10 Best Sake Brands for Beginners: Japanese Rice Wine Guide
Last Updated on November 26, 2023 by Lydia Martin
Sake, or Rice Wine, is initially brewed like a beer using rice to release starches. However, the rice polishing ratio creates different types of sake, like Ginjo, Daiginjo, and Junmai.
With thousands of sake brands and varieties available, beginners will find it overwhelming to choose the best sake for themselves.
So, drawing from years of exploring the world of sakes, I have listed the best sake for beginners that you can start with today.
Top 10 Sake Bottles For Beginners
1. Asahi Shuzo, Dassai 23 Junmai Daiginjo
Average Price: around $90-95
Alcohol Content: 16% ABV
Nose: Citrus fruit aroma and delicate fragrance
Palate: Full-bodied texture and smooth sweet flavors
Star Rating: ★★★★★
Why We Like It: As a Junmai Daiginjo, Dassai 23 has a 23% rice polished rate, with no distilled alcohol added.
Like most sake, Dassai 23 has a clean, crisp, and smooth taste. However, for a better drinking experience, I recommend using a wine glass and savoring the supple and sweet smell of the sake before taking a sip.
2. Kinoshita Shuzo, Tamagawa Kinsho ‘Heart of Gold’ Daiginjo
Average Price: around $55-60
Alcohol Content: 16.5% ABV
Nose: Strawberry, peach, melon, and sweet rice powder
Palate: Round and soft, with lively fruity notes and grassy hints
Star Rating: ★★★★★
Why We Like It: The Tamagawa Kinsho ‘Heart of Gold’ Daiginjo is my favorite sake when I want something bright and lively.
Its crispness and fruity notes make it suitable for people who love wine, and you can pair it with dishes like chicken and sushi.
3. Shichiken, Kinunoaji Junmai Daiginjo Sake
Average Price: around $40-45
Alcohol Content: 16% ABV
Nose: Cucumber, strawberry, and faint banana aroma
Palate: Creamy texture with mellow and floral flavors
Star Rating: ★★★★★
Why We Like It: This Shichiken offering is one of the first products that come to my mind when introducing someone to sake.
“Some sake is best served warm/hot, others are best served chilled, and many can be enjoyed at different temperatures.” – Cho Shintaro, Manager at Sake Bar Decibel
The smooth, well-balanced flavors and creamy palate will impress and provide a delightful experience for newcomers.
Read: Soju vs Sake
4. Four Fox Sake, Junmai Daiginjo
Average Price: around $50-60
Alcohol Content: 16% ABV
Nose: Slightly intense fruity aroma with a hint of fresh rice sweetness
Palate: Melon and pear, with a slightly bitter aftertaste
Star Rating: ★★★★★
Why We Like It: Four Fox Sake can be a little too harsh for some beginners, but the unique and attractive bottle design makes it an excellent gift choice.
Four Fox Sake has a gentle taste, making it a versatile sake for cocktails, and it tastes delightful whenever I mix it with lemon soda and muskmelon juice.
5. Otokoyama “Tokubetsu Junmai”
Average Price: around $35-40
Alcohol Content: 15.5% ABV
Nose: Aroma of grain with floral and fruity notes
Palate: Light and full-bodied taste, with vivid acidity and ripe fruit flavors
Star Rating: ★★★★
Why We Like It: Otokoyama “Tokubetsu Junmai” is an excellent choice for a dry yet fuller-bodied alcoholic drink. There are notes of black cherry, dark plum, and a slight vanilla aftertaste.
It was better served cold than warm to savor its sharp taste and rich flavors. It is best paired with sushi and sashimi.
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6. Sakura Muromachi “Bizen Maboroshi” Junmai Ginjo
Average Price: around $35-40
Alcohol Content: 15.5% ABV
Nose: Light and sweet with fruity and floral scents
Palate: Crisp, fruity and flavorful body
Star Rating: ★★★★
Why We Like It: One thing that makes Sakura Muromachi’s “Bizen Maboroshi” one of the best sake for beginners is the use of Bizen Omachi rice.
Using this exceptional rice with a 60% rice polishing ratio led to this Junmai Ginjo sake developing a flavorful and food-friendly profile.
I find it enjoyable to pair with roasted chicken or any Japanese food. It also must be served cold instead of at room temperature.
