Sakaya NYC Blog

 The sake sampling season of September is in full swing!  With brewers descending on New York for their importer and distributor events, we’re excited about welcoming a full complement of them to SAKAYA for a line up of terrific tastings.  Please join us for as many as you’re able to fit into your schedule.

And don’t forget about Joy of Sake on September 24 where there will be over 270 sake to taste! Tickets may be purchased at SAKAYA for $80.

Friday, September 4, 2009, from 6 to 8PM

Daishichi Brewer Sake Tasting (Fukushima)

Daishichi Kimoto Classic Junmai, Minowamon Kimoto Junmai Daiginjo, & Daishichi Kimoto Umeshu

Saturday, September 12, 2009 from 3 to 6PM

Niigata Sake SENA Tasting

Kirinzan Junmai & Manotsuru Junmai Ginjo Genshu

Friday, September 18, 2009, from 6 to 8PM

Joto Sake Tasting

Yuho Junmai (Ishikawa) & Taiheikai Tokubetsu Junmai (Ibaraki)

Wednesday, September 23, 2009, from 6 to 8PM

Shochu Tasting by Satsuma Distiller (Kagoshima)

Satsuma Shiranami Imo (Sweet Potato) Shochu & Kuro Shiranami Imo Shocchu

Saturday, September 26, 2009 from 5 to 7PM

Nanbu Bijin Brewer Tasting (Iwate)

Nanbu Bijin Tokubetsu Junmai

With hot weather finally upon us we’ve scheduled a slate of tastings featuring sake that offer refreshing flavors to slake the summer thirst.

Saturday, August 8, 2009 from 4PM~6PM

Japan Prestige Sake Association Summer Namazake

Ohyama Summer Nama Tokubetsu Junmai (Yamagata)

Thursday, August 13, 2009 from 6PM ~8PM

Dassai 39 Sparkling Sake (Yamaguchi)

Thursday, August 20, 2009 from 6PM ~8PM

Kaiun Junmai Ginjo (Shizuoka) & Biwa no Choju Junmai Ginjo (Shiga)

Wednesday, August 26, 2009 from 6PM ~ 8PM

Nishimoto Trading Sake Tasting

Kamoshibito Kuheiji Junmai Ginjo & Muroka Junmai Daiginjo (Aichi)

We look forward to seeing you at one or more of these events at SAKAYA this month.

Kanpai!

Rick & Hiroko

We are delighted that SAKAYA was included in Time Out New York’s cover story on the East Village.  Rick is featured in “Why the East Village?” by Pervaiz Shallwani.

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.

SAKAYA on Eat Out New York

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