverage made from rice, Koji (rice malt), and water. Among these brews, sake that satisfies requirements of rice polishing ratio and raw ingredients is categorized as "Tokutei Meisho Shu (Special Sake)." There are eight types of sake: ginjo-shu, daiginjo-shu, junmai-shu, tokubetsu junmai-shu, honjozo-shu, tokubetsu honjozo-shu, junmai ginjo-shu, and junmai daiginjo-shu. Furthermore, sake that is not classified as "Tokutei Meisho Shu" is called "Futsu shu (Everyday Sake)."

Select Sake by Rice Polishing Ratio

The rice polishing ratio is the percentage of unpolished rice that remains after polishing. If the rice polishing ratio is 60%, then 40% of the brown rice has been removed from the outside. Nutrients in the surface layer of rice are the source of diverse tastes, so the rice polishing ratio makes a difference in the sake flavor. If the rice polishing ratio is small, you can enjoy a clear and refreshing taste. Alternatively, if the surface is not excessively shaved and the rice polishing ratio is high, you can savor the rich and mellow flavor alongside the original aroma of rice.

The Ideal Temperature of Delicious Sake

The appeal of sake is its versatility to be enjoyed at a wide range of temperatures, whether cold or warm. We will now introduce three ways to drink sake at different temperatures and the types ideal for each flavor enhancement.

How to Savor Cold Sake

Sake chilled to a temperature of 5°C to 15°C is called cold sake. Moreover, cold sake is named according to its temperature, such as "Yuki Bie" (around 5°C), "Hana Bie" (around 10°C), and "Suzu Bie" (around 15°C). We recommend selecting ginjo-shu, daiginjo-shu, and refreshing honjozo-shu to savor the gorgeous aroma when chilled. As a rule of thumb, the lower the temperature of sake, the smoother it goes down the throat. Plus, the unique peculiarity of sake is diluted, so many find it easier to drink. However, if it is excessively chilled, it may result in a uniform taste while suppressing an assortment of flavors.

How to Taste Sake at Room Temperature

"Hiya" refers to sake served at room temperature. Specifically, it describes sake stored at around 20°C. An attractive feature of this variety is that you can enjoy it according to the outside temperature, whether crisply cold in the winter or pleasantly temperate in the summer. Even though it is at room temperature, the reasoning behind its "cold" classification correlates to the way of drinking alcohol in an era when refrigerators didn't exist. There were two options for enjoying sake in the past: sipping it warm ("kanzake") or at room temperature. Because the sake at room temperature was colder than the warmed sake, it was called "hiya". It is said that the sake drunk at room temperature brings out the brew's original taste. However, since the miscellaneous taste of sake is easy to understand, it may be difficult to enjoy it deliciously at room temperature unless it is carefully brewed. If you want to drink it  at room temperature, we recommend junmai-shu, which brings out the flavor and umami.

How to Savor Warm Sake

"Kanzake" refers to sake that is served warm. Moreover, warm sake is divided into six types according to temperature. The lowest temperature is called "Hinata- Kan" (around 30°C), "Hitohada-kan" (around 35°C), and "Nuru-kan" (around 40°C). Among these, nuru-kan is a way to enjoy the rich aroma of sake. If you want to drink sake  nuru-kan, we recommend choosing junmai-shu. Warming the sake brings out the mellow aroma and the umami of rice. There are other ways to drink warm sake, such as "Jo-kan" (around 45°C), "Atsu-kan" (around 50°C), and "Tobikiri-kan" (around 55°C). It is recommended for those who like dry sake since it feels less sweet than nuru-kan. Jo-kan has a crisp aroma and taste, while atsu-kan has a clean and sharp taste. If you're looking for a drier sake, it's best to try tobikiri-kan. Junmai-shu and honjozo-shu are suitable for warmer kanzake. By warming the sake, you can enjoy the umami and sweetness of the rice in junmai-shu, and the crisp aroma and taste of honjozo-shu. However, the balanced taste may be lost if the temperature is too high. Experiment with different temperatures to find your preferred temperature range.

