Tippsy Sake Blog

Enjoy our collection of unique stories written by our talented writers, many of whom are certified professionals in sake, wine, beer and spirits. Here you’ll find articles that are informative, entertaining, and span the gambit! Our blog has posts for both beginners and sake connoisseurs alike, with topics like sake trivia, cultural/educational readings, food recipes, travelogues, interviews and more.

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What Is Taiyaki? Taiyaki Recipes
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

Article by Taylor Markarian Recipes by Alice Hama Taiyaki is one of Japan’s most emblematic desserts. It even makes an appearance in the extremely pop...

‘Unpredictable’ Cafe Mutton Chef Sees ‘A Lot of Possibility’ in Sake
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

Nowadays when you see a respected food publication like Bon Appetit recommend a new restaurant, you’re inclined to think that you’ll be immediately sma...

‘Doesn’t Get More New York’ Than Sake With Unregular Pizza
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

Unregular Pizza lives by the slogan, “Pizza for irregular times.” Perhaps that explains why husband-and-wife team Gabriele Lamonaca and ​​Paola Sinisga...

Connecting Chinese-Latino Cuisine and Sake at Chino Grande
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

The way Chef Christine Lau’s fingers nimbly fold the wontons as she carries on in conversation is clearly muscle memory. But it’s more than just practi...

12 Japanese New Year’s Traditions and Greeting Messages
Domenic Alonge
Domenic Alonge

Just like that first gust of cold winter wind that catches us off guard, the arrival of a new year can sneak up on us before we even get a chance to ma...

Calories in Sake: Is Sake Fattening?
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

Is sake fattening? It’s difficult to know with certainty how many calories are in any given bottle of sake. Unlike food, alcohol labels are not require...

How To Host the Best Sake Tasting
Sam Fairchild
Sam Fairchild

Family gatherings, company parties, and nights spent with friends can often become predictable and repetitive. If you’re someone who likes to mix thing...

Roka: What Goes on Before Bottling
Devin Davenport
Devin Davenport

Of the endless number of options and decisions brewers make before sake ends up in your glass, “roka” might be the easiest to spot as well as one of th...

Best Places for Onsen in Japan
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

You’ve probably seen it on Instagram: an inviting courtyard garden lined with the soft glow of lanterns; wooden buckets placed gently atop smooth slabs...

Tippsy Presents: An Evening with IWA Sake
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

Connecting sake makers with sake drinkers is central to Tippsy’s purpose, so orchestrating an intimate dinner with IWA founder and maker Richard Geoffr...

The Journey of Branding Tippsy and Sake Itself
Hayataro Sakitsu
Hayataro Sakitsu

At the heart of Tippsy is an undying passion for sake — a passion I’ve been privileged to shape and share as its Creative Director from its inception. ...

What Is Nama Sake?
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

There’s nothing like drinking fresh “namazake” from the brewery tap. As soon as it graces your palate, you get the feeling that it’s somehow alive. Its...

Brooklyn Kura: History, Bottles, Where To Buy
Sam Fairchild
Sam Fairchild

When I was asked to write this profile, I was excited to see that it would be about a domestic sake brewery I absolutely love; one that pays homage to ...

Ozeki Sake: History, Bottles, Where To Buy
Andrew Lamb
Andrew Lamb

In the American sake market, few brands hold the name recognition that Ozeki does. While the brewery is best known for producing the warm house sake of...

Big Things Brewing in Charlottesville: 3rd Annual Craft Sake Fest
Domenic Alonge
Domenic Alonge

The 3rd Annual American Craft Sake Festival took place July 22, 2023 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Having attended and thoroughly enjoyed last year’s e...

5 Best Warm Sake 2023
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

Back in 2021, we gave our recommendations for some of the best warm sake for you to try. Well, a couple years have passed and we’re at it again. The fa...

A Floating World: My Tokyo Yakatabune Cruise
Domenic Alonge
Domenic Alonge

While living in Taiwan, my wife and I decided to take a weekend trip to Tokyo to celebrate our anniversary. Having found a ludicrously cheap pair of ti...

The Joy of Sake Shows the Japanese Drink Gaining Ground
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

Everyone knows that New York City is incredibly diverse and extremely densely populated. Still, I was profoundly surprised when I saw the size and dive...

Japan’s 5 Best Yatai Foods and Sake Pairings
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

July and August are full of exciting summer festivals (“natsumatsuri”) throughout Japan. The word “natsu” means summer and “matsuri” means festival. H...

What’s an Ochoko? All About the Sake Cup
Jake Lee
Jake Lee

The “ochoko” is a traditional drinking cup for sake. It comes in various materials, which can subtly influence the flavor of sake. Though the ochoko is...

Sake: Resurrecting A Dying Art
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

As a national beverage of Japan, sake is forever intertwined with the country’s cultural identity. The Japanese people have been making sake for millen...

