Archive for the ‘Store’ Category

June 2011 Sake Tastings

Friday, June 3rd, 2011

As summer both unofficially (post Memorial Day) and officially (with the Summer Solstice) kicks off in June, we’ve focused our tastings on sake that are perfect for seasonal  sipping separately,  or with grilling favorites.  Clean, light, and dry for the former and bold and fruity for the latter, this month’s selections will ensure that you’ll have a great sake for all of your summer celebrations. 

Saturday, June 4, 2011, 5-7pm

Toyo Bijin Junmai Ginjo Tasting (Yamaguchi)


Saturday, June 11, 2011, 5-7pm

Taisetsu Junmai Ginjo Tasting (Hokkaid0)


Saturday, June 18, 2011, 5-7pm

Kamoshibito Kuheiji Junmai Ginjo Tasting (Aichi)


Saturday, June 25, 2011, 5-7pm

JFC Sake Tasting

Mizubasho Ginjo (Gunma)

May 2011 Tastings

Saturday, May 7th, 2011

Our exciting lineup of  tastings in May includes visits from Miho Imada, the toji (master brewer) from Imada Brewing Company, producer of Fukucho sake and Nobuo Shoji, President of Yumekokoro Brewery which makes Naraman Muroka Junmai.

We also continue our “Drink Sake to Help Japan” series with more super sake from the Tohoku breweries in the earthquake and tsunami zone.  Please join us in showing your support for these brewers and their local economies by spreading the good word about their sake.


Saturday, May 7, 2011, 5-7pm

Fukucho Tasting

Fukucho Moon on the Water Junmai Ginjo & Biho Junmai Ginjo (Hiroshima)


Saturday, May 14, 2011, 5-7pm

Drink Sake to Help Japan

Okunomatsu Tokubetsu Junmai (Fukushima) & Hoyo Genji Tokubetsu Junmai (Miyagi)


Thursday, May 19, 2011, 6-8pm

Yumegokoro Brewery Tasting (Fukushima)

Naraman Muroka Junmai


Saturday, May 21, 2011, 5-7pm

Drink Sake to Help Japan

Urakasumi Junmai (Miyagi) & Ichinokura Himezen Junmai (Miyagi)

April 2011 Sake Tastings

Tuesday, April 5th, 2011

After launching this year’s Masumi Arabashiri and  Chokaisan Junmai Ginjo Nigori Namazake in NYC, the focus of  our April tastings shifts to showing our support for the brewers in the area of Japan affected by the earthquake and tsunami disaster.   For the balance of this month and into May,  we will feature sake from Miyagi, Iwate, and Fukushima prefectures as one small means of contributing to aiding the recovery.   Please join us to show your support through sake!

Saturday, April 2, 2011, 5-7pm

Miyasaka Brewery Namazake Tasting (Nagano)

Masumi Arabashiri Junmai Ginjo


Saturday, April 9, 2011, 5-7pm

Winebow Sake Tasting

Chokaisan Junmai Ginjo Nama Nigori (Akita)


Saturday, April 16, 2011, 5-7pm

Drink Sake to Support Japan

Daishichi Minowamon Junmai Daiginjo (Fukushima) & Ken Daiginjo (Fukushima)


Saturday, April 23, 2011, 5-7pm

Drink Sake to Support Japan

Urakasumi Zen Junmai Ginjo (Miyagi) & Nanbu Bijin Daiginjo (Iwate)


Saturday, April 30, 2011, 5-7pm

Drink Sake to Support Japan

Naraman Junmai (Fukushima) & Hakurakusei Tokubetsu Junmai (Miyagi)

March 2011 Sake Tastings

Saturday, March 5th, 2011

We know that Spring is just around the corner because the hatsushibori (early Spring release namazake) has arrived!   In fact the theme of our March tastings could be new arrivals since both  Yuki no Bosha Junmai Yamahai and Kozaemon Tokubetsu Junmai are two of the most recent additions to our selection of premium artisanal nihonshu.

