
12 Must-Have Japanese Sake Brands
It's been a slow year for the growth of many alcoholic categories, however, sake's popularity continues to surge throughout the globe.
In 2024, sake — the alcoholic beverage brewed from fermented rice — experienced steady growth around the globe with exports extending to a record high of 80 countries, according to OhBEV marketing agency.
North America comprised 29 percent of sake's total export value, which proved a dominant drive of the category's global expansion. And as of this year, the British supermarket chain, Waitrose, reported a 241 percent surge in searches for sake as the drink is predicted to become the next big trend in the UK.
With the category experiencing momentous growth, we asked a number of beverage experts to share the must-have Japanese sake brands from classics to rare pours that would impress any connoisseur.
Kubota
Brewed by Asahi Shuzo Sake Brewing Company, Kenta Katagai, the executive chef at Sushi @ Temple Records in Boston, Mass. describes Kubota as 'the king of sake.' The Nagoya, Japan native specifically points to the Manju style as 'the most elegant and refined sake of the Kubota series.'
Hakurakusei
In the Miyagi prefecture, a young woman toji (master brewer) is reinventing the historic, family-run brewery, Niizawa Shuzo, to create the ultimate food sake, according to Courtney Kaplan, co-owner and beverage director of OTOTO, Camélia and Tsubaki in Los Angeles. 'Their Hakurakusei Tokubetsu Junmai is a real utility player, perfect with almost all types of food and impeccably balanced with every element perfectly in place.'
Kozaemon
If you're looking for a starting point for a 'classical and traditional sake,' Kodai and Yudai Uno, owners of Shirube in Santa Monica, suggest Kozaemon Junmai, produced by Nakajima Brewing Company. 'You get the bold flavor of rice [with] lots of umami and nice acidity to balance it out.'
Dassai
Dassai is one of Japan's leading breweries, according to Vicky Vecchione, sake sommelier and head of bars at Sticks'n'Sushi, the Danish-Japanese restaurant group. Vecchione points to their 45 Nigori as it is 'smooth, milky, and gently sweet with a fruity undertone.' She adds: 'Its versatility shines across a wide range of dishes — from creamy puddings and spicy laksa noodles to fruit salads and grilled calamari.'
IWA
Former chef de cave of Dom Pérignon Champagne crafts this line in collaboration with Shiraiwa K.K. Brewery's expert toji in the Toyama prefecture. It's often referred to as 'a wine-lover's sake' for its rich layers and finesse. Ryan Vando, U.S. regional head of wine for Zuma, especially highlights IWA 5 'Assemblage 4' Junmai Daiginjo. 'This sake evolves beautifully across temperatures—from chilled to warm—offering different aromatic expressions.' He recommends pairing it with robata meats, miso-glazed black cod.
Takeda
'There's a quiet confidence to this one,' prefaces Josh Clouser, food and beverage adviser of Takibi in Portland, Oregon. He highlights Takeda Black Skull Honjozo Nama as 'the kind of sake that keeps you guessing, shifting with each sip, revealing something new every time you come back to it and pairs well with salads and sushi.' The rice comes from just up the road, just about 20 minutes away, and the brewery leans into its own proprietary yeast, which adds a signature twist.
Miyoshino Jozo
The Miyoshino Jozo brewery is located in the Yoshino region of Nara prefecture where cherry trees cover the surrounding hills. 'The brewer Teruaki Hashimoto is committed to local agriculture and has determined not to burden local farmers with the difficulty and risk of cultivating hard-to-grow varieties,' explains Marc Lioussane, co-owner of Selune in Brooklyn. He embraces old-school brewing methods, uses whatever rice the farmers grow and adjusts his methods to bring out the best flavor, and uses only natural yeasts to portray the local environment — or a sense of terroir — in his sake.
Hakkaisan
'Sparkling sake is really unique,' says Katagai, who particularly appreciates Hakkaisan Brewing Company's Hakkaisan AWA. 'It's very special,' he says, describing its cloudy and creaminess with a simultaneous crisp finish. 'It's a nice way to finish a meal and a great sake for the summer.'