Is Sake Vegan? Certified Vegan Sake Brands
Andrew Lamb
Andrew Lamb

While the diversity of foodstuffs available to our friends who maintain a vegan diet has grown significantly over the last few years, it can still be a...

Sake Yeast: Ambient, Cultured, Engineered, Natural, Blended
 Russell King
Russell King

Editor’s note: The featured image for this article shows three vials of flower-based yeasts. | Courtesy of Amabuki Brewing Company. This article origin...

The Koji Club: Boston’s First Sake Bar
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

Where: 525 Western Ave Brighton, MA 02135 Hours: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. (Wed, Sun); 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. (Thurs-Sat) From its NBA team to its pubs, Boston i...

Farthest Star Sake: Brewed for New England
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

Where: 120 N. Meadows Road, Medfield, Massachusetts 02052 Hours: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Thurs, Fri); 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Sat); 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Sun) Todd Be...

Sake vs Soju vs Shochu: What’s the Difference?
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

The fascinating world of Asian spirits is still somewhat unexplored in the West. It’s located somewhere on the hazy horizon of consumers’ awareness, bu...

A Local’s Guide to Tokyo Izakaya
Kayoko Hirata Paku
Kayoko Hirata Paku

After a long grueling day at the office or wandering across the city as a tourist, perhaps you’re ready to sit down and decompress with sake and someth...

Japanese Drinking Games and How To Play
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

As much as we like to nerd out about rice types, brewing methods and sake meter value, at the end of the day, drinking is about having fun! And what’s ...

How To Make the Perfect Saketini
Jake Lee
Jake Lee

The saketini is a familiar yet nuanced modern cocktail. It’s a great beverage for sake drinkers as well as cocktail lovers. Utilizing sake rather than ...

Sake Brewers for a Day at Mitsutake Brewing Company
Azusa K
Azusa K

In March 2023, Japan-based Tippsy members Azusa and Rina visited Mitsutake Brewing Company in Saga prefecture and spent half a day working at the sake ...

Lucky Japanese Symbols and What They Mean
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

From the lucky cat to the elegant crane, Japan is a land rich with symbols that are adored and revered. It’s practically impossible not to run into at ...

Sake, Nihonshu or Seishu? What’s the Difference?
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

Learning about an unfamiliar beverage in a foreign language can be intimidating. That’s definitely part of the reason sake hasn’t yet become as ubiquit...

Does Sake Have Sugar? Sugar Content in Sake
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

Does sake have sugar? Yes, it does. But how much? If you want to drink but you’re keeping a watchful eye on your sugar intake, you may have a tough tim...

Does Sake Have Carbs? Is Sake Keto?
Andrew Lamb
Andrew Lamb

Carbohydrates: old friend or lifelong nemesis? While plenty of delicious things contain carbohydrates, there are those who avoid them for dietary reaso...

Sake Meter Value and Acidity, Explained
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

There are many different statistics that can provide insight into the characteristics of a certain sake. At Tippsy, you can find these on each item’s p...

What Is Umeshu? Is It Really Plum Wine?
Domenic Alonge
Domenic Alonge

“Umeshu,” often referred to as plum wine, is a beguiling beverage that leverages the sour characteristics of its namesake fruit, rendering them into a ...

How Climate Change Affects Sake
Kayoko Hirata Paku
Kayoko Hirata Paku

The changing climate affects many parts of society, including the sake industry. In recent years, breweries have been challenged to adapt to new soluti...

Tokyo Record Bar: House Party on MacDougal
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

Where: 127 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012 Hours: 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. (Mon-Wed); 6:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. (Thu-Sat) I love any place t...

Juban NYC: A Sake Lover’s Journey Comes to Life
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

Where: 207 10th Ave, New York, NY, 10011 Hours: 4:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Sun, Tues-Thurs), 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. (Fri and Sat) New York City’s Juban is...

What Is Omakase? An Evening at Sushi Nakazawa
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

A few months ago, I was at Japan Village in Brooklyn’s Industry City, an old warehouse complex turned into a vibrant community of food, arts and crafts...

NYC’s Accidental Bar Brings Local Flavor to Japanese Sake
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

Where: 98 Avenue C, New York, NY 10009 Hours: 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. (Sun-Wed), 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. (Thurs-Sat) People often seek an authentic Japanese exper...

A Complete Mixology Guide: 15 Sake Cocktail Recipes
Jake Lee
Jake Lee

Sake is often drunk on its own as a stand-alone beverage. But what if it didn’t have to be? This article will explore different cocktail recipes that f...

Sake Bar Decibel: NYC’s Favorite Japanese Dive Bar
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

Where: 240 E. 9th St. New York, NY 10003 Hours: 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. (Tue, Wed, Thur, Sun), 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. (Fri and Sat) There is a reason Sake Bar Dec...

What Is Sakamai? 20 Types of Sake Rice To Know
Andrew Lamb
Andrew Lamb

We here at Tippsy absolutely, unashamedly, without a doubt love rice. If you’re like us, you’ve grabbed a bottle of sake, spun it around to look for th...

