Sake Tasting on Wine Library TV

Sake Tasting on Wine Library TV – Episode #355

November 21, 2007

We have waited too long for the Sake episode and finally Gary Vaynerchuk sits down and tastes away and on this day before Thanksgiving.

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Comments on this episode(139) Leave a comment ›

“Great to see that you are willing to try different things. Great show….” by Adrian aka AnGkEr
“Cool episode, Gary! Didn’t know you were a big sake fan!
QOTD: Otok…” by Logan
View all 139 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

Tozai Snow Maiden NigoriJapanese Sake
Shadows Of Katano Nigori SakeJapanese Sake
Ginga Shizuku Sake Divine DropletsJapanese Sake
Nanbu Bijin Sake Ancient PillarsJapanese Sake

139 Responses

November 21, 2007

Shadowbird
First comment? Wow.
November 21, 2007

Jay Newfarm
Second?
November 21, 2007

Shadowbird
I’m sorry, Gary, I can’t do that. I picked the ‘Boys on my FoxSports blog.
November 21, 2007

Corrado
Wow. Late show today.

Where’s the wine?
November 21, 2007

Tom L
Wow. Top 10 for a change! Happy Thanksgiving GV!

Tom L
November 21, 2007

GrapeStuff
Top tizzy
November 21, 2007

Toke-Dawg
Top 10.
November 21, 2007

David Dickinson
Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Top 10!
November 21, 2007

Withnail
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
November 21, 2007

GrapeStuff
GO JETS!!!
November 21, 2007

Shadowbird
What happened to the QOTD?
November 21, 2007

Dominick Mack
Your dad has a nice camo orange hat and is a master at directing traffic!
November 21, 2007

MagnumGourmet
QOTD – Sake is definitely an acquired taste. Have had a few and just didn’t get it. Oh well.

Happy Thanksgiving!
November 21, 2007

Dr T from N. Carolina
It’s been a long time since I’ve had sake, so I can’t answer the QOTD

GO JETS! GO JETS! GO JETS!

(If there’s a Sauternes for under $30, I promise to order! — hope I’m on the mailing list. . . .)

Happy Thanksgiving!

“T”
November 21, 2007

Lurker Luke
I’m going to call you out G.V, I don’t think you ever smelt or tasted Bamboo.
November 21, 2007

lee
Way to go Gary. Nice to give some time to Sake.

Lee
November 21, 2007

PaulT
great show, I like Sake. Had a few nice ones a couple of years ago but I definitely can’t remember their names…
November 21, 2007

A-Gar
Great, great episode. Haven’t had sake in ten years, but when I was eleven and living in Taiwan, I tried it and loved it. Gotta go pick some up.

Got to see Mott’s handsome face two days in a row! Alright!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!
November 21, 2007

srcasm
Way to go on this awesome episode. Sake is a highly under-understood alcohol. And it’s delicious.
November 21, 2007

Orion Slayer
For goodness sake, sake (sockies) is something you wear on your feet!

QOTD: Have not had a sake before, but the last two seem good. Next time I go to sushi I’m going to have to try some.

Have a great Thanksgiving, Gary and all the Vaniacs!
November 21, 2007

angryphoton
It was almost painful to watch/hear the Japanese pronunciations from Gary but good show. I’ll teach you to pronounce them when you go to SF this Dec. 1st. Happy Thanksgiving.
November 21, 2007

David Dickinson
Go Jets! Win one for all of us (free shipping and wine at cost)! Whew Hoo!
November 21, 2007

J.R. Young
This show brought the ikazuchi.

I’ll root for the Jets if you tell us what really goes on at Gate D during halftime. =)
November 21, 2007

Ronald Muscio
GO JETS!!!!…………being a Giant fan, there is no way I would be rooting for the Boys.

QOTD: No favorite Sake….I only had Sake once or twice many years ago. As I remember, it was heated to body temperature and served in real small sake cups. Times and Sake have changed.

Love those wild labels though.
November 21, 2007

DavidB
Go Jets Go! Love it. can we add the widget to a myspace or facebook site? Just asking as I do not have a blog or web site?
November 21, 2007

RieslingRon
GO JETS!!!!â€¦â€¦â€¦â€¦being a Giant fan, there is no way I would be rooting for the Boys.

