Sake Etiquette

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Need a quick primer on the do’s and don’ts of drinking sake? There’s no better source than the Japan Society, which held its annual sake tasting on Zoom with Timothy Sullivan of UrbanSake.com at the helm. 

Sullivan presented 31 sakes, together with a helpful list of New York wine shops with good sake selections.

 Now, the key takeaways:

Yuki Otoko Junmai sake is named after the Bigfoot of Japan, who helped travelers carry their loads and guided them through mountain trails. The producer, Aoki Shuzo, donates part of their proceeds to support local rescue activities in Niigata prefec…

Yuki Otoko Junmai sake is named after the Bigfoot of Japan, who helped travelers carry their loads and guided them through mountain trails. The producer, Aoki Shuzo, donates part of their proceeds to support local rescue activities in Niigata prefecture.

POURING SAKE

  • The number one rule: Never pour your own sake.

  • If you’re the person pouring, hold the bottle with two hands, much like the Japanese do when presenting a business card.

  • Don’t clink the carafe on the cup.

  • Fill the cup to 80% full. It’s impolite to fill it all the way, since that makes it awkward to drink.

RECEIVING SAKE

  • When you’re on the receiving side, don’t leave your sake cup on the table. Pick it up and hold it with two hands: one cupping it and the other supporting it.

  • Immediately take a small sip before setting the cup down. It’s a form of polite acknowledgement.

DRINKING SAKE 

  • Kanpai, the equivalent to cheers, actually means “dry cup.” It’s the starting gun for any sake party.

  • Never drink your glass in one gulp. It’s not a shot. Sake should be sipped and savored.

  • Don’t shake or peer into the carafe to see if it’s empty. Judge by its weight.

 MOKKIRI, THE OVERFLOW STYLE

MOKKIRI.jpg

  • Mokkiri, or the overflow serving style, is a demonstration of hospitality: It’s more bang for your buck!

  • Don’t pick up the whole apparatus. Take the glass out of the square box, let it drip, then drink from the glass. Pour the remaining drips into the glass.

In less formal settings, the rules are more lax, especially as the evening progresses!

 HOT VS COLD

  • In Japan, it’s equally acceptable to drink sake hot or cold.

  • The choice is largely driven by the seasons. Second most important factor: personal preference. Third: food pairings. 

Tim Sullivan is hosting additional virtual events in throughout the summer. Check them out here.