Heiwa
Run by a fourth generation president, Heiwa Shuzo Brewery 'is pushing boundaries while still maintaining a commitment to quality,' says Kaplan. She points to their line of fruit sakes called tsuru-ume as low ABV and perfect for picnics. Try mixing them with club soda for a zesty spritz, she advises.
Sake Ono
Only a little over a year old, Sake Ono has splashed onto the sake scene with their clean, crisp Junmai Daiginjo. 'One of the most versatile sakes (and ideal mixed in a cocktail) this sake features a refreshing profile with hints of lactic acidity,' says Vecchione. 'It's perfect as an aperitif and a natural companion to any aperitivo food such as olives, charcuterie, cheeses, and focaccia.'
Terada Honke
This Chiba prefecture-based brewery produces a Daigo no Shizuku by using the medieval method of bodaimoto so that it's a modern reflection of what sake tasted like 600 years ago, explains Lioussane. The brewer read journals that said sakes were slightly sweet back then so expect 'a very unique sake that tastes like a sweet Vouvray.'
Kaze no Mori
An unpasteurized sake with an effervescent finish, the Uno brothers recommend this sake from Yucho Brewing Company as an aperitif for its 'lively and fresh' palate.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Bloomberg
10 hours ago
- Bloomberg
Big Bets on Hong Kong Stocks Help Prusik Fund Outshine Peers
A revival in Hong Kong stocks has provided bumper returns for Prusik Investment Management, which placed early bets on once-unloved property and conglomerate shares in the financial hub. Chief Investment Officer Tom Naughton is confident that further gains lie ahead. The money manager's $787 million flagship fund has more than a third of its money invested in Hong Kong companies or those listed in the city, according to a fact sheet. That's versus a little more than 5% for the MSCI Asia Pacific ex-Japan Gross Return Index, which the fund uses as a benchmark.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Crowded by EV Rivals, Tesla Preps For Critical Earnings Report
For what feels like the third or fourth time in a row now, Tesla is gearing up for what may be the most important earnings call in its history. The electric vehicle maker reports after the bell today, holding its first call with analysts and investors at the dawn of a new era that finds the company squeezed between increased competition and a high-stakes feud involving its enigmatic CEO and the US federal government. At stake are billions in lucrative tax credits. Buckle up, things could get pretty bumpy. READ ALSO: Tariffs 'The World Can Live With': US-Japan Trade Pact Pushes Markets to Record Highs and Amazon, Meta Wear AI-mbitions on Their Wrists Credit Score After something of a shareholder mutiny earlier this year sparked by his divided attention while serving as an aide to President Trump, Elon Musk has seemingly quelled the critics. Now, Tesla must confront its myriad headwinds. First and foremost: The regulatory credits Tesla sells to combustion-engine carmakers to offset their tailpipe emissions. Selling the credits has been big business for Tesla, generating more than $10 billion in revenue since 2019 and accounting for a substantial portion of its free cash flow in 2024. Recent legislation, however, eliminates the hefty fines that traditional automakers face for failing to reach emissions standards, thus reducing the demand for Tesla's carbon credits. Tesla's credit sales already dipped in the first quarter, generating revenue of just $595 million compared with $692 million in the final quarter of 2024. Analysts at William Blair and Co. recently projected that revenue in the category might fall by 75% next year, and be virtually eliminated by 2027. Analysts at Piper Sandler, meanwhile, are slightly more bullish, recently projecting that 'Tesla will still book around $3B in credits this year, followed by $2.3B in 2026.' Many legacy automakers have long-term contracts for carbon credits from Tesla. Still, those same legacy automakers are suddenly catching up to Tesla in the EV realm: While Tesla remains the EV king in the US, its sales are shrinking just as rivals' are growing. The Automotive News Data Center estimates that Tesla sold 125,000 EVs in the US in the second quarter, down almost 17% year-over-year (Tesla doesn't break down its delivery figures by region). GM, meanwhile, reports that it sold 46,280 EVs in the second quarter and 78,167 EVs so far this year, representing a 111% increase from 2024. That puts GM's domestic EV market share at around 13%, while most estimates peg Tesla's once-dominant US market share at just 43% now. 