Saturday, March 5, 2011, 5-7pm

Joto Sake Import Sake Tasting

Yuki no Bosha Junmai Yamahai (Akita)


Friday, March 11, 2011, 6-8pm

Spring Namazake Tasting

Tokagen Tokubetsu Junmai Nama (Okayama) & Harushika Shiboribana Junmai Ginjo Nama (Nara)


Saturday, March 19, 2011, 5-7pm

Japan Prestige Sake Association Sake Tasting

Tokagen Tokubetsu Junmai Nama (Okayama) & Harushika Shiboribana Junmai Ginjo Nama (Nara)]


Saturday, March 26, 2011, 5-7pm

JFC Sake Tasting

Kozaemon Tokubetsu Junmai (Gifu)

SAKAYA’s Best Selling Sake for 2010

Tuesday, January 4th, 2011

As we begin 2011 it’s time to take what has become our annual last look back to share the list of our customers’ favorite sake from the just completed year.  This year we’ve added a new wrinkle to our reporting by separating what has previously been one list into two;  the first for Seishu (refined sake) and the second for Specialty Sake (e.g. Nigori, Sparkling, and flavored).   Each list is posted separately.

So, without further adieu we give you the countdown of our top 10 selling seishu

10.  Otokoyama Tokubetsu Junmai (Hokkaid0)

Dry and easy to drink, the best example of dry Junmai sake

9.  Masumi Okuden Kantsukuri Junmai (Nagano)

Medium to light body, it is smooth and goes down easy.

8.  Masumi Arabashiri Junmai Ginjo (Nagano)

The best spring namazake of 2010!  Fresh and lively, it makes people smile.

7.  Kokuryu Gohyaku Mangoku Junmai Ginjo (Fukui)

Who can say “no” to Kokuryu Junmai Ginjo?  With its silky smoothness  and great body it is a great accompaniment for any food.

6.  Jokigen Junmai Ginjo (Yamagata)

Cool label with smooth rice flavor, it goes down easy and quick.

5.  Denemon Junmai Ginjo (Niigata)

Hint of peach and honeydew on the note, it is great to drink by itself or with food.

4.  Narutotai Ginjo Nama Genshu (Tokushima)

Bold and distinctive!  Its body and smoothness will match with beef and hardy food.

3.  Suigei Tokubetsu Junmai (Kochi)

The basic table sake of  choice, it is dry with good body.

2.  Dassai 50 Junmai Daiginjo (Yamaguchi)

If you have never had sake before, start with Dassai 50.  It is an elegant and beautiful sake.

1.  Kikusui Funaguchi Nama Genshu (Niigata)

Who can resist this bright, bold sake in a pocket-sized can?

January 2011 Sake Tastings

Monday, January 3rd, 2011

Happy New Year!   Our somewhat abbreviated  tasting lineup this month features two sake that we believe are deserving of greater attention than they generally receive.   We hope that you’ll visit us to sample them and discover their unique charms.

Saturday, January 8, 2011, 5-7pm

Nagaragawa “Tenkawa” Junmai Ginjo (Gifu)


Saturday, January 15, 2011, 5-7pm

Sake Hitosuji Junmai Ginjo (Okayama)


We also wanted to note that SAKAYA will be closed from January 25 to February 4 while we take our first vacation since we opened in December 2007.    We hope that you’ll plan to visit us before (or after) at your convenience.

Kanpai!

Rick & Hiroko

December 2010 Sake Tastings

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010

With the Holiday Season kicking into gear and our 3rd Anniversary coming up, we’ve tastings aplenty this month to help inspire you with holiday gift ideas.

