Buzz
Sake (pronounced "sah-keh," not "sah-kee") refers to Japanese alcoholic beverages, particularly rice wine or Nihonshu in the West. There are numerous traditions associated with enjoying and consuming sake. While these customs may not be practiced outside Japan, it is still worthwhile to learn about them for proper etiquette.
Steps
Familiarize yourself with traditional bottles and cups.
- Sake is served in small ceramic bottles called tokkuri, which have a narrow neck and a bulbous base. Other types, such as katakuchi, resemble teapots.
- The type of cup used for drinking sake is debated. Some insist on using small handleless cups called ochoko or sakazuki (resembling flat dishes), while the most common is masu (a wooden box-shaped cup). Wine glasses, though not traditional, are also excellent for drinking sake. Their design allows the drinker to appreciate the color and fully experience the aroma, enhancing the overall flavor. Use traditional vessels for authenticity, but opt for wine glasses to fully savor the sake's taste.
Serve sake at the appropriate temperature. Regular sake, honjozo-shu, and junmai-shu are typically served at room temperature, while ginjo-shu and namazake (unpasteurized sake) are best served chilled. Avoid heating sake above room temperature, as it diminishes its quality.
Pour sake into your guest's cup but not your own. Hold the tokkuri with both hands, palms facing downward. You can wrap a cloth around the tokkuri to prevent spills. Pour sake into each guest's cup in turn. Do not pour for yourself, as it is the guest's responsibility to ensure the host's cup remains full.
- You may use one hand to pour, but the other hand should touch the pouring hand, which is equivalent to pouring with both hands.
- If you hold a higher status than the person you are pouring for (e.g., you are their boss), you may pour with one hand (without needing to touch the pouring hand).
Hold your cup correctly when sake is poured for you. In formal settings, hold your cup when sake is being poured. Use one hand (usually the right) to hold the cup, placing it above the other hand.
- If the person pouring has a lower status than you (e.g., a subordinate), you may hold the cup with just one hand.
Raise your cup. You may say "Kanpai" if you are in a Japanese restaurant. Clink your cups together. When drinking with someone of higher status, ensure your cup is lower than theirs when toasting.
Sake is not overly strong (it does not have as high an alcohol content as some California wines, unless it is genshu) and is consumed similarly to white wine. However, if [low-quality] sake is served hot, drink it slowly, as the alcohol vapor can rise into your nose and throat. It is not a small cup, so do not drink it all at once! When drinking, slightly turn away from someone of higher status. If drinking with someone of extremely high status, turn away completely before drinking.
Tips
- Sake is best consumed within 2 to 3 months after purchase and within 2 to 3 hours after opening. Unopened sake should be stored similarly to wine.
- To determine the ideal serving temperature, let chilled sake gradually reach room temperature, sampling it periodically to identify when it tastes best.
- Heated sake, or atsukan, is typically enjoyed in cold weather or with lower-quality sake, as it helps balance the flavor. In hot weather or with premium sake, it is best served chilled.
- If friends keep refilling your cup when you no longer wish to drink, take small sips to keep the cup from emptying.
- Traditionally, sake is enjoyed with light snacks (such as sashimi) rather than full meals. It is generally advised not to drink sake with rice or rice-based dishes (like sushi), as this is considered excessive. If you plan to eat sushi, finish your sake beforehand.
Warnings
- The person serving alcohol is legally responsible for the actions of their guests. Therefore, do not let guests become intoxicated if they need to drive, and never allow intoxicated guests to drive.
- Tejaku, or pouring sake for yourself, is generally considered impolite.
- As with other alcoholic beverages, avoid operating heavy or dangerous machinery (such as cars) after consuming sake.
- "Rice wine" listed on a menu is not necessarily genuine sake. Some beverages like shochu or mao tai are distilled from rice or potatoes but are not sake.
What You'll Need
- Sake
- Sake bottle (Tokkuri)
- Sake cup (Ochoko)
- Small pan
