Sakaya NYC Blog

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?

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

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)

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)

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

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.

With Labor Day behind us, the Fall season unofficially begins.   Our September schedule begins with two tastings this week highlighting dramatically different sake from opposite ends of Japan.  We’ll then debut a new nigorizake from Akita and last, but not least we’ll have a TBD visiting brewer (or brewers) pouring their new offerings…

Thursday, September 9, 2010, 6 to 8pm

Sake Story Imports Sake Tasting

Housui “Fragrant Water” Tokubetsu Junmai (Tokushima)

Saturday, September 11, 2010, 5 to 7pm

Shindo Brewery Sake Tasting

Ura-Gasanryu “Koka” Honjozo (Yamagata)

Saturday, September 18, 2010, 5 to 7pm

Winebow Imports  Sake Tasting

Chokaisan Junmai Ginjo Nigori (Akita)

Friday, September 24, 2010, 6 to 8pm

Mutual Trading Sake Tasting

As we enter the proverbial “dog days” of  summer, our tastings for the month have been designed to  feature sake that will transport the mind to cool, refreshing places…

Saturday, August 7, 2010, 5 to 7pm

Summer Namazake Tasting

Ohyama Tokubetsu Junmai Nama (Yamagata) & Tsukino Katsuru “Kohakuko” Junmai Ginjo Nama (Kyoto)

Saturday, August 14, 2010, 5 to 7pm

Kubota Sake Tasting

Kubota Senju Honjozo & Kubota Hekiju Junmai Daiginjo (Niigata)

Thursday, August 19, 2010, 6 to 8pm

World Sake Imports Sake Tasting

Dewazakura Dewa San San Junmai Ginjo & Dewazakura Omachi Junmai Ginjo (Yamagata)

Saturday, August 28, 2010, 5 to 7pm

Takaisami Tokubetsu Junmai (Tottori) & Kaiun Junmai Ginjo (Shizuoka)

We are delighted to have been the subject of Eric Asimov’s column, “The Pour”  in the Dining section of today’s  New York Times today (7/28/10).

To read the article which also appears on the NY Times website click here.

It’s summer in the city and the temperatures are climbing so we’re focused on bringing you tastings of sake that offer refreshing respites from the heat and humidity as well as some new seasonal unpasteurized sake (namazake) that are sure to please the palate and slake the thirst…

Thursday, July 1, 2010, 6 to 8pm

Narutotai Ginjo Nama Genshu Sake (Tokushima)

Thursday, July 8, 2010, 6 to 8pm

Joto Sake Tasting

Ban Ryu Honjozo (Yamagata)

Saturday, July 17, 2010, 5 to 7pm

Light Sake for Summer Drinking

Kudoki Jozu Junmai Ginjo (Yamagata) and Sawanoi Junmai Ginjo (Tokyo)

Saturday, July 24, 2010, 5 to 7pm

Japan Prestige Sake Tasting

Summer Namazake

Saturday, July 31, 2010, 5 to 7pm

Asahi Shuzo Brewery Tasting

Dassai Sake (Yamaguchi)