East Meets West at Rabbit House Omakase & Sake Bar NYC
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

Where: 41 Essex Street, New York, NY 10002 Hours: 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. (Tues-Wed), 5:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. (Thu), 5:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. (Fri and Sat), 5:30 ...

SakaMai NYC: Haute Cuisine Meets Sake Expertise
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

Where: 157 Ludlow Street, New York, NY 10002 Hours: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. (Sun-Thu), 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. (Fri and Sat) Walk into SakaMai and you’ll immediat...

Yakitoriguy: Yakitori, Sake and the Art of Japanese Craftsmanship
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

Editor’s note: This interview has been condensed for clarity. Yakitoriguy doesn’t tell anyone his real name. He doesn’t want people to get distracted ...

To Drink or Not To Drink? Exploring Japan’s Liquor Laws
Kayoko Hirata Paku
Kayoko Hirata Paku

Almost every culture has a long and rich drinking culture, followed by rules and protocols to regulate consumption in the name of controlling order and...

Why French Master Blenders Are Making Sake
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

Editor’s note: Some quotes in this article have been translated from their original French. At Tippsy, we’ve long believed it, but two former chefs de...

Oden Recipe: The Essential Wintertime Japanese Stew
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

Oden is a type of Japanese stew with traditional ingredients such as daikon radish, chikuwa, hanpen, tsumire, ganmodoki, konnyaku, etc. (I’ll explain w...

Is Sake Rice Wine?
Domenic Alonge
Domenic Alonge

There is a quote attributed to Socrates that goes something along the lines of, “The only true wisdom is in knowing that you know nothing.” Well, befor...

Is Sake Good or Bad for You? Sake Health Benefits
Andrew Lamb
Andrew Lamb

It’s time to tackle the elephant in the koji room. Often when talking about sake we get asked, “Is sake good for you? Or is sake bad for you?” And hone...

Sake Ceremonies and Traditions You Should Know
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

It might not be obvious at first, but the act of pouring sake for someone is not just a modern dining tradition; it has roots in Japan’s native religio...

Sake in the Traditional Japanese Arts
Kayoko Hirata Paku
Kayoko Hirata Paku

For the Japanese, sake is more than just an alcoholic beverage enjoyed during meals and festivities. Culturally, sake has an ancient connection with ar...

What Is a Sake Bomb?
Jake Lee
Jake Lee

What is a sake bomb? Explained plainly, it is a “shot” of sake and a pint of beer poured with room so that the sake can be dropped into the glass and c...

How To Celebrate World Sake Day
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

Oct. 1 is World Sake Day. It is the day to celebrate and share the joy and love of sake with your family and friends. The day was established by Japan ...

Is All Sake Gluten Free?
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

Here at Tippsy, we get a lot of inquiries from curious drinkers about how sake affects one’s health. One of the questions that comes our way concerns o...

What Does Sake Taste Like?
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

Trying sake just once won’t give you a good idea what sake tastes like. Why? Because there are literally thousands of ways to make Japan’s national bev...

Best Sake Bars To Visit in Tokyo
Kayoko Hirata Paku
Kayoko Hirata Paku

As the country’s capital for over 400 years, Tokyo boasts the best curated sake experiences. While sake saw a decline in drinkers in the postwar era, t...

New York Dassai Party 2022: Celebrating the Future of Sake
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

At the top of a skyscraper in New York City’s Financial District, the swanky SAGA restaurant boasts a jaw-dropping panoramic view of one of the world’s...

A Guide To Visiting Sake Breweries in Japan
Domenic Alonge
Domenic Alonge

We can all raise a glass and kampai to the good news that travel restrictions have started to ease in Japan. Packaging your bags may be too soon, but i...

Sakari: Traditional Quality Sake Meets Modern Sophistication
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

Sakari is the newest brand released from the prestigious Japanese sake empire Nihonsakari. Nihonsakari was founded in 1889 and it has been the leading ...

Everything You Need To Know About Koji Rice
 Russell King
Russell King

There is an expression in sake brewing: “Ichi koji, ni moto, san tsukuri.” It means: “Koji first, moto (starter culture) second, brewing third.” When i...

Father’s Day Gift Guide
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

Father’s Day is all about demonstrating the admiration, love, gratitude and respect you have for the father figures in your life. It’s also about showi...

Spring Sake Bouquet
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

Finally, spring! And few things reflect the newness of life more than the flowers in bloom. Flowers have always held an important role in Japanese cul...

What Is Nigori “Cloudy” Sake? Unclouding Nigori Sake
 Russell King
Russell King

Nigori sake is a modern rediscovery of the traditional style of sake. Originally all sake was milky-looking, then brewers started making clear sake, an...

Gochujang Marinated Pork Rib Recipe
​​Susan Yoon
​​Susan Yoon

One meat dish that cannot go unappreciated in Korean cuisine is “doeji kalbi,” gochujang marinated pork ribs. I grew up eating doeji kalbi at a small r...

