Need help on Sake

**Iron Monkey** · 05-02-2010, 15:17

Has anyone ever had sake? I want to buy a bottle but I want some opinions on it first. How should I drink it? Some people say drink it warm. Does it taste dry or bitter?

**Jay Bell** · 05-02-2010, 15:54

Depends on the sake. You'll find anything from dry to sweet to bitter.

Warming sake is to cover up the taste of bad quality sake...much like cooling down bad beer.

**David Craik** · 05-02-2010, 16:09

There are many different grades and strengths..some are pretty strong -20% alcohol, some like a 'ricey' wine.

I prefer mine at room temperature if a good sake, and heated to 105 F if a lesser one. I have a thermometer for this purpose when heating my own at home. Though heating is common in Japan, for a really good one I think you lose a lot of the flavor and aroma in a good sake by doing this. I haven't drank one yet that I would describe as bitter, but many are quite dry. My favorite is Timanohikari Dai-Ginjo at room temperature.

There are many even in Japan that drink it chilled or with cold fruit juice on the rocks, or make mixed drinks like a "sake-tini" with it. A cold light sake and pomegranate juice is very refreshing. Gekkeikan is very good for chilled drinks like this, and is very cheap. I just feel sort of bad drinking a good sake like this though, kind of like mixing a good single-malt Scotch with a Coke or using a Chateau Lafite to cook with or make sangria.

**Iron Monkey** · 05-02-2010, 16:35

What kind of sake do you suggest I try first?

**David Craik** · 05-02-2010, 16:51

How much do you want to spend?

It's like saying 'what kind of wine should I try first'. Shiraz, Chardonnay, Port, Zinfandel...

Grab a bottle of whatever's available and try it room temperature, warmed, and ice cold. If you don't like it try another. The discovery process is where the fun lies.

Or start with Timanohikari, Michinoku Onigoroshi, or Kikumasamune. I like those.

**Don Roley** · 05-02-2010, 16:56

I would go with one of the standards you can get even in the states. Sho Chiku Bai or something like that.

If you know beer, you know how different they can be. If I were telling someone to try a beer for the first time, I would send them to a standard like a pilsner or a lager instead of a stout or weisbeer. For the same reason, I would try the stuff you can find the easiest. It is most likely closer to the center.

Just make sure it has not been sitting on the shelf for ten years. I once translated a story by a teacher named Someya about their experiences at an Arizona seminar. Afterwards they asked for some Japanese sake to be sent to them. The stuff they got was so old it had turned kind of yellow and that is when it starts to taste really bad.

I sympathized that they were unable to taste a little bit of home and Someya interjected, "Oh we still drank it. It may have been yellow, horrible sake but it was still sake!"

**Erik** · 05-03-2010, 12:20

Do you have Trader Joes in Baltimore? If so, go for one of their $20 or less bottles (at our local one there are only 2 brands so it's not a hard choice). I wish I could recall the brand I like so I could recommend it to you.

As for heating it up, I use a shot glass because that's what I have available.

There is something to be said for using the ceramic little pouring bottle because it keeps the right amount of sake warm for a while.

Also, I heat that shot in the microwave for fewer than 15 seconds. Sake gets very hot very fast! I can't touch the shot glass if it was heated for longer than 15 seconds. I like it hot because, for some strange reason, that strong smell appeals to me.

If it's really hot then the vapors can be as sinus-clearing as wasabi so be cautious at first or you may decide you don't like it only because you're drinking it wrong.

Personally, I like sake a lot. It's easily one of my favorite drinks (and I'll be in Baltimore in 3 weeks...).

**David Craik** · 05-03-2010, 12:46

Another way of trying it that you might like is plum sake. I like Moonstone, but there are a lot of different brands, most very reasonably priced.

Though probably not very 'traditional', some of this chilled is really tasty.

**Defined** · 05-04-2010, 17:16

Interesting.