QOTD: No favorite Sakeâ€¦.I only had Sake once or twice many years ago. As I remember, it was heated to body temperature and served in real small sake cups. Times and Sake have changed.

Love those wild labels though.
November 21, 2007

Malphas
QotD: I’ve had the Ancient Pillars brand of sake! In fact, whenever I go meet my friends in the City, we insist on chipping in for some at our favorite sushi places.

This is the kind of sake that sneaks up on you and gives you a tender warm bear hug before getting you quite drunk. If my opinion is worth anything here, I recommend that people seek this sake out!
November 21, 2007

daverdude
Happy turkey GV

I Think Iam turning Japanese (lol)
November 21, 2007

Robin C
QOTD: I would love to try sake although with the 17+% alcohol content it doesn’t sound as though it would be exactly my cup of tea, if I got a good deal on a premium bottle I might try it.
Go Jets!
November 21, 2007

Will
What a great time of year for a sake tasting. There’s nothing better in the winter than a slightly heated (but not long enough to just turn it to sugar) nigorizake. I’ll have to give the Tozai a whirl.
Also, if you ever have the chance to bring some Kubota into your shop, that’s some of the best sake I’ve ever had. Positively amazing stuff.
November 21, 2007

Roxy Harte
I loved this episode most! But then I’m a big sake fan (and owe my unplanned but very loved second daughter to a sake night)…

Thank you for doing this episode~! Normally, we host a wine tasting at our house every other Friday night with the BF’s … First Friday in December big surprise for them because I am getting all four of tonight’s reviewed sakes to taste!

Hugs
Roxy
November 21, 2007

CindyW
Thanks for this fun sake-tasting episode. Now I’m craving some of the good stuff (may have to run to my neighborhood Japanese store and pick up a nice bottle for tonight). QOTD: I like trying lots of different sakes, and I don’t have a specific bottle that’s a favorite. However, I do tend to prefer the Junmai Daiginjo type. Its become a bit of a Christmas Eve tradition for me.
November 21, 2007

Lukas B
Great episode Gary,
I think sake bottles look pretty cool,
but who’s to say wine bottles can’t look like that?
does a wine bottle have to look like a wine bottle?

I remember when i was younger, i found a bottle of sake in my parents drinks cabinet, and i thought “wow, this is cool” and i tried it, and it was disgusting.
Although i probably did that with most drinks in there.
Oh how things have changed.
I don’t think i’ve actually had sake since.
Maybe i will soon.
November 21, 2007

Neil
QOTD: Favorite Sake – can’t remember the name but it has a stylized picture of a crazy man with double eyes in black/yellow/red. Love Sake with Sukiyaki & sushi.

Happy thanksgiving!
November 21, 2007

MikeH
Great Show. If, by some miracle, the jets win, I’ll order a bottle or 2. Too bad that’s not going to happen. Go ‘Boys.
November 21, 2007

Kev and Ams
QOTD: Sake One in Oregon makes some great stuff.
November 21, 2007

amgryger
Happy Thanksgiving.

QOTD: So I stuck with you until the end eventhough my sake-obsessed, both American and Japanese, have had me try a lot of different sakes and I haven’t liked any of them. Like you said, its an acquired taste, and it may be one that I will never acquire.
November 21, 2007

mike m
Sake! WTF??????? What have you done with Vaynerchuck??
November 21, 2007

Michael
GO JETS, not that my cowboy fan dad will appreciate that, but what the heck,
I lived in Ibaraki prefecture for awhile, and the home team sake was Hitori Musume (first cousin?) – so I’ll give it favorite from my vague remembrance of it.

Happy thanksgiving!
November 21, 2007

Go Big Blue
Wines at cost. Free shipping. Cowboys Lose. Well, alright. Go J-E-T-S!
November 21, 2007

mrzitro
Ripped from today’s headlines: “Security screeners at the Newark airport could almost open a department store with all the banned items including nine bottles of wine…”
For the love of Pete, how could you let them take your wine?
November 21, 2007

Withnail
Not a sake guy at all but this was very interesting. Thanks.
November 21, 2007

KingLurker
Never been into the sake thing, but you mad me want to be. Great episode..

