Sake 101: The Basics
What is Sake?
It’s pronounced “sah-keh“, not “sah-kee“, y’all.
Sake is Japan’s gift to the world of boozy delights—a magical alcoholic elixir born from rice, water, and time-honored craftsmanship. In Japan, “sake” is actually a catch-all term for any alcoholic drink, but the sake most of us know and love is properly called nihonshu. With a brewing process all its own and a dazzling array of over 10,000 varieties, sake is less of a drink and more of an adventure in a cup.
From its history and how its made, to its endless versatility – you’re about to learn how many ways you can fall in love with this incredible beverage. Let’s explore!
Sake History and Tradition
While the exact origins of sake are unclear with records reaching back at least 2500 years, it is believed to have began in China, with the inception of rice cultivation. Despite its beginnings, Japan became the true cultural home of sake during the Nara Period (710-794). Through the next 500 years, sake was originally brewed in Shinto Shrines and Buddhist temples to appease the gods, but by the sixteenth century, breweries began to serve the thirsty masses. Jumping forward to the Meiji period (1858-1912), sake hit the international scene, bolstering an estimated 27,000+ breweries in Japan with large producers established in Kobe and Kyoto. Sake continued to evolve as time progressed and was heavily influenced by the coming world wars. Wartime rice rationing prompted a sake industry collapse and many sake breweries were forced to blend cheaply distilled alcohol, making much richer sake more popular. This brings us to the modern period in which new classifications based on rice polish ratios gave birth to the ginjo boom of the 1970s. These new styles refined flavor and aroma, emphasizing the importance of artisanal sake. Now officially recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural treasure, sake isn’t just a drink—it’s a storyteller, capturing the spirit of each region’s unique food culture.
What is Sake Made Of?
Sake may seem like a complex potion, but its magic comes from just four simple ingredients:
Water
The stuff that brings it all together
Rice
The star of the show. No rice, no sake.
Koji
Aspergillus oryzae: where the magic happens!
Yeast
Turns rice sugars into glorious alcohol
Water, the silent conductor of the process, varies from region to region, with its unique minerality guiding the tempo of fermentation like a secret rhythm.
Rice —the soul of sake. Polished with precision to reveal its purest core, each grain holds the potential to shape aroma, texture, and taste. Different varieties and polishing ratios open the door to endless expression, from bold and earthy to light and floral. In the hands of a skilled brewer, rice becomes both canvas and muse.
Next, the true alchemist of sake: koji, a delicate mold sprinkled with care to transform rice’s many starches into fermentable sugars.
Finally comes the yeast—tiny but mighty, it weaves aromatic wonders into the brew. Some strains are treasured family secrets of individual breweries, while others are gifts from entire prefectures, each adding its own signature flourish.
Together, these ingredients compose a symphony of flavors, making each sake a one-of-a-kind masterpiece in a bottle.
Is Sake Gluten Free?
Sake is brewed with rice, not wheat or barley, making it naturally gluten-free—a welcoming pour for many who are mindful of what’s in their glass.
Types of Sake
The thousands of varieties of sake are separated by just a few key factors: brewing style, grade of rice, and what happens to the sake before and after production.
Brewing Style: There are two main methods to brewing sake; the “pure rice“, or junmai method, and the “alcohol added” method. Junmai produces fuller, rice-dominant flavors while alcohol added emphasizes light, clean flavors.
Grades of Rice: A grain of rice has a few parts. The exterior, or the hull, is full of different proteins, starches, and fats. When fermented, it creates rich, savory, full-bodied flavors characteristic of a junmai sake. The center, or endosperm, is full of mostly starch. To get to the center of the grain, it must be polished to remove the exterior. Fermenting a polished grain into sake will yield a more purely sweet, clean, and floral flavor – this is junmai daiginjo sake. The more you polish the rice, the more premium the sake.
Other Sake Categories
Beyond style and grade, sake can also be classified using 3 main categories:
Nama
“Raw” or “fresh” in Japanese
Sake that has not been pasteurized is classified as “nama”.
Nigori
“Cloudy” or “murky” in Japanese
Sake that has been fully or partially unfiltered is classified as “nigori”.
Genshu
“Undiluted” in Japanese
Sake at it purest. no additional water is added after brewing, resulting in a stronger ABV and bolder flavor.
Whether a sake is pasteurized, filtered or diluted after the brewing process has BIG impacts on its flavor, texture, and aroma. These categories ensure that you know what you’re getting and how the sake was made.
How to Enjoy Sake
The Traditional Way:
Sake is one of the most versatile drinks in the world, offering countless ways to enjoy. It can be served chilled to enhance delicate aromas, at room temperature for balance, or warmed to bring out rich umami notes. The choice of vessel also affects the experience—whether sipped from a wine glass to highlight floral notes, a traditional ceramic ochoko for a classic feel, or even a wooden masu for a celebratory touch.
Sake Cocktails:
And it isn’t just for sipping straight—its delicate umami and subtle sweetness make it a versatile base for cocktails, too! Try mixing it with fresh citrus, herbs, or sparkling water for a refreshing, unexpected twist. While not traditional, sake cocktails open up a playful new way to enjoy Japan’s beloved brew.
Unmatched food pairing:
Food pairing plays a key role in sake appreciation, with lighter styles complementing sushi and seafood, while richer, umami-packed sakes pair beautifully with grilled dishes and hearty meals. And did we mention its gluten free? From casual gatherings to formal celebrations, sake adapts to the occasion, making it more than just a drink—it’s a cultural experience meant to be explored and enjoyed in many different ways.
You have the knowledge, now it’s time to taste!
Explore Virginia’s first line of premium, handcrafted sakes.
