How to Drink Sake The Right Way
How to Drink Sake The Right Way
If you've ever been to a sushi restaurant, you've either had sake or seen someone order it. And you probably know a few of the basics about it.
You know it's a Japanese alcoholic beverage (true).
You know it's a type of wine (false).
And you probably know it's made from rice (true).
But there's a lot more to sake than most people care about, and it has a very long tradition in Japanese culture. Keep reading to find out what sake alcohol is, how to drink it, and why it's such a culturally relevant drink.
What is Sake?
Let's start with the fundamentals. Sake is traditional Japanese grain alcohol and the national drink of Japan. It's made by fermenting polished rice. Polishing rice removes the bran, and the more polished the rice is, the finer the sake tends to be. Historically, sake dates back to at least the 8th century and quite possibly even earlier. Many people know sake as rice wine, but it's made by a brewing process that's more similar to beer than wine. Unlike wine, which is made by fermenting the sugar in fruit, sake is grain alcohol and uses the starch in the rice. Sake alcohol content is typically higher than that of wine. While wines tend to be in the 10% – 15% range, undiluted sake can have up to 18% or more alcohol by volume. Genshu, which is a strong type of sake, sometimes exceeds 20% alcohol by volume.Traditional Sake And How to Drink It
There is about as much misinformation going around about sake in the US. And, to be fair, most restaurants won't gatekeep your sake drinking, nor will they tell you how to drink sake. But if you want the traditional sake experience, there are a few things you should know. First, there are three ways of drinking sake based on temperature alone:- Okan is warm sake, and it's usually made with cheaper sakes or those with a less refined flavor profile for two reasons. One reason is that drinking it warm mellows out the fruity notes, and the other is to accentuate the sweetness and play down the acidity. However, sake should never be hot. Warm sake should be served between 104℉ and 122℉ but no higher.
- Reishu is sake served cold or chilled. Like warm sake, chilled sake masks some of the subtle flavors in sake and allows premium sake flavors to be more robustly felt. In this sense, sake is similar to wine. Some wines lose a lot of their character when chilled or cold.
- Hiya sake is served at room temperature and generally has all the distinctive flavors present without much alteration. Premium sakes are often served at room temperature since they're brewed with care to preserve all the right notes without letting any off-flavors take over.
Sake Food Pairings
Knowing what is sake and how to drink it is one thing. You should also put some effort into learning about the foods that go well with sake and how to choose sake food pairings. And the first thing you need to learn is that sake is secondary to the meal in Japan. Even a fine sake is just there to highlight the flavors that are on your plate. In contrast, wine pairings are considered much more intrinsic to the experience of a meal. And that's why we have such a comprehensive selection of wines at Stubborn Seed. For sake, you don't need to worry too much about pairing it with the right or wrong foods. If you're a beginner, think about embracing sake's origins. Pair it with foods that as Asian or Asian-inspired. Sushi is an obvious food pairing, and the one most people associate with sake.- Ginjo sake is a light variety with minor fruity notes that you can pair with foods that aren't overly punchy. Think about foods that you'd pair with a bright white wine, and you'll have a good idea of the things that might go well with ginjo.
- Nama is sake that hasn't been treated and is akin to Ginjo in that it's fresh and bright. It's an all-purpose sake that you can pair with just about anything that isn't too overpowering, such as rich red meats.
- Futsushu sakes are much dryer and easy to drink. They're typically served warm, and you can drink it as an aperitif or pair it with some heavier meals. Think of anything you might pair with a beer, and you can pretty much rely on Futsushu sakes to work.
Quick Tips for How to Drink Sake The Right Way
There's no reason to go overboard and try to copy Japanese customs when it comes to table manners. While it's a ceremonial drink in some situations, it's also an alcoholic beverage and meant to improve a meal, not stress you out. Just remember these simple things when you're enjoying your sake:- Sake is not a shot. Although it's sometimes served in small cups, sake isn't meant for shots. You don't need to spend all night sipping a bit of sake, but you should treat it more like wine than (say) tequila.
- When in doubt, pair it with appetizers. Just about any sake goes great with appetizers. Sake doesn't have too strong of a flavor profile to begin with, so it's a nice way to introduce a meal, even if you don't want to drink it while you're eating.
- Traditional sake custom dictates that you shouldn't serve your own sake. And yes, we did mention that you don't need to worry too much about custom, but this is one that can help distinguish sake from other beverages you drink, such as beer or wine.
- Don't be afraid to experiment. The more sake you try, the more you'll understand it and your tastes. The important thing to remember is that you can't really go wrong with sake, and you'll probably have a pleasant experience no matter what.