I've just been given a gift of some of this stuff - directly from Japan. I haven't tried sake before so it's going to be a bit of an experience.

http://www.kikusui-sake.com/home/english_11.html

It suggests to serve chilled though. Should I try it warm perhaps as well? Does anyone have any idea of the quality?

I'm saving it for Friday drinkies.

**Iron Monkey** · 05-04-2010, 21:24

Originally Posted by Erik

Do you have Trader Joes in Baltimore? If so, go for one of their $20 or less bottles (at our local one there are only 2 brands so it's not a hard choice). I wish I could recall the brand I like so I could recommend it to you.

As for heating it up, I use a shot glass because that's what I have available.

There is something to be said for using the ceramic little pouring bottle because it keeps the right amount of sake warm for a while.

Also, I heat that shot in the microwave for fewer than 15 seconds. Sake gets very hot very fast! I can't touch the shot glass if it was heated for longer than 15 seconds. I like it hot because, for some strange reason, that strong smell appeals to me.

If it's really hot then the vapors can be as sinus-clearing as wasabi so be cautious at first or you may decide you don't like it only because you're drinking it wrong.

Personally, I like sake a lot. It's easily one of my favorite drinks (and I'll be in Baltimore in 3 weeks...).

Yes I do have a trader joe only five minutes from me and I will go there first thing tomorrow and get a bottle of sake. I don't normally drink alcohol warm, just prefer to have it cold with a little ice. If you are coming to baltimore in 3 weeks feel free to hit me up.

**Iron Monkey** · 05-04-2010, 21:36

Alright I just searched online and the Trader Joe's in my area do not sell alcohol. I have looked online and found the first that I spot in the store. It is called Fu-Ki Sake and I have found a website where I can order it. I think I will get it from the store first and try it. Have anyone ever had Fu-Ki Sake?

Link:
http://www.internetwines.com

**Nyuck3x** · 05-05-2010, 09:42

We have a few breweries here in Northern California. Gekkeikan in Folsom, Hakusan in Vallejo and Takara in Berkley. I have been to the first two and I think Hakusan is now closed. I agree with the above posts. Try a few different ones. I also get some from Cost Plus World Market. Do not heat the ones recomended to be drunk cold. Like wine, heat opens up nose/bouquet of the wine. I was told that when you do heat it up, it should be "The temperature of a woman in lust". This I was told by an Akido teacher once...Like I would know, I'm married...Ha ha...

**Erik** · 05-05-2010, 11:17

Had some last evening. I was inspired by this thread.

My 2 year old always wants to know what I am eating or drinking and we have her (so far) convinced that coffee, tea, and booze are not good for her.

Given how strong the smell was from the sake (I heated it too much) I let her smell it. She did not like it on bit! Our parental credibility has been improved - she'll believe us when we tell her that it's not good for little kids.

I sure liked it, though.

**Don Roley** · 05-05-2010, 11:39

Originally Posted by Erik

Given how strong the smell was from the sake (I heated it too much) I let her smell it. She did not like it on bit!

That reminds me of another point. Be careful of heating the sake too much. It ruins the taste. Better to nuke it in the microwave, find it is a little too cool and throw it back in than overdo it from the start.

**Iron Monkey** · 05-07-2010, 21:15

ok going out tonight and just brought some Plum Gekkenikan. I will let you know how everything taste.

**David Craik** · 05-07-2010, 21:51

Hope you like it, I sure do

**Sorros** · 05-07-2010, 22:34

I like BLACK and Gold,
I like it warm or cold. Soke bombers ar the way to go.

**Iron Monkey** · 05-08-2010, 01:20

Ok tried it and the taste was super good, also got some KIKKOMAN but I haven't tried that yet.

**Mekugi** · 05-08-2010, 03:54

Originally Posted by Iron Monkey

KIKKOMAN but I haven't tried that yet.

I don't like Kikkoman <anything> myself.

Something you might like is my favorite, the "cloudy" style Sake....called Nigorizake. It's unfiltered and tastes less like rubbing alcohol IMHO. Speaking of that...I have a half gallon left over from New Years....hmmm....