Sake Cups and Vessels

The taste of sake changes greatly depending on the material of the vessel. Choose a sake vessel that matches the sake's serving temperature to further enhance the flavor.

Glassware Suitable for Cold Sake

Glass vessels give a refreshing impression and are recommended for drinking cold sake. The tasteless and odorless glass will not interfere with the sake's flavor, allowing you to enjoy the original taste. What about considering the thickness and type of the vessel? A thin glass sake cup is suitable for sharp daiginjo sake, while a thick glass sake cup is ideal for rich-tasting nigori (cloudy) sake. For sake with rich aroma, we recommend pouring it into a wine glass to whiff the aroma.

Pottery and Porcelain Suitable for Sake at Room Temperature and Warm Sake

Since ceramic works well with sake, it is commonly used as a drinking vessel. Sake poured into the ceramic vessel will give the beverage a soft and rounded taste. On the other hand, porcelain allows you to enjoy sake with a refreshing flavor. Additionally, a porcelain vessel is characterized by the fact that it conducts heat more quickly than ceramic.

Tin Vessels Bring Out the Sake Flavor at Any Temperature

Tin reportedly purifies water, allowing you to enjoy the mellow taste of sake poured into a tin vessel. Another attractive feature of a tin vessel is the ability to serve sake cold or hot. Since tin has high thermal conductivity, warm sake remains warm and cold sake tastes refreshing.

Enjoy Sake with a Simple Arrangement

Arranging sake with various ingredients allows you to enjoy variations. If you mix it with other beverages, the unique flavor of sake will be suppressed, and make it easier to drink. We'll now introduce simple arrangements for your sake.

Sake highball

Sake highball is made by pouring sake into a glass with plenty of ice, then mixing it with carbonated water. Sake has a lower alcohol content than whiskey, so you can arrange the beverage with a ratio of about 1:1. We also recommend adding sliced Japanese citrus fruits such as yuzu, sudachi, and kabosu. You will enjoy the refreshing taste.

Sake with Green Tea 

Sake with Green tea "Green tea Wari" is a method of arranging sake with green tea. We recommend making it at a ratio of 1:1 so you can enjoy the aromatic flavors of sake and green tea. We recommend avoiding fruity ginjo-shu and use junmai-shu, tokubetsu junmai-shu, or honjozo-shu in the arrangement.

Sake Cocktails

Sake cocktails are delicious beverages easily crafted by adding fruit or mixing other alcohol, juices, spices, etc. You can reduce the alcohol content and soften the sake's unique taste and aroma by turning it into a cocktail. This also makes it easier to drink.

Sake with Vanilla Ice Cream

The combination of sake and vanilla ice cream is interesting. We recommend pouring the sake on ice cream or adding sparkling sake to create soda float.

Three Delicious Ways to Drink Sake

Remembering the proper methods of drinking and serving sake is essential to ensuring a delicious sake-drinking experience. Let's now take a look at three delightful ways to drink sake.

1. Slowly Savor Your Sake with Each Sip

It is recommended to slowly drink sake one sip at a time. Gradually putting it in your mouth lets you enjoy the aroma and taste more deeply. It is also important to take short breaks with water and snacks when sipping sake.

2. Drink with "Yawaragi-Mizu"

When drinking sake, we recommend preparing "Yawaragi- Mizu". "Yawaragi-Mizu" is water that you drink with sake. Alternately drinking sake and yawaragi-mizu will help you prevent hangover. You can also reset your palate numb by alcohol and enjoy the taste of sake and snacks in your mouth.

3. Enjoy with Snacks

Enjoying sake with snacks will help reduce the burden on your liver. However, avoid excessively oily and salty snacks by choosing ones that contain high-quality protein, vitamins, and minerals.

Find Your Favorite Way of Enjoying Sake Casually

While it is good to enjoy sake as is, we recommend changing the temperature and vessel according to the type for various arrangements. People not used to drinking sake may appreciate the beverage's deliciousness through personalized arrangements. Please discover your favorite way to drink in this vast world of sake.