'GM is quietly building trust while Elon burns it,' Paul Waatti, director of industry analysis for AutoPacific, recently told USA Today. Bleep Bloop: Still, Tesla has a sky-high forward price-to-earnings ratio for a reason. Thus far, at least, Musk has been able to sell investors on a future of self-driving cars and robotics. A robotaxi pilot program launched in Austin, Texas, earlier this summer. 'Outside of guidance, the market will likely be focusing on the robotaxi business, which had to navigate a slew of weather problems,' David Wagner, head of equity and portfolio manager at Aptus Capital Advisors, told The Daily Upside. 'The company has a 'hopes and dreams' multiple, so anything focusing on [autonomous vehicles], robotics and the other innovative products should be the focal point.' This post first appeared on The Daily Upside. To receive delivering razor sharp analysis and perspective on all things finance, economics, and markets, subscribe to our free The Daily Upside newsletter. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data


Bloomberg
15 hours ago
- Bloomberg
H1 2025 APAC syndicated loans market overview
Greater China Greater China syndicated loans issuances concluded at USD 82.9 billion in H1 2025, marking a 34.5% decrease in volume year-on-year. Borrowers are cautious in raising funds, with over half of the loans issued went into supporting refinancing efforts, sitting at 55% of the total volume. Meanwhile, project finance and general corporate purposes came in at 14% and 12%, respectively. As for capital-related expenditures, the spending momentum did not sustain from last year, issuances fell sixfold. In terms of currencies, HKD gained the spotlight, with 34.8% of Greater China loans volume denominated in HKD. Worth noting, there was also an increase in the popularity of issuing in Euros in H1 2025. Especially in the Offshore China Loans market, the popularity of Euro-denominated loans accounted for around 40% of the volume. The largest deal signed in H1 2024 was issued by Fengmiao Wind Power with SMBC as the green loan coordinator. It was signed with a dual-currency TWD-EUR in a 9-tranche structure, totaling TWD 102.9 billion (USD 3.9 billion equivalent). The deal was also considered the second largest APAC ex-Japan Green UoP deal in H1 2025. Syndicated borrowing amongst ASEAN borrowers in H1 2025 were not in line with the trend of dropping volume across the broader APAC ex-Japan region, marking an increase of 25.3% year-on-year, totaling USD 42.9 billion. ASEAN Borrower loans were primarily issued for general corporate purposes (24%) and refinancing (23%), while issuance for real estate and sustainable purposes rose to 16% and 9%, respectively. The share of refinancing has declined, reflecting a growing focus on ESG, long-term infrastructure, and development financing. The share of USD-denominated loans to ASEAN borrowers has dropped from 48% to 27.5% year-on-year, as borrowers increasingly diversify into other currencies like SGD, which now leads at 43.5%. This shift is largely driven by the weakening of the U.S. dollar—spurred by recent U.S. tariff policies and evolving global monetary dynamics—making USD borrowing less attractive. The largest ASEAN loan signed in H1 was to Marina Bay Sands integrated resort for SGD 12.0 billion (USD 9.4 billion equivalent). It is to finance the expansion of the Marina Bay Sands Resort, including the construction of a new fourth tower. It is signed with a 3-tranche structure with over 26 banks participating in the deal. Among the mandated lead arranging banks, United Overseas Bank claimed the top spot, followed by DBS and Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp, with market shares of 8.73%, 8.0%, and 7.94%, respectively. Among the bookrunners, United Overseas Bank ranked top, followed closely by BDO Union Bank, and DBS, making up market shares of 10.59%, 9.84% and 8.32%.