A Sake Primer

Perhaps you’ve conquered or are trying to conquer sushi. Do you know what kind of sake to serve with your sushi recipe? Looking at sake you might feel like you’re starting over in your sushi education.

This is the first in a series of posts that I’m going to make concerning sake. Sake can be just as important in a sushi experience as the sushi itself.

What is sake anyways? I heard it was a rice wine.
Yes and no. Sake is a beverage that is fermented from rice (which is a grain) which would make it similar to beer. Yet sake is not carbonated - and as far as flavor goes it is closer to wine.

Sake generally has contains 14 - 17 percent alcohol. You might have noticed the higher percentage of alcohol after a few shots of sake.

Should it be served hot or cold?
Both. I know people that like it cold, and I know people that like it hot. I prefer it hot myself - and just love a few sake shots during a meal of sushi. I guess that just comes down to what you prefer.

To me sake is like wine - so many opinions and ideas about how or when you should drink it. I like wine - I would call myself a wine expert - but most of my opinions on wine have been developed simply by tasting different wines and trying different combinations with food.

I do the same with sake. You know what you like. It’s nice to have a recommendation - which is what I’ll do as we delve farther into it - but for now, if sake is new to you - experiment. Figure out which sake goes best with which sushi recipe - and which ones you like the best! That’s the easiest way to learn something. You could read all you want - but it’s your taste buds that are ultimately going to decide.

Patrick