QOTD: I think it was Skaburo? is that even one or is that the beer? not sure
November 21, 2007

whipple
QOTD: Whatever sake is cheapest, so usually Geikkekan. Hey, I’m sorry! I’ll try to find the divine droplets and keep watching comments for other suggestions. Meanwhile, how can I get invited to Roxy’s tasting (and what’s the safe word)?
November 21, 2007

vange
I have 2 favorite sakes, both around $30-$40 a bottle. One is called Wandering Poet and the other I have written down, but not with me right now. I adore sake. Absolutely perfect slightly chilled with sushi. Also, I have ripped through 3 bottles Divine Droplets. Used to love it, but now I get too much anise on the palate and like it less.
November 21, 2007

John J.
QOTD: I’ve never really thought about sake before so I can’t remember what I’ve had.
November 21, 2007

Jbunny
Go JETS…JETS…JETS…JETS. Will I get a Mott squeeze?
November 21, 2007

TommyBoBo of Wi
QOTD: When I get into saki,,, I don’t remember anything!! I love it!!

Go Jets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t think of anything better than you guys beating the hell out of the Cowgirls for us. Can you take Romo and TO out and put them on the injured list? tks I owe you GV.

Go PACK!! Grasshopper? where are ya man?
November 21, 2007

Ryan M.
Gary, I’m a big fan of sake and I just love this episode! I hope you can keep doing random gourmet foods and drink tastings in the future.
November 21, 2007

JoeD.
Way to switch gears! I have been look for some good sakeâ€™s. Very interesting episode. By the way I’m a Giants fan….but what the hell for cost price on 92+ wines…J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS JETS!!!!!!!!!!!
November 21, 2007

dulamae
QOTD: I think the only time I have had sake was dropped in a glass of beer. :/ We actually have a pretty great Asian market in the Phoenix area so I might hit it up this weekend.

Have a fabulous Thanksgiving. I can’t wait to open up my four pack and watch tomorrow’s show!

Rhonda
November 21, 2007

Dave
My favorite sake was the kind that came warm in a mini-carafe that I would pour into a tiny shot glass and drop into a glass of Kirin and then slam at Miyake’s on University ave in Palo Alto after I had stood on my chair, and yelled “Ichi, Ni, San, Compai!!!!!!” That place was nuts. They had fog machines, strobe lights, disco balls… hit them up around 9:00pm if you are ever in Palo Alto.

Sake bomb!
November 21, 2007

NathanN
Have a great Thanksgiving!

QOTD: Sake? No never even looked at a bottle.
November 21, 2007

KAHUNA
Thanks for thinking of us locals- Its about time!- I will root for the Jets!
November 21, 2007

Andrew Kellner
Since I was rooting for the Jets anyway, it’ll be agimme (that is if they win). QOTD: SakeOne, California Sake the “G”, it is a “Junmai Ginjo Genshu SakÃ©”; cool bottle, fresh pear notes.
November 21, 2007

Dave Canada
If the Jets win I am doing a huge order and getting my ass down there….cost at WL is like 10% of what it is up here
QOTD – I have only had the shitty sake that tastes like terpentine…..
November 21, 2007

Taylor
Never had Sake before but I am definitely ordering some soon!

And not to be nitpicky, but just in case no one has said…’sah-kay’ not ’sah-key’ is how you say it.
November 21, 2007

sara
Something I’ve been wondering about quite a bit lately is the shelf life on these things. How long can a good bottle of sake last? Can I keep it for 10+ years like a good wine, or should it be drunk within a year? Also, I’d love it if you’d start saying how long we can lay down the wines for when you’re reviewing them. It would really help me know which ines to get 1 bottle of, and which ones to get a case of. Thanks in advance for that!

As for my favorite sake, I’ve never much paid attention to the names, but had a nice one that my dad brought to Yamashiro about 6 months ago. They apparently weren’t used to that, but he’d figuerd if he could do it with wine, why not with sake? Funnily enough, when I was on tour in Japan, I remember eveybody drinking whisky (some Japanese kind with a lower alcohol content, I think), not sake.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, GARY!
November 21, 2007

Tommy Vernieri
QOTD: I’ve never had premium Sake. It might be interesting to do a wine-alternatives tasting, bring out things like Sherry, Sake, fruit wines, dessert wines. That would be quite a party.