The First Sake of the Year: Hatsushibori, Shiboritate and Arabashiri
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

There are several Japanese terms to describe the types of winter/spring sake. Even though the terms do not have any legal requirements or definitions, ...

How To Pair Sake With Music
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

Gourmets always talk about pairing the right alcohol with the right meal to create the ultimate tasting experience. (Like which sake to enjoy with our ...

Shizuku Sake Guide
Brad Smith
Brad Smith

Is “shizuku” the ultimate type of sake? It’s easily one of the most elegant and stunning styles. But it’s also expensive and hard to find. So what’s t...

Sake for Game Day
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

American football is a sport that I have trouble keeping up with. It doesn’t seem so straightforward to me, and I’m always wondering about the starts a...

Perfectly Pair Oysters and Sake with Tippsy, E-Fish Set and Tasting Event
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

Seafood has been an essential part of the Japanese diet since ancient times. It’s one of the first things that comes to mind when people across the glo...

Miso Cod Recipe
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

Saikyo miso-glazed black cod, or just “miso cod” in the U.S., is a savory Japanese fish dish made by marinating fish in a paste made with miso, mirin, ...

US Sake Brewery Tour and Tasting Guide
Brad Smith
Brad Smith

Looking for the ultimate sake tasting experience? Scheduling a brewery tour or visiting a tasting room near you may be easier than you think. A growin...

Three Classic Cocktails with Sake
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

Sometimes, a good cocktail is what’s needed! Especially in the cooler months when beer feels out of sync with the weather and wine might be a little h...

Holiday Gift Ideas for Anime Lovers
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

Luckily, there is no shortage of amazing gifts for anime lovers out there. With literally hundreds of anime shows and movies to stream online, such as ...

What Is Taru Sake and What Gives It Such a Unique Flavor?
 Russell King
Russell King

When I was learning about sake and its history, I wanted to find out what the most authentic sake flavors were. I tried doburoku (unrefined sake), nigo...

Gold Winners from 2021 U.S. National Sake Appraisal
Brad Smith
Brad Smith

The results are in for the 2021 U.S. National Sake Appraisal, the most important sake competition held in the States. Learn about why these awards mat...

Buttermilk Biscuit Sandwich with Ham & Cheese Recipe
​​Susan Yoon
​​Susan Yoon

As the weather cools and the holiday season creeps up we start to crave richer foods. One of my favorite things to make for holiday gatherings is butte...

American Pop Culture Meets Japanese Tradition with Foo Fighters Sake
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

Recent years have seen an increased appreciation for many aspects of Japanese culture, from a renewed interest in watching anime to the exploration of ...

What Is Cooking Sake? How It’s Different From Drinking Sake
 Russell King
Russell King

Sake is very important in Japanese cuisine. It is a building block in the flavor of marinades and soups. It is used when stir-frying, steaming foods, c...

5 Best Anime on Netflix to Watch This Winter
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

Picking the best anime on Netflix is an exciting yet regrettable project. There are so many amazing anime shows available for streaming that narrowing ...

5 Reasons Sake Box Is a Perfect Gift
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

When the holidays come around, three things come to mind: don’t stress, don’t overspend and make the best of time with family and friends. So when it c...

Nikomi Hambagu (Stewed Japanese Hamburg Steak)
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

Hambagu is an iconic yoshoku dish, a western-inspired Japanese dish. Growing up, this was a special occasion menu for me as my mom always served it on...

5 Best Warm Sake Brands (2021)
Brad Smith
Brad Smith

A hot beverage on a cold night can be so satisfying. So it’s time to celebrate because warm sake season is here. If you’re looking to take your hot sa...

Building the Aizu’s Terroir with Renewable Energy-Yamatogawa
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa

While there are many sake breweries that aim to be sustainable and eco-friendly, Yamatogawa Brewing Company takes the extra mile by generating renewabl...

Japanese Hot Pot and Sake
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

When the crisp autumn winds tap on the window, it’s time for hot pot! Nabemono, a compound word made up of nabe for “cooking pot” and mono for “things...

One of the Youngest Yet Most Refined Sake Brands, Ninki-Ichi
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa

While there are many sake breweries with a long history in Fukushima, Ninki Brewing Company started its brand in 2007. The president, Yujin Yusa, chall...

Hiyaoroshi: Enchanting Fall Seasonal Sake
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

What is “hiyaoroshi”? The short answer is it refers to the seasonal limited sake only available throughout the autumn, usually September to November. ...

Celebrate Hello Kitty’s Birthday with Hello Kitty Nigori Sake
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

What better way is there to celebrate the birth of a Japanese icon than with Japanese sake? Today, we kampai to Hello Kitty, the “kawaii” (cute) Sanrio...

The Secret of Long-loved Flavor of Naraman Sake
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa

Yumegokoro Brewing Company is famous for their award-winning Naraman series. The brewery president, Nobuo Shoji, shares his humble work ethic of cheris...

