We are delighted that the August issue Gourmet Magazine features Ume no Yado Yuzu-shu as one of their “Good Living Obsessions” and notes SAKAYA exclusively as the place to buy it! We couldn’t agree with them more on this refreshing beverage as the perfect summer aperitif. Please drop by and pick up a bottle, you’ll be glad you did.
Our apologies for the late posting of the July tasting schedule. Still remaining at this point are the noteworthy U.S. debuts of the Tsuki no Katusura Junmai Ginjo summer namazake from Japan Prestige Sake, Dassai 39 Sparkling Nigori, and Kikusui Organic Junmai.
Please join us to enjoy these new arrivals and taste the latest offerings of the accompanying established favorites . We look forward to seeing you at SAKAYA!
Kanpai!
Rick & Hiroko
Saturday, July 11, 2009, 3 to 6PM
Winebow Importer Tasting
Ichishima Futsu-shu & Dewatsuru Kimoto Junmai
Thursday, July 16, 2009, 6 to 8PM
World Sake Import Tasting
Seitoku Junmai Ginjo (Gunma) & Dewazakura Dewa San San (Yamagata)
Thursday, July 23, 2009, 6 to 8PM
Japan Prestige Sake Summer Nama Tasting
Ohyama Tokubetsu Junmai Nama & Tsuki no Katsura Junmai Ginjo Nama
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 6 to 8PM
Mr. Sakurai’s Sparkling Sake Tasting
Dassai 39 Sparkling Nigori
Thursday, July 30, 2009, 6 to 8PM
Kikusui Brewer Sake Tasting
Kikusui Organic Junmai, Kikusui Junmai Ginjo, & Kikusui Funaguchi
We were thrilled to receive a phone call from Kelly Choi, the host of WNYC’s “Eat Out NYC” telling us that she wanted to come to SAKAYA to do an interview about “how to navigate a sake shop.”
As agreed, she arrived with her camera crew at 11AM on May 20 and two hours later, we had wrapped the session which was to be distilled down to a two-minute segment. It initially aired the following week (and may still be running…we’re not sure). Please click here to check it out for yourself.
Our hope is that we were able to create some new interest in premium sake and that we offered some guidance to help make it a bit easier for viewers to explore and enjoy this exquisite beverage.
Our schedule of June tastings is guaranteed to both expand your sake experience and pique your curiosity by touching on a wide range of grades, types, and styles. Please join us for any or all to sample this intriguing line-up of jizake!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009, 6 to 8PM
Fukumitsuya Sake Tasting
Kagatobi Junmai Ginjo & Kagatobi Cho Karakuchi YamahaiJunmai
Thursday, June 11, 2009, 6 to 8PM
JFC Sake Tasting
Ken Daiginjo (Fukushima) & Denshin Yuki Junmai Ginjo (Fukui)
Saturday, June 20, 2009, 3 to 6PM
Niigata Sake Tasting
Saturday, June 27, 2009, 3 to 6PM
Umenoyado Sake Tasting
Umenoyado Junmai Ginjo & Umenoyado Yuzushu
We look forward to seeing you at SAKAYA!
Kanpai!
We begin the month with two tastings of the last wave (and best in our opinion) of the special Spring release namazake. Next is the debut of the sake from the latest importer to make their brews available in NYC, Sake Story.
And finally, with brewers making their annual mid-May visits to NYC, we have a full schedule of tastings to offer visitors the opportunity to meet them and sample their sake.
Please join us!
Kanpai!
Rick & Hiroko
Friday, May 1, 6 to 8PM
Japan Prestige Sake Spring Nama Tasting
Saturday, May 9, 3 to 6PM
Japan Prestige Sake Spring Nama Tasting
Thursday, May 14, 6 to 8PM
Sake Story Selections Sake Tasting
Saturday, May 16, 3 to 6PM
Daimon Brewer Sake Tasting
Sunday, May 18, 3 to 5PM
Tentaka Brewer & Kanbara Brewer Sake Tasting
Friday, May 29, 6 to 8PM
Naruto Tai Brewer Sake Tasting
Sunday, May 31, 3 to 5PM
Onikoroshi Brewer Sake Tasting
Spring is here, and we’re waiting for the sakura (cherry blossoms) to bloom. Ohanami is the Japanese tradition of viewing and cherishing the sakura with friends and families, but without sake, an integral part of the tradition, ohanami wouldn’t be as enjoyable.
At SAKAYA, we have the perfect sake for all occasions. Pick up some nihonshu for your ohanami or for whatever your Spring celebration.
To introduce you to some options to choose from, herewith is our April in-store tastings schedule….