Friday, December 3, 2010, from 6 to 8pm

Joto Sake Import Tasting

Seikyo Omachi Junmai Ginjo & Seikyo Junmai (Hiroshima)


Saturday, December 4, 2010, from 5 to 7pm

Sake and Chocolate Tasting

Kagatobi Junmai Ginjo (Ishikawa) & Ume no Yado Umeshu (Nara)

Dark Chocolate and Sake Chocolate Truffle by Xocolatti


Friday, December 10, 2010, 6 to 8pm

SAKAYA 3rd Year Anniversary Party


Saturday, December 11, 2010, 5 to 7pm

SAKAYA 3rd Year Anniversary Party


Friday, December 17, 2010, 6 to 8pm

World Sake Import Sake Tasting

Tedorigawa “Kinka” Daiginjo Namazake (Ishikawa)


Saturday, December 18, 2010, 5 to 7pm

Vine Connection Sake Tasting

Sato no Homare “Pride of the Village” Junmai Ginjo (Ibaraki)

November 2010 Sake Tastings

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010

Although  Fall officially started in late September, for us  it is the arrival of  Hiyaoroshi, the autumn seasonal namazake that truly ushers in the season.  In the next month we’ll be offering the full complement of  available Hiyaoroshi at two of  our tastings as well as a visit from our friend Mr. Yageta from the Fukumitsuya Brewery in Ishikawa and a first-time tasting of a delicious sake made from the usually-reserved-for-shochu black koji .

Saturday, November 6, 2010, 5-7pm

Hiyaoroshi Sake Tastings

Kikusui Junmai Ginjo Hiyaoroshi & Urakasumi Tokubetsu Junmai Hiyaoroshi


Friday, November 12, 2010, 6-8pm

Fukumitsuya Brewery Sake Tasting (Ishikawa)

Kagatobi Junmai Ginjo & Kuroobi Do Do Junmai Yamahai


Saturday, November 20, 2010, 5-7 pm

Japan Prestige Sake Association Sake Tasting

Sawanoi Junmai Hiyaoroshi & Wakatake Onikoroshi Tokubetsu Junmai Hiyaoroshi


Saturday, November 27, 2010, 5-7pm

Black Koji Sake Tasting

Kurokabuto Junmai Daiginjo (Fukuoka)

October 2010 Sake Tastings

Thursday, September 30th, 2010

After we kick off the month with our third annual Sake Day celebration, October becomes “Akita Sake Month” at SAKAYA.  We want our sake enthusiast friends to learn more this region where so much great sake is produced so we’ve partnered with the Akita Prefecture Tourism Office to dedicate this month’s tastings to familiarizing you with a few of these delicious brews.

Once you’ve tasted their sake, you’ll most likely want to visit the source!


Friday, October 1, 2010, 6-8pm

Sake Day Celebration


Saturday, October 2, 2010, 5-7pm

Saiya Brewery Tasting

Yuki no Bosha Junmai Ginjo & Yuri Masamune


Saturday, October 9, 2010, 5-7pm

Kodama Brewery Tasting

Tenko Junmai Daiginjo


Saturday, October 16, 2010, 5-7pm

Akita Seishu Brewery Tasting

Dewatsuru Junmai Kimoto


Saturday, October 23, 2010, 5-7pm

Asamai Brewery Sake Tasting

Ama no To Tokubetsu Junmai


Saturday, October 30, 2010, 5-7pm

Hinomaru Brewery & Tenju Brewery Sake Tastings

Manabito Junmai Daiginjo & Chokaisan Junmai Daiginjo

Sake Day (Nihonshu no Hi) 2010

Thursday, September 30th, 2010

October 1st is Sake Day (Nihonshu no Hi) in Japan and we’ll be celebrating with our third annual party at SAKAYA on Friday evening, October 1 from 6-8pm.  The festivities will feature “ample samples” of a selection of six of our favorite sake from World Sake Imports, embodying a set of distinctly different styles from across Japan.

Masumi Nanago “Seventh Heaven” Junmai Daiginjo (Nagano)
Tedorigawa Ikina Onna “Lucky Lady” Daiginjo (Ishikawa)
Kokuryu Tokusen “Crystal Dragon” Ginjo (Fukui)
Dewazakura Dewasansan “Green Ridge” Junmai Ginjo (Yamagata)
Seitoku “Trapeza” Junmai Ginjo (Gunma)
Hoyo Genji “Shining Prince” Tokubetsu Junmai (Miyagi)
Please join us for the festivities and an evening of kanpai’s!