Authentic Hakata Experience in Los Angeles
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

In this article, I would like to introduce one of my favorite spots from my recent visits, Hakata Izakaya Hero. Nestled in the heart of “Tehrangeles” i...

Craftsmanship That Moves People—Homare Brewing Company
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa

Among Tippsy’s fruity sake fans, Homare is one of the most beloved brands with delightful and unique fruity flavored sake. The fourth-generation brewer...

Making The Best Quality Sake Accessible Worldwide—Okunomatsu
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa

Anyone who follows major sake competitions have most likely heard of Okunomatsu Brewing Company, as some of their sake brands regularly win gold medals...

The Pride of Aizu Toji and Suehiro Brewing Company
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa

Suehiro Brewing Company is one of the most fun breweries to visit—located in one of the beautiful tourist destinations in Tohoku, Aizu Wakamatsu, Fukus...

Koshu: Aged Sake Brands, History and How-To
Brad Smith
Brad Smith

Aged sake was considered a luxury product for hundreds of years. It was the pinnacle of sake. These days, consumers expect youthful and clean sake. Th...

Sake for Tsukimi, the Harvest Moon
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

What is it about the moon that brings wonder? Is it the glow or pull on the waves, or how it appears to us in different shapes? If you haven’t gazed at...

Best Sake for Your Chinese Zodiac Sign
Taylor Markarian
Taylor Markarian

Last update: January 12, 2023. Japanese culture and Chinese culture have always been intertwined. The kanji in the Japanese writing system, for exampl...

How Heiwa Transformed Their Sake Brewery with a Startup Approach
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa

Among many innovative sake breweries out there, Heiwa Brewing Company sheds light on a bit of a different angle to change the way they make sake. This ...

What is Junmai Sake or “Pure Rice” Sake?
 Russell King
Russell King

“To junmai or not junmai … that is the question,” and one I hope to answer in this article. There are a bunch of different ways to pick sake and unders...

10 Best Cold Sake
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

Last updated: August 12, 2022. There is an expression that sake can be made 10,000 ways. So, when people ask how to drink sake, which one to try and w...

Does Sake Go Bad?
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

Last updated: June 6, 2022. Does sake go bad? The answer is: yes and no. It all depends on how well the sake is stored. Before we move on to details,...

Yuzu—1 Sake, 3 Ways
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

As watermelon is the fruit of summer in the United States, so is fresh yuzu in Japan. But exactly what is this bright yellow surprise? Believed to be a...

Nada vs Fushimi Sake Tasting
Brad Smith
Brad Smith

Terroir is a French word meaning a sense of place. The term is often associated with wines from the great regions of the world. The unique traits of ea...

Napolitan Pasta recipe
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

I cooked this dish one night when my Sommelier friends came over to my place after working a late night shift. I did not have much ingredients left in ...

Sake without limitation—Daishichi
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa

If you are a kimoto sake fan, you might have come across Daishichi Brewing Company at some point. They are known for brewing sake strictly with traditi...

How To Pour Sake: Mokkiri vs Wine Glass
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

Have you ever seen sake being served with a wooden box and wondered how you should drink it? This wooden box is called masu. It was originally used as...

Sake Evangelist, John Gauntner
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa

John Gauntner is one of the world’s first few leading non-Japanese sake professionals, and is celebrated as the Sake Evangelist. He has published books...

How To Drink Sake with the Right Sake Cup
Domenic Alonge
Domenic Alonge

Last updated: September 29, 2022. So, you’ve poured over the incredible selection of sake at Tippsy. Your order arrives, you grab a bottle and, admiri...

Japanese Katsu Sando Recipe
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

Katsu sando “Sando” is the word Japanese people use for sandwich for short, like a nickname. When you go to a “konbini” (convenience store) in Japan, ...

Kimoto: The Living History of Sake
Bryan West
Bryan West

Over the past hundred years or so, the sake community as a whole has always had an intimate relationship with the past and the future. There have been ...

500 Years of History and Beyond—Shichi Hon Yari and Yasunobu Tomita
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa

Tomita Brewing Company is one of the most historical sake breweries in Japan. Their world-famous Shichi Hon Yari sake series is carefully brewed all by...

My SAGA SAKE SAGA Experience
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

This past March, Tippsy partnered with Sake Discoveries to host the Saga Sake Saga event which not only featured a set of three delicious sake and a sp...

Best Sushi in Los Angeles: Kiriko Sushi
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

Hi Tippsy fans! My name is Alice Hama. I am one of the contributing writers at Tippsy. For those of you who do not know about me, I am a certified som...

Behind The Scenes: Tippsy’s Quality Control
Sachiko Miyagi
Sachiko Miyagi

Tippsy currently carries 300+ different sake. We are in the process of adding 120 more delicious selections. And I’m the lucky one on the product team ...