Go Jets!
November 21, 2007

Genghis
That was so much fun dude– It’s nice to see you sometimes at a loss for describing flavors. QOTD: Only ever had it once with some sushi, and like you’re saying, it was done in shot glasses and I basically just pounded it.
November 21, 2007

ktw
never cared before but jets will definately be getting good karma from me
November 21, 2007

DCro
J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets!!!!!

QOTD: Never had sake, nor have I “bitten off the head of a fish and ate it’s rawness.”

Happy Thanksgiving Gary
November 21, 2007

Rice
QOTD: Kizakura Nigori… the one with the white rice powder that settles to the bottom and looks so cool and tastes even better than it looks. http://www.kizakura.co.jp/en/index.html

Yer right about the “zen” aspect… there’s nothing better to describe the taste and experience. And yes… there’s a reason my handle is “rice”

Come to the west coast and I’ll hook you up with some killer sake (that you can only get there) and dinner from a small restaurant in the Oakland / SF area… my treat.

GO JETS! J-E-T-S J-E-T-S [and 49'ers] (I’m not a football fan but love to watch)
November 21, 2007

Cookiedds
Can you extend the free shipping through Monday, I’m going to be out of town until then? I’ll be rooting for GB and the Jets tomorrow!
November 22, 2007

Billr
I loved the show….I have been waiting on this one for a while….GREAT

QOTD: I have never had a Sake but I am going to order one now…. Have a GREAT TD
November 22, 2007

Mark Antonio
Hi enjoyed the show. I’ve been living in Japan close to ten years now but I’ve never tried Sake….only joking! Just like wine there are thousands of brands and many many varietals. I’d look into the region (prefecture) within Japan that the sakes are made also as this will give you more insight into the variations at play. I’m particularly keen on sakes from the west of Japan between Kyoto and Hiroshima (Hyogo prefecture, Yamaguchi prefecture etc.) as they are more full bodied and complex in flavour and you’ll find lots made with the yamada nishiki type of rice there too. Ehrmm.. this mails getting too long. Shout me for some recommendations anytime.
November 22, 2007

Jason
Can anyone else say go Jets!!!

I think Gary is going to get me to care about Football.

QOTD: Only had it a couple of times. We have this great sushi place we go to and the owner brings out his favorite Sake on occasion and insists on a round for all of us. I have to say, it isn’t hard for me to oblige him. It is good stuff. But with all the crazy names, I can;t remeber what any of it is called. The bottle looked a lot like the last one that Gary tasted, but I don’t think that it is the same stuff.

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone.
November 22, 2007

Jason
Can anyone else say go Jets!!!

I think Gary is going to get me to care about Football.

QOTD: Only had it a couple of times. We have this great sushi place we go to and the owner brings out his favorite Sake on occasion and insists on a round for all of us. I have to say, it isn’t hard for me to oblige him. It is good stuff. But with all the crazy names, I can;t remeber what any of it is called. The bottle looked a lot like the last one that Gary tasted, but I don’t think that it is the same stuff.

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone.
November 22, 2007

H-Why
Happy Thanksgiving, Gary. Thanks for giving us this wonderful show to enjoy all year long.

QOTD: I’ve never tried Sake, but I’m a huge Sushi fan! So, I’m ready to dive into the Sake ocean. Hopefully, I won’t have too much memory loss.
November 22, 2007

Vinsant
A Dallas fan and you don’t friggin’ ship to WA state…..GO COWBOYS!!!
November 22, 2007

vivaitalia
QOTD: for some reason, all sake tastes like really cheap 100 proof vodka to me. Actually, it tastes more like the moonshine I get from my family in West Virginia. I’ve even tried ones that i’ve had to spend 10-15 dollars a tiny little shot glass on. I do love some of the plumb wines i’ve had from Japan. I’ve got to say kudos to you Gary, only you could keep me interested in a show about something I don’t like at all. Happy Turkey Day everyone!
November 22, 2007

bundydb
QOTD: I’ve never tried one because I was waiting on someone to show me the way! Thanks Gary!

Hope all have a great and safe Thanksgiving!!!
November 22, 2007

Harley Stan
Cool twist today with the Sake’, GO JETS!!!!!

QOTD- I can’t say I have had a great Sake’ that really impressed me and I have had it on several occasions.
November 22, 2007

mrzitro
QOTD: never had premium sake before. The last time I had sake was about 15 years ago at a Japanese restaurant.

