Do you Know Sake?

The International Wine Challenge (IWC) is the world's most respected annual wine competition and showcases some of the world's finest wines and spirits. One of the standout categories of the IWC is the Japanese sake category. Japanese sake is a rice-based alcoholic beverage that has origins dating back to the 8th century.Since its introduction in 2003, the IWC has awarded powerful recognition for sake brews from all across Japan. Every year, many of the world’s best sake brewers compete for the top honors. Awards are given to those sakes that best represent their brewer in terms of character, finesse and...

Sake often requires very specific conditions to brew effectively, and this is well worth considering if you have been looking to invest in premium sake. But why are the winter months the main brewing seasons for premium-quality Japanese sake wine, and what impact might this have on the final quality of the drinks themselves? Why Winter is the Main Sake Brewing Season in Japan When we think about brewing sake, there’s a lot that can come to mind – the quality of ingredients and the expertise of the Toji, mainly. However, there’s more to top-class sake than these factors alone,...

Have you ever wondered how to tell bad or spoiled sake from fresh wine? It’s not always easy to identify off sake, especially when it has just started to turn. However, there are several notable indicators to keep in mind that may help in this regard – and we have outlined these today to help inform your decision. How to Tell Bad, Off, or Spoiled Sake From Good Sake Distinguishing bad, spoiled sake from good sake wine is tough. However, some of the most common things you may notice that indicate your sake wine has gone off include the following:...