Spring Sake for Cherry Blossom Season
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

The Japanese cherry blossoms have arrived in D.C.—spring is here! And with spring comes the best type of picnic, the kind that’s meant for hanami, or f...

Sake and Alcohol Content: The ABC’s on ABV
Bryan West
Bryan West

Recently, Tippsy has been receiving a lot of questions from curious drinkers on the alcohol content in sake. Is it more or less than wine? Is it hard a...

Easy Hand Roll Sushi Recipe with Sake
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

Temaki literally means “a hand roll.” At a sushi restaurant, it is usually a cone-shaped sushi wrapped with nori seaweed. Temaki can also mean do-it-yo...

The World of Sake is Where Women Can Shine—Yuho and Miho Fujita
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa

Although female sake professionals are emerging more than ever today, the majority of brewery presidents in Japan (or any other industry in general) ar...

Regional sake guide: Tohoku & Hokkaido
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

Tohoku region is known for its excellent rice production with a profound food culture. I mentioned how Edo (modern-day Tokyo) became the epicenter fo...

Perfect Pairings with Plum Sake
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

Early spring in Japan You might believe the flowering trees to be cherry blossoms but it is actually the plum blossom that graces the landscape beginn...

Sake for Everyone’s Bright Future—Atsuhide Kato and Born
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa

Atsuhide Kato is an 11th-generation brewery president at Katoukichibee Shouten. With over 160 years of history, the brewery has been making high qualit...

Seven Best Sake Picks for 2021
Bryan West
Bryan West

With the year 2020 happily in the rearview mirror, we’re all hoping for better things to come on the road ahead. It’s been nearly a year now since I st...

For a Happy Valentine, Try Chocolate with Sake
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

Here we are, 2021! Although we’re still figuring out a lot, the new year brings a sense of relief and excitement that we might one day soon be able to ...

U.S. National Sake Appraisal Gold Award-winners
Sachiko Miyagi
Sachiko Miyagi

On October 17, 2020, nine sake experts gathered at the Hawaii Convention Center to judge 502 sake submitted from Japan, the United States and Mexico fo...

Regional Sake Guide: Kanto Region
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

In the first series of regional sake guide, we talked about important factors characterizing the regional style of sake. In this fourth article of th...

Best Budget Sake Under $30 and $50
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

Last updated: July 1, 2022. Choosing sake can be a little overwhelming at first. It might be tempting to stick to one type of sake or assume that lowe...

Celebrate the New Year with Taru Sake—Hidekazu Tanisawa and Choryo
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa

|You might have seen images of sake in barrels, but have you tried it before? Choryo Brewing Company’s signature Yoshinosugi no Taru Sake is a bottled ...

Cheesing out of 2020 — How to Build a Charcuterie Board
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

Growing up, I had the impression that cheese and pepperoni slices were just common go-to snacks that parents would toss into their kids’ lunchboxes. I ...

Expanding The Horizon of Sake—Dassai and Kazuhiro Sakurai
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa

A number of Tippsy customers are sure to agree with us that drinking Dassai makes any dining experience magical. Dassai is produced at Asahi Shuzo Comp...

Seasonal Sake Box for Every Taste—a Sake Sommelier’s Guide
Bryan West
Bryan West

At the beginning of the fall, Tippsy began an exciting new approach to their subscription service. Each season, subscription holders will now receive s...

Virtual Sake Party — How to Celebrate the Holidays during COVID
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

Holiday gatherings are a little tricky this year. We want to keep safe but as the holidays roll in, it becomes more difficult to keep to ourselves. Aft...

Regional sake guide: Chubu Region
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

Chubu Region is the central area of Japan’s mainland Honshu island, sitting between Kansai and Kanto Region. The Chubu Region covers Japan’s importan...

Ever-evolving Flavor—Kubota and Motoyoshi Yamaga
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa

Many have heard of and tried Kubota sake, brewed by Asahi-shuzo Sake Brewing Company in Niigata prefecture. This year marks the 35th anniversary of Mot...

Filipino Food and Sake
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

Although it might seem that Japanese restaurants are everywhere, this wasn’t the case 50 years ago. Until the 1960s, Japanese food was still perceived ...

Regional sake guide: Chugoku and Kansai Region
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

In the first series of regional sake guide, we talked about important factors characterizing the regional style of sake. Nada of Hyogo Prefecture, F...

Organic Sake As a Positive Cause for The Future—Tentaka and Munenori Ozaki
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa

Munenori Ozaki is the third-generation kuramoto (brewery president) at Tentaka Brewing Company keeping up with the challenge of making sake delicious a...

Beat The Heat: Cold Sake
Bryan West
Bryan West

Although the days of summer are behind us and autumn is officially here, sometimes the thermometer would make you think otherwise. With plenty of warm ...

Sake Sommelier Pairing Ideas: Shinsei “Junmai Daiginjo”
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

Yamamoto Honke was established in 1677 in the Fushimi Ward of Kyoto Prefecture. Fushimi is home to Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, Japan’s best-known Shin...