I can pull for the Jets on this one. In fact whatever team plays against T.O., I’ll root for.
November 22, 2007

Totte
Great episode G.V

No fav. Sake for the moment but will keep you posted on my forthcomings.

Shoo

Swedish T
November 22, 2007

portland guy
This was an excellent episode, GV. But you missed a ‘teaching moment’ by not discussing desired serving temps for sake, storage issues, longevity, etc., and perhaps some food matching beyond sushi.

I will ALWAYS pull for the team facing the Cowgirls — but with the incentive you thru out, and with that Duck at QB, it will be a big double pull. But careful, GV, if the Jets win, that #1 pick is slippin away (but seems Miami has that locked up anyway).

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your fam. Enjoy the day!
November 22, 2007

Mark Antonio
Sara,
Yes Sake can be aged and sometimes the Sake makers age it themselves. Whereas Sake in Japanese is referred to as “nihon-shu”, aged sake is referred to as “ko-shu”. Aging is normally applied to only the purest types of sake made from rice that has has it’s outer casing ground away in order to erradicate impurities and increase the smoothness. You will see a % on labels sometimes eg. 50%, 60% most commonly. This is the % remaining after the grinding process. So basically, the lower the % remaining, the more age-worthy the sake However, this is not the whole story. Sake is complicated..
November 22, 2007

Timothy Burke
Loved the Sake episode, I’ve been looking to get into Sake for awhile now (Huge fan of Japan and all it offers) so seeing this episode helped push me in the right direction. I will be ordering some Sake soon, hopefully within the next week.

Gary keep up the great work, I cant wait to see the Thanksgiving Episode!
November 22, 2007

KC Dan
good ep G very interesting . Qotd : never had a sake but will have to now !!! Thanks G and have a great turkey day .
November 22, 2007

medo
What a show! I MUST try serious Sake now! Now way to do it not. Thx for that visual experience!
November 22, 2007

J Sake daisukeezy
QOTD: First of all thanks for doing the show…but yo, where’s the shout out for all the vayniacs in Japan? Am I the only one?? C’mon! Give us some sushi love, homie. Best sake, Tsukinoi Junmai Daiginjyo. It’s floral, elegant, perfume, rich, seductive, powwerful, flirtaceous…everything you could ever look for in a premium sipping sake. For the next sake show try them out of Riedel’s Sake Sommelier series glass. Happy Thanksgiving.
November 22, 2007

Andy Drinkard
Great show, Gary! If your Jets can pull one over the Cowboys, maybe my homeboys the Falcons can do the same to the Colts. Aaaahhhh, Thanksgiving football…
November 22, 2007

Andy Drinkard
By the way, were you drinking those at room temperature? Is that typical?
November 22, 2007

YoungDave
QOTD: I’ve only had a couple, so I guess I’d have to say Daiku; a creamy, orange-flavored sake that I usually pair with a yellowtail hamachi dish at the restaurant where I work.
November 22, 2007

fatdoi
i never liked sake in a sense that every time i had it, it’s served hot, hot…… they just taste like boiled alcohol, any subtlties you mentioned just ain’t there….. maybe next time i’ll drink it room temp…….
November 22, 2007

TROC
I think you’re going to have to put some of that Sake in the Jets waterbottles in order to beat Dallas, but I’m thinking an upset is due, 34-13 Jets.
November 22, 2007

Derek
I was never a big fan of Sake, dont people drink that heated up???
November 22, 2007

eyeguy
I think you became mellower because you weren’t really spitting that sake……:>
Happy Turkey Day!
November 22, 2007

BigBob
Sake served hot is the cheap sake. If they offer you hot sake it is like going to a restaurant and drinking out of a bag-in-the-box. Good sake should be served room temp or cool. Nigori sake is dessert sake. The rice is in the bottom of the bottle and you need to shake it up.

90% of the sake sold in the USA is NOT from Japan. Know what you are buying… Sake has terroir and the best ones come from Japan are are made with water from a specific area and the highest grade of rice that is highly polished.

The difference in quality of sake is the level of polishing of the rice. The outer husk is bitter and impure. When you polish it close to the core you get a more pure, quality sake.
November 22, 2007

Christopher J
QOTD: Never, because I can’t read the bottles.
November 22, 2007

Sonnenuhr
Interesting show. I’ve only had sake in Tokyo and it didn’t leave much of an impression. Obviously need to try some higher end stuff.

