Calling all Sake drinkers!

[pkpope]

I am eating at Morimoto Asia for dinner tonight as a celebration dinner because I took the LSAT on Monday (woo)! I am considering trying some sake, and was wondering how I should go about evaluating my options / picking one to try. I really dont know much about it, so any help from sake drinkers out there would be greatly appreciated! What are some good brands or kinds? What kind would you select?

 

[SteveH]

When I was in Japan I didn't know much about Saka, about as much as I knew about Soju while in Korea. But that's when a bartender or a seasoned waiter can help you decide. If you know what other types of drinks you like, or don't like. If you know your wines like/dislike that is a good place to start the conversation. If they have a sampler or "flight" that's the way I'd go.

Personally Sake isn't my thing but glad I tried it multiple times while living in Japan.

 

[PK Disney Dork]

Well the first thing to consider is whether you want to try a hot or cold sake. It really makes a difference in what your choices are and how to couple it with the right foods.

 

[disneyvoice]

Ask the waiter or bartender for recommendations. We thought Sake was much more complicated than it actually is the first time we tried it. It helps to have someone explain the basics to guide you into what you might like.

 

[Beer Me]

Slightly related anecdote- Last time I went to a hibachi place the guy asked who wanted sake I said "sure". He said "open your mouth" and squirted sake from a squirt bottle into my mouth and he just kept squirting and squirting in a steady stream so that I never had a chance to swallow. It ended up spilling all over me cracking everyone up. Good times.

Anyway it tasted ok but probably not the highest quality coming out of a squirt bottle.

 

[steg]

There were two sake flights when I ate there in May. I got both of them to have with my Omakase menu. They had quite a bit of range, filtered, unfiltered, and ages up to 30 years old, 6-7 total samplings across the two flights.

The unfiltered one on the cheaper flight was the only one that really stuck with me and the only one I would get again.

 

[Spencer Wright]

I don't know brands but any kind of sakitini or sake with cucumber is always delicious.

Sweet sakes (i.e. peach), are too sweet and sort of syrupy in my opinion.

 

[jacknsally19]

Definitely get cold sake it’s better quality than hot.

I typically get sake labeled junmai. It’s pure rice sake.... it’s typically mild and quite refreshing. Pairs great with sushi. The highest quality is junmai daigingo.... but junmai is more reasonably priced but still delicious.

 

[SherylLC]

We just returned from our first trip to Japan and tried a cold sake from Yamaguchi Prefecture. COMPLETELY delicious and unlike the horrible warm sake my dad occasionally served on New Years Day. https://www.nippon.com/en/features/c00618/

 

[kiford]

There's just so much to choose from. We are particularly fond of cloudy sake (Nigori sake) which is more of a sweet dessert wine. It's so hard for us to find at home but available at Teppan Edo and probably available at Morimoto's (note to self for our December trip!!!). If you're in the least bit unsure, ask your server. They're usually very happy to suggest something and if you don't have a personal preference, it's always fun to see what someone else likes and try something different.