One-on-one Sake Tasting with Hakkaisan
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

When I learned that Tippsy would be offering a set of Hakkaisan sake, I couldn’t wait to try it. Hakkaisan was one of the first brands I purposely trie...

Revitalizing The Sake Making in Shonan — Tensei and Tetsuro Igarashi
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa

Tetsuro Igarashi is a toji at Kumazawa Brewing Company. Their famous Tensei series is widely enjoyed as the perfect summer sake. Kumazawa brews both sa...

Regional sake guide: Kyushu, Okinawa & Shikoku Islands
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

What characterizes the regional style of sake? First, breweries have historically chosen locations with certain conditions, such as climate and geogra...

Flavor of “Never Giving Up” Passion—Fukucho Sake and Miho Imada
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa
Mitsue “Mimi” Islas-Hosokawa

Starting this month, we are kicking off a new blog series, Sake Brewery Spotlight. The series starts off with a delightful dialogue with Miho Imada, a ...

A Silver Lining in Every Cloud: An Introduction to Nigori Sake
Bryan West
Bryan West

Nigori, meaning “cloudy,” refers to a style of sake that is coarsely filtered, allowing a portion of the rice sediment to be left in the finished brew....

Fun & Safe Summer Bucket List
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

These days may have you feeling like Rapunzel wondering, When will my life begin? You’ve probably baked dozens of bread, completed a few DIY projects, ...

Sake Sommelier Pairing Ideas: Asabiraki “Suijin”
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

Asabiraki “Suijin” is one of the popular sake produced by Asabiraki Brewery located in Iwate Prefecture. Asabiraki brewery was established in 1871 by t...

Dassai Sake: “23,” “39,” “45,” “Nigori” and “Beyond”
Bryan West
Bryan West

Last updated: April 7, 2023. For many sake enthusiasts outside of Japan, myself included, drinking Dassai was a revelatory “wow!” moment. Until very r...

Five Perfect Sake to Celebrate Father’s Day
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

Fathers are a talented bunch. Even when something is new to them and there are no manuals or roadmaps, somehow, they get things done! Some of my fondes...

Comprehensive Sake Pairing Ideas for Wine Lovers and Sake Beginners
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

As the Japanese culinary trend evolves and consumers become familiar with sake, sommeliers are increasingly observing the rise of the importance of “sa...

Sparkling Sake Brunch at Home
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

Brunch is a most pleasurable time. In some places, it can begin as early as 9:00 in the morning and end as late as 4:00 in the afternoon, solving the q...

May in Quarantine—Tippsy and Takeout, Part 2
Bryan West
Bryan West

May rolls along and we find ourselves continuing to do our part to stay safe and healthy by remaining at home. It seemed right to pair this month’s sak...

April in Quarantine — Tippsy and Takeout
Bryan West
Bryan West

So it’s been a month now. A month of isolation, a month of social distancing, a month of sorely missing all the creature comforts we took for granted n...

Cheese and Sake Pairing
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

As sake attracts growing interest among international sommeliers, the idea of cheese and sake pairing has become a trendy topic. Sake contains lactic a...

Finding Your Zen with Sake
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

The weeks leading up to cherry blossom season in Washington, D.C., are packed with much anticipation and excitement. Every year, thousands of visitors ...

My March Tippsy Box
Bryan West
Bryan West

Let’s face it: we’re dealing with some very strange and uncertain times. It’s more important than ever to find a way to inject a bit of joy into your l...

How to Setup a Sake Bar at Home
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

The next best thing to actually being in Japan is eating really good Japanese food with sake in hand. There is something so comforting and satisfying a...

My February Tippsy Box
Bryan West
Bryan West

I recently received my first subscription box from Tippsy, and couldn’t wait to see (and taste) what they had sent me. It’s so fun to get a package eac...

5 Sake Picks for a Romantic Date
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

February is just around the corner! That means that Valentine’s Day is approaching. If you are looking for a perfect gift for your loved ones, how abo...

Top 5 Best Sake for Beginners
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

It’s been an amazing year for Japanese sake and 2020 has much more in store! With sake, “beauty is in the eye of the drinker” and with so much variety ...

Sake Sommelier Pairing Ideas: Nanbu Bijin “AWA Sparkling”
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

This is a refreshing and elegant sparkling sake made by Nanbu Bijin Brewery located in Iwate Prefecture. Established in 1902, the brewery has been a tr...

Pairing Sake with Your Thanksgiving Meal
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

The Thanksgiving meal is one of my favorite meals to prepare because it’s the single occasion out of the entire year when I don’t have to figure out wh...

Best Hot Sake
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

For many people, their first encounter with Japanese sake was through a sake bomb, a spin-off from the popular Irish car bomb but with the added attrac...

Raise Your Glass for World Sake Day
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

Today is World Sake Day! Across Japan and around the world, sake’s heritage and history will be celebrated with sake tasting and food pairing events. I...