If the Jets win… Gosh Gary, if the Jets win you should be giving wine away, because they will NEVER beat the ‘Boys! Y’all have a Happy Turkey Day
November 22, 2007

Pok Yue Weng
Excellent ep Gary. I have been a big sake drinker for the longest time. Seems like the best kept secret around.
November 22, 2007

Matty H
I am not high on sake…suppose I never understood the point of ’shooting’ rice wine. My experiences have been below average to average drinking it. Until this episode I can truly say that I’ve never seen a person smell the bouquet and make an effort to savor. Maybe we dont understand the culture, history and many options behind the beverage. Or, maybe more accurately, sake hasnt had the backing of a good ‘ol American marketing push
November 22, 2007

Pastafari Pirate
I think you’d had a little Sake before you started taping…. yes?
November 22, 2007

Jon B.
Awesome show loved it. I’ve never had Saki but I will for sure give it a try now.GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO JEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTTTTSSSSS!!!(What am I saying????).Thanks Gary and WLTV crew Happy Thanksgiving.
November 22, 2007

David M Roberts
Not a sake fun, but liked the show for variety’s sake (or, sake, as the case may be…)

The Jets are going to get clobbered, but really, it’s all about the Packers.
November 22, 2007

NADINE
Great show Gary !

Sake as you said is an acquired taste but once you find that fine bottle of sake you seem not to get enough of, ohh woow when combined with fresh delicate fish or sushi, home made or take out, just yummm. Here in Montreal we have snow, so during winter I tend to go for the hot sake. I don’t remember the brand name as I am not too experienced in this field. If you do however do do another show on sake, you should do one on hot sake and combine it with either desert or whatever idea comes to mind, that be awsome ! Thanks for this show Gary, really liked it.
November 22, 2007

orie0704
QOTD: Homare and Dewazakura are my favorite breweries. Hard to pick a single sake amongst them. Sometimes I prefer a futushu (non special-designation sakes) over anything else, especially Homare’s.
November 22, 2007

Sassodoro
Very interesting show, Gary. I haven’t had much Sake, and certainly none of the high end stuff. I’ll have to give it a try.
November 22, 2007

Kristen
Nice episode GV.

QOTD: I’ve had some of the really low end sakes, like Geikkan so I can’t say that I’ve liked those, but my Japanese friends did bring some from home and it was excellent. Can’t quite remember the name though, seeing as I don’t read katakana script!
November 22, 2007

Dan NYC
QOTD: Love sake, I haven’t had enough of the good stuff.
November 22, 2007

Deas
Hey Gary -
Love the show. I’m in Japan, and a huge sake fan myself. I’d like to see you do tastings of more specific sakes. (é…’ [sake] only means “alcohol” in Japanese.) If you get a chance, I’d love to see a review of some shochu versus Korean soju. Seems like you stayed with the ninonshu today.
November 23, 2007

the big wine O
only have had sake that tastes like dirty laundry
November 23, 2007

Scott
QOTD:
Never had sake before and never had any desire to. I do now. Thanks GV.
November 23, 2007

Taylor
Great shoe Gary, it was like you were a controlled storm looks like you were in the sakelightenment.
QOTD Can’t lie the only sake I’ve had is crappy sake at a little sushi restaurant when my friends and I sake bomb! looks like there is good sake out there so I better step it up!
November 23, 2007

Timothy Sullivan
Gary – A huge thank you for doing a sakÃ© episode and raising the profile of this amazing beverage. SakÃ© is such a huge topic, it could have a website of it’s own! oh, wait – it does! Please check out my NYC SakÃ© Blog at http://www.UrbanSake.com.

I have some posts on terrific nigori sakes (the cloudy type you featured) and I even profile a seminar I attended with Mr. Kosuke Kuji, the enthusiastic brewer of the OUTSTANDING Nanbu Bijin sakÃ©.

Isn’t sakÃ© fantastic? you can really get hooked like I did.

