Sakaya NYC Blog

March is the crazy month that can’t make up its mind. It’s an unpredictable mixed bag with frigid, blustery winter weather one day and a gentle, mild glimpse of Spring the next. The March tastings line-up at SAKAYA follows this theme of unpredictability with its own mixed bag of sake topics: regionality, special early Spring namazake releases, collections of two experts’ favorites, and some well-chosen selections from an importer’s impressive portfolio…

Saturday, March 1, 2 to 4PM – Mr. Ataru Kobayashi of Niigata nihonshu importer Niigata Sake Selections will offer visitors an exceptional opportunity to taste several of their small production brews including Kakurei Daiginjo, Midorikawa Honjozo, Yukikage Tokubetsu Junmai and one more…

Tuesday, March 4, 6 to 8PM – Mr. Kohiyama from Hokkaido brewer, Takasago will visit us to introduce Taisetsu Junmai Ginjo, and Ginga Shizuku Junmai Daiginjo, the “ice dome” sake that epitomize this sakagura on the northernmost island of Japan.

Saturday, March 8, 2 to 4PM – Our good friend Mr. Sake Samurai, aka the well-known UrbanSake blogger, and sake authority Timothy Sullivan shares his insightful commentary while pouring several of his favorite sake.

Thursday, March 13, 6 to 8PM and Saturday, March 15, 2 to 4PM – JotoSake Founder and CEO Henry Sidel and his NY Sales Director, Midori Nakazawa debut a selection of their artisanal breweries’ early spring namazake (unpasteurized sake).

Thursday, March 20, 6 to 8PM – World Sake Imports’ sake expert Andrew Richardson will share several selections from their exemplary portfolio of premium nihonshu.

Saturday, March 29, 2 to 4PM – Sakagura sake sommelier par excellence Chizuko Niikawa returns to SAKAYA to share her picks for sake to celebrate Spring!

Please join us to experience and explore the pleasures of these outstanding sake. We look forward to welcoming you at SAKAYA!

Kanpai!

Rick & Hiroko

SAKAYA

324 E. 9th Street

NYC 10003

212.505.7253

We are delighted to have Ms. Sachiko Toshioka from the Fukumitsuya Sake Brewery in Ishikawa prefecture visit SAKAYA on Friday, February 22 from 6 to 8PM to offer guests a sampling of Kagatobi sake. Long before opening our store, we fell in love with the Kagatobi brews and therefore are particularly excited to have Toshioka-san here to share them with you!

Please join us for this special event to kick off your Friday evening.

Looking forward to seeing you at SAKAYA…

Kanpai!

SAKAYA

324 E. 9th Street (between 1st & 2nd Avenue)

NYC 10003

212.505.7253

Our schedule of weekly tastings for February will engage your senses with a spectrum of sake ranging from those that induce romantic notions to sake lovers’ perennial harbingers of Spring, the Hatsushibori Namazake (Spring-released unpasteurized or “draft” sake).

Friday, February 8, 6 to 8PM

Let the romance begin with the first of our pre-Valentine’s Day weekend samplings of suggested sake to sate your significant other’s thirst for an exquisitely crafted love potion. Onodera-san, of importer Wine of Japan, will offer the delicately floral Ume no Yado from Nara and the soft, smooth, Beni Mansaku (“in full bloom”) from Hiroshima to put your palate “in the mood.”

Saturday, February 9, 2 to 4PM

Sake Sommelier Chizuko Niiwaka of Sakagura, which serves NYC’s largest selection of sake, and also most recently, of New York Magazine fame will be on hand to offer her expertise as she pours her Valentine’s Day sake recommendations including Yuki no Bosha Junmai Ginjo from her native Akita prefecture, Hanatomoe “Flower Petals” Junmai Ginjo from Nara, and the pink-labeled Dassai “Otter Fest” Nigori from Yamaguchi.

Friday, February 15, 6 to 8PM & Saturday, February 16, 4 to 6PM

They’re here! Come sample the fresh, lively taste of the Spring namazake (unpasteurized sake) releases from Japan Prestige Sake; the light, smooth Koshi no Homare “Shiboritate” Junmai Nama Genshu from Niigata, Okayama’s unique Kamikokoro “Tokagen” Tokubetsu Junmai Nama Genshu made with white peach yeast, and rich, flavorful Shutendouji “Oh-Oni” Junmai Ginjo Nama Genshu from Kyoto. Learn how they come by their unique flavor profiles from importer and Sake Master, Kazu Yamazaki and JPS Executive Director, Mariko Yamazaki.

Thursday, February 21, 6 to 8PM

It’s the day before Washington’s Birthday and by George, we’ve got it when it comes to some fascinating sake for you to try from importer, The Jizake. If you haven’t tasted a Kimoto sake, this is a prime opportunity to experience Daishichi Junmai Kimoto “Classic” from Fukushima prefecture, one of the premier examples of a type of sake made “the old fashioned way!” Sake Sommelier Yoshihiko Takao of The Jizake will be on hand to discuss what makes Kimoto so special and to pour another of their tasty brews that we’ve just begun to carry, Chiyomusubi Tokubetsu Junmai from Tottori.

Please join us for any or all of these sake explorations. We look forward to welcoming you to SAKAYA and hope to see you soon!

Kanpai!

Rick & Hiroko

SAKAYA

324 E. 9th Street (between 1st and 2nd Avenue, closer to 2nd)

NYC 10003

212.505.7253 (SAKE)

www.sakayanyc. com