7. Nanbu Bijin “Plum Sake”
Average Price: around $40-45
Alcohol Content: 9% ABV
Nose: Plum, chestnuts, cherry and a kick of bitterness
Palate: Light, peach, and a natural sweetness
Star Rating: ★★★★
Why We Like It: Nanbu Bijin is one of the best sake for beginners that I usually recommend to my friends during the cold months.
The plum-infused sweetness of this sake makes it suitable to add to various cocktails or pair with numerous foods.
8. Hakkaisan “Yukimuro” 3 years Snow Aged
Average Price: around $75-80
Alcohol Content: 17% ABV
Nose: Intense aroma with notes of sweet white fruit
Palate: Clean, creamy, medium-bodied with floral flavors
Star Rating: ★★★★
Why We Like It: This sake is made and brewed in a cold, snow-covered storage facility. Its sweet, clean, and smooth flavor makes it perfect for those who don’t usually drink sake.
“Sake appreciation is about exploration, so don’t hesitate to explore different styles and brands and share the delightful experience with your friends and colleagues.” – Liquor Laboratory
However, it has enough complex taste to appeal to people who already love drinking sake.
9. Hatsumago, Densho Kimoto Honjozo Sake
Average Price: around $25-30
Alcohol Content: 15% ABV
Nose: Lightly-spiced aroma, with apple and miso paste hints
Palate: Melon, almond, and sweet flavors
Star Rating: ★★★★
Why We Like It: Regarding food pairing, I enjoy this sake most with grilled salmon and barbeque ribs. It’s also a good choice for marinades, along with garlic and soy sauce.
As Honjozo, this one has incorporated a very small amount of added alcohol during the fermentation process [1]. The added brewer’s alcohol lends depth to this sake, making it suitable for anyone looking for more complexity as their introductory sake.
This sake is ideally served warm.
10. Akashi-Tai, Junmai Sparkling Sake
Average Price: around $20-30
Alcohol Content: 7% ABV
Nose: Floral hints and citrusy smell
Palate: Light-bodied and refreshing with a touch of sweetness
Star Rating: ★★★★
Why We Like It: This sparkling sake undergoes a second fermentation process, giving it a lighter and sweeter flavor than other products.
It combines a champagne-making style and a traditional sake-brewing process, leaving us with complex and delicate subtle flavors.
*Note: The star rating is based on a combination of popularity among beginners, overall accessibility, and a balance of flavor profiles likely to appeal to those new to sake. Individual preferences may vary, and exploration of different styles is encouraged to find a personal favorite
FAQs
How do you drink sake for beginners?
For beginners, you can drink sake chilled, cold, or at room temperature. However, different types of sake have different serving temperatures.
For instance, Junmai Daiginjo and Junmai Ginjo are premium sake varieties best served chilled [2].
How do you pick good sake?
One of the ways to pick a good bottle of sake is to explore reputable brands on your own and then check the rice type or polishing ratio. Sakes have a minimum polishing ratio in Japan, depending on their grade.
The cheap stuff or “table sake” category varies in quality, so ensure you listen to advice for the best sakes to try on your first time.
Do you sip or take shots of sake?
You should sip sake instead of taking shots. Unlike beer and vodka, you will enjoy it more while sipping in a wine glass instead of taking shots. Besides, sake is also called rice wine, despite its process being more similar to beer.
Sake is usually served with a special ceremony, and it is best to drink it less than a year after bottling [3].
Key Takeaways
Sake is made of fermented rice, and Japan considers it its national drink, covering nearly three-quarters of its total rice cropping area. According to Monica Samuels, a Sake Samurai at Vine Connections, buying canned sake on the way to train platforms in Japan has become a part of their culture.
This Japanese alcohol is said to have some health benefits, like improving your skin and sleep quality, although further studies are still needed to prove these claims [4].
Despite being called rice wine, the process of making sake is more similar to that of beer. You can explore among its varieties, like Honjozo, Daiginjo, and Ginjo, which suits your preference more.
References:
- https://www.seriouseats.com/sake-what-is-honjozo-difference-between-honjozo-and-junmai
- https://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/packages/food-network-essentials/what-is-sake
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/sake
- https://www.webmd.com/diet/sake-health-benefits