A few things I thought deserved mentioning are milling rate and serving temperature. Milling rate is the amount of the outer rice grain that is ground away prior to brewing. the more of the hull that is removed, the higher grade the sakÃ©. Also, serving temperature is very important. well, it’s important to try different temps to determine what you like. from chilled to gently warmed, there are tons of flavors in there. It’s recommended that most premium Ginjo and Daiginjo SakÃ©s be served slightly chilled.

Vocabulary when learning about sake was a challenge for me and a lot of folks. “ginjo” is pronounced with a hard G like in the word beGIN . not a soft G like Gin martini. (GIN-joe). “junmai” is pronounced (june my).

Thanks again for promoting SakÃ© in this way – I hope your episode prompts lots of people to try their first premium sakÃ©!
Kanpai,
Timothy Sullivan
http://www.UrbanSake.com
November 23, 2007

sky
divine droplets is my all time fav……..must find this ancient pillars and try it too..
November 23, 2007

sky
also gary i would recomend the momokawa series; silver, ruby, diamond, and pearl(cloudy).
November 23, 2007

terry
sign…Gary…have some pride in the REAL WINE.
November 24, 2007

dave from Osaka (thunderball)
Wicked episode. Been in Japan almost 9 years now and sake is well…a deep and wonderous world. When you come over this way we’ll head up to Kyoto and tour the old sake breweries before sitting down to a huge grilled fish meal and an insane spread of junmai daiginjo! Until then!
November 24, 2007

wayno da wino
MoooooChoo Gracios for dat Fuuuun Episode!!
Gotta get me somma dat…….

QOTD: Had a cheap, raunchy one years ago.
Never tried it again.
November 24, 2007

desmaic
ahhhhhh vaynason… you drinka tha sake!!!!
much thank you and honor!
November 25, 2007

gl600
Great episode… really got me interested in Sake’. keep it up!
November 25, 2007

Todd Smith
Great episode. The problem with premium Sake is it’s limited production and price point. It’s hard for people to try many different ones at $30 btl. It would be nice to see more choices and quality in the $10-$20 range.
November 25, 2007

2thdr
Looking forward to trying the Sakis. What do you eat with it?
November 26, 2007

KW
The good and fine sake’s are so smooth with the alcohol very well controlled that if you don’t watch out, you’ll be in a very happy mood very soon. Friends at work in Japan took me out some years back and I learnt how good sake really was compared to the stuff we normally get over here that tastes like unfiltered grain alcohol.
November 26, 2007

MtnCharlie
Great episode. I have only had warm sake. I enjoy it very much but have yet to venture into premium sake. Now I will.

QOTD: No best yet.
November 26, 2007

Junichi Fujita
Great show Gary. It was nice to see sake getting some coverage. As a native Japanese speaker it was a bit painful to hear you pronounce sake lingo. I found a site that has audio of sake terms bring pronounced correctly. (http://www.wineintro.com/sake/audio/). I hope it helps. It is unfortunate that most sakes currently sold in the US are double or triple what they cost in Japan and most of the best sakes are never exported. I hope demand picks up in the US and we see more sake in the states.
November 26, 2007

sonnybobiche
QOTD: Black and Gold! ~14 bones at the overpriced shop next to my favorite sushi place in hoboken.
November 26, 2007

Elliot Essman
Anything but the cheap domestic sake (and there are some good American-produced sakes out there.
November 27, 2007

keith (wineberries)
AWESOME!!

I Rep Vine Connections in NH (Both Sake and Argentina), and know all of these well… Couldn’t agree more on the Ancient Pillars – Nanbu Bijin also does The Southern Beauty, which is one of my favs in the lower price points.

Last year, ED and Nick (Vine Connections) brought John Gauntner to town for a Sake seminar – mindblowing….

It should be noted that VC puts English translations on the back label for the stuff the import.

Thanks for the great show!
November 27, 2007

Oregon Sipper
Loved the show Gary, Sake is always interesting but for the most part I am afraid to try it in most Sushi bars because I am afraid they will be the cheap stuff.
November 27, 2007

JayZee
QOTD: Okay, I don’t have a favorite sake. I’ve had sake when I visited Japan in 1998 and a couple of weeks ago at the Japanese reception at the 2007 World Radiocommunication Conference in Geneva, Switzerland. That one was served from a barrel in wooden boxes (yes, you drank the sake out of a square, bamboo box – supposedly traditional). It was very good.