Friday, April 3, 2009, from 6 to 8PM
Takasago Shuzo Sake Tasting
Taisetsu Junmai Ginjo & Ginga Shizuku “Divine Droplets” Junmai Daiginjo
Saturday, April 11, 2009, from 3 to 6PM
Masumi Arabashiri Junmai Ginjo Spring Namazake Tasting
Saturday, April 18, 2009, from 3 to 6PM
Azumaichi Junmai & Junmai Ginjo Tasting
Saturday, April 25, 2009 from 3 to 6PM
Amanoto Tokubetsu Junmai Nama/non-Nama Tasting
With the official first day of Spring on the horizon, get a jump on the season with a visit to SAKAYA for one or all of our tastings this month.
Saturday, March 7, 2009, 3~6PM
Tomita Sake Tasting by Ms. Midori Nakazawa from Joto Sake Import
Shicihon Yari Shizuku Junmai Daiginjo
Shichihon Yari Junmai
Saturday, March 14, 2009, 3~6PM
Spring Namazake Tasting by Mr. Kazu Yamazaki from Japan Prestige Sake Association
Kamikokoro Toukagen Nama (Okayama)
Harushika Shiboribana Nama (Nara)
Ichinokura Nigori Nama Genshu (Miyagi)
Saturday, March 21, 2009, 3~6PM
Nanbu Bijin Nama/non-Nama Tasting
We look forward to seeing you at SAKAYA!
Kanpai!
Rick & Hiroko
From late January to early February, we offer the Hatsushibori or early spring namazake at SAKAYA. What exactly is namazake? Namazake is unpasteurized sake, which means that the sake has been bottled without receiving the heat treatment of pasteurization. Most sake is pasteurized twice during its production process; first after pressing the fermented mash to extract the liquid sake, and then again after a period of maturation before bottling. Why is it pasteurized? For a couple of reasons. Pasteurization deactivates the enzymes still left frolicking about in the sake after fermentation and also kills off “riff raff” bacteria, thus stabilizing the brew for longer shelf life. Unpasteurized sake therefore must be kept refrigerated or it will become cloudy, yeasty, and cloying.
Kept under the proper conditions and consumed within a brief time after opening, namazake’s characteristically bold, fresh, and lively flavors are quite enjoyable. Think of it as freshly squeezed grapefruit juice instead of the made-from-concentrate version or draft versus bottled beer.
At SAKAYA we have several styles for you to try and compare (including one made with peach yeast) so please visit us by and give them a try to find your own favorite(s)!
Kanpai!
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, for many the search for amorous expression intensifies. For those who are seeking to go beyond cards, candy, and flowers, might we suggest something sake as a means to express your love?
Our picks (shown above from left to right) to make this a Valentine’s Day to remember are:
Tedorigawa Ikina Onna "Lucky Lady" Junmai Daiginjo (Ishikawa) - When told that it reminded you of her, what fortunate woman wouldn’t be flattered to be presented with this beautifully elegant, silky brew!
Kamikokoro "Tokagen" Tokubetsu Junmai Nama Genshu (Okayama) - Uniquely brewed with white peach yeast, this early spring release namazake is delicately sweet like your first love.
Denshin "Yuki" Junmai Ginjo (Fukui) – Pure and clean with a gentle fragrance, the bottle design characters translate to "express what is in your heart." Need we say more?
Juyon Dai Junmai Ginjo (Yamagata) - Very difficult to find, this sake has achieved cult status for its delicately aromatic, smooth elegance with nuanced layers of apricot and melon flavors. Its Valentine’s connection? Ju yon is Japanese for the number 14.
Tsukasabotan "Fu-in (Seal) " Junmai Ginjo (Kochi) - Seal your Valentine’s affection with the kiss of this clean, grapefruit and banana-scented brew.
Ban Ryu "Thousand Ways" Honjozo (Yamagata) – Give this cherry and berry noted sake and you won’t have to come up with the other 999 ways to say "I love you."
Finding a unique gift or preparing a special Valentine’s dinner is always a challenge. Try introducing sake as the twist for this year. You never know, it might become a tradition.
Kanpai!
Rick & Hiroko
If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit SAKAYA to add your name to our Tasting Reminder Email List, here’s the upcoming schedule of our in-store tastings for the coming month.
You can also find the updated schedule on our website via the "Events" button.
Thursday, February 5, 6 to 8PM
Tasting of newly released Early Spring Season Namazake from importer JotoSake
Thursday, February 12, 6 to 8PM
SAKAYA’s Valentine’s Day Selections
Saturday, February 21, 3 to 6PM
Vine Connection Imports Sake Tasting
Saturday, February 28, 3 to 6PM
Hakkaisan Brewer Sake Tasting
Please join us to enjoy this month’s series of great sake selections.
We look forward to welcoming you at SAKAYA!
Kanpai!
Rick & Hiroko
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