Nice show, BTW.
November 28, 2007

Mr. Ambassador
Sampled some sparkling saki at one of our “wine nights” in which we attempted to make home-made sushi rolls. The night was quite a success and the sparkling saki was a big hit (we tried some inexpensive sakis as well, though none made as much of an impression as the sparkling saki).
November 29, 2007

yowens
QOTD: the cheap stuff with SAKE BOMBS!!! Maybe its time to grow up.
November 29, 2007

SoCal
QOTD: I have had lots of cheap stuff nothing good.
November 29, 2007

klags
“pride of the village.” that’s my favorite so far…
December 4, 2007

Paul
Nice foray into the sake world Gary. I haven’t had much sake in the US. I liked Junichi’s post, if you could do one thing to educate your viewers about sake, it would be to stop pronouncing it incorrectly. It should be pronounced sah-kay, not sah-kee. A major pet peeve of mine ever since Sean Connery did it in the best Bond movie of all time, “You Only Live Twice.”
I don’t mean to sound snobby about it, as I certainly am not a sake expert. However, it would be like putting a hard “t” on the end of cabernet.
Cheers!
December 26, 2007

Albert Ko
QOTD: GV’s ep with the steak and white wine recently… got me thinking about this ep. There’s sake I really love with summer BBQs because it’s dry and BIG feel and really a great complement to a good steak. Tenzan. Yes, comes in a weird husk wrap and is a bit higher on the alcohol scale but I love it.

There are quite a few other sakes I like for different occassions. I’m saddened that Mitsuwa supermarket shrunk it’s selection of sakes and mostly swapped it for sochu.

GV… Sochu drinker???
February 14, 2008

Naysen
Question of the Day: Which Pinot did you last Taste

Last Pinot I had was the 2005 Toulouse Vineyards Pinot Noir Estate. This is an Anderson Valley Pinot, which is a region I absolutely adore.

I had a vertical tasting at the winery of 2002 through 2006 (barrel), and this wine stood out. I’d love to see more shoes on Anderson Valley (Pinot Focussed in particular) and here what Gary has to say about Toulouse:
http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=345593
-n
February 16, 2008

sev
This episode has totally inspired me to give sake a try! Great show Gary.
May 8, 2008

victor
QOTD.
A friend’s(Helen)Brother(George)traveling back from Japan brought a Sake I tasted that I called “Dangerous” It was soooooo smooth I would have EASILY drunk
the whole bottle right there. That started my love of, and alas my search for
good quality sake. Edmonton Alberta Canada may have GREAT beef, bison, duck
but SAKE???? NOT. I have since requested from Helen’s other brother (Matt) a bottle of the Ancient Pillars and he, through great effort procured and delivered a bottle. I haven’t tried it yet but look forward to sharing it.
Wish you’d have another sake episode…or at least throw the occasional bottle of it into the mix?
July 17, 2008

SpoiledinCalbyPinot
This is after the fact. Sake is great especially with sushi.
I like the creamy colored kind.

Jets have a chance of beating Dallas. This was a pretty safe bet.
September 16, 2008

Darren
Yuki no Bosha junmai daiginjo is my current favorite….Gary, sorry brah your Japanese is horrendous but you rock anyway!
December 29, 2008

Dessert Wine Nerd
Finally some sake! Great to learn a bit about it and see your opinion on it. QOTD: I tried my first sake about a month ago and quite enjoyed it, though I cant remember the name of it. Ive got a $25 gift card to Whole Foods and I think Im going to get a a bottle of the good stuff!
January 7, 2009

nnothing
qotd: I haven’t had much sake, but my favorite so far is g. it’s from oregon, but I like it. Haven’t had any of the super premiums tho.
March 10, 2009

Yusuf
How come you don’t have a single episode about plum wine? Please consider to taste some of those asian fruit wines.
April 8, 2009

Logan
Cool episode, Gary! Didn’t know you were a big sake fan!

QOTD: Otoko-yama! Actually not a big sake fan- I prefer Japanese Shochu (Japan’s distilled alcohol) instead, but I recently tried Otoko-yama at an izakaya on St. Marks and it wasn’t bad.
July 2, 2009

Adrian aka AnGkEr
Great to see that you are willing to try different things. Great show..and nice to see the sakes getting the thumbs up….