Spotlight: Aya Nomoto
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

Aya Nomoto is an accomplished and dedicated sake professional, sommelier, and educator with Level 3 WSET certifications and awards. As a business devel...

Tippsy Recipe & Shichida “75”
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

Miso-Marinated Pork with Shichida “75” Total time: 40 minutes prep plus overnight marinade Category: Japanese Sake to pair: Shichida “75” by Tenzan ...

Spotlight: Jessica Joly (Part 2)
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

Jessica Joly is Marketing Director for Sake Discoveries, a New York-based company spreading sake awareness through events, branding, and education. Soo...

Apple Fennel Salad Recipe & Fukuju “Blue”
Alice Hama
Alice Hama

Apple Fennel Salad Total time: 20 minutes Category: Italian-inspired Appetizer Sake to pair: Fukuju Blue by Kobe Shushinkan (Hyogo Prefecture) Alic...

Spotlight: Jessica Joly (Part 1)
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

Bringing Sake to New Audiences Jessica Joly is bringing sake to new audiences around the country with her passion, energy, and extensive knowledge. Ba...

Sake-Tasting Tour at Ishikawa Brewing Company, Tokyo
Hayataro Sakitsu
Hayataro Sakitsu

Two weeks ago, my girlfriend and I were vacationing in Japan and looking for something to do for a half-day in Tokyo. “What about visiting a sake brewe...

Bringing Japan Home: IKEBANA
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

Seeing the cherry blossoms in person is a wonderful experience, but for those who are unable to travel this season, there's another way to bring home a...

Enchanting Sakura
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

Spring is one of Japan’s most beloved seasons. It is a time of beginnings, and for sake lovers, a time to enjoy sake after the traditional brewing seas...

Is the Most Expensive Sake the Tastiest? Not Always
Saki Kimura
Saki Kimura

Sake has a range of prices ranging from reasonable to luxurious. Sometimes, buyers say, "Let's buy higher-grade, more expensive sake than usual as a re...

Spotlight: Bridging Sake & Wine, Tippsy Interviews Alice Hama
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

LA: What inspired you to become a wine sommelier? And why did you choose to focus on wine more than sake? ALICE: It was September of 2007. I was in Fr...

Sake Recommendations for Wine Drinkers
Saki Kimura
Saki Kimura

Do you like wine? If you like wine, you might be interested in sake, which is commonly known as "rice wine". Sake has high affinity with wine and it is...

Fact 5: Sake Complements More Than Japanese Cuisine
Saki Kimura
Saki Kimura

Where do you drink sake? In San Francisco, where I live, we often see them at sushi spots, izakaya-style restaurants, ramen shops and so forth. Because...

Fact 4: You Should Not Make Sake Piping Hot
Saki Kimura
Saki Kimura

If you’ve just started becoming interested in sake, you might lean towards serving it warm or hot. If you have a little more knowledge about sake, you ...

Can You Make Sake with Regular Table Rice?
Seika Suzuki
Seika Suzuki

You might already know that sake is made of rice, but most people are probably unfamiliar with the kind of rice used for sake brewing. Do brewers use s...

Spotlight continued: Tippsy Interviews Timothy Sullivan (Part 2)
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

Last week, we shared Part 1 of our interview with sake educator, sommelier, and Hakkaisan's Global Brand Ambassador Timothy Sullivan. Timothy is deeply...

Spotlight: Tippsy Interviews Timothy Sullivan (Part 1)
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

Timothy Sullivan’s passion for Japanese sake has played a significant part in the opening and evolution of the sake industry in the United States. In 2...

Fact 2: Sake is Not a Spirit
Saki Kimura
Saki Kimura

One of the most shocking sake experiences working as a sake sommelier in Tokyo was when I saw a visitor from overseas chugging a glass of sake. Surpris...

Fact 3: Sake should Not Always be Preserved Like Wine
Saki Kimura
Saki Kimura

When you go to a liquor store in the United States looking for sake, you might be a little frustrated to find that sake that should be refrigerated is ...

Why Is the Brand “Dassai” So Famous?
Genki Ito
Genki Ito

How did “Dassai” brand become so famous? See how a small brewery located in a distant town in Yamaguchi Prefecture innovated the sake industry. Global...

Top 5 Gifts for Sake Lovers
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

The biggest shopping days may be behind us, but have you crossed off everyone on your list? Check out our Top 5 gift recommendations for your sake-lovi...

What is Rice Polishing Ratio?
Seika Suzuki
Seika Suzuki

When you are looking for sake, you might find a percentage on the bottle label typically ranging from 20% to 90%. This is not the alcohol level but the...

Journey Into Sake
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen
Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

A memorable sip My first taste of sake is like a first kiss--fleeting and unforgettable. Who forgets one’s first kiss? One memorable summer evening i...

Fact 1: Sake is Made From Rice
Saki Kimura
Saki Kimura

Sake, Japanese traditional alcoholic drink, is mysterious and complicated. Its flavor can easily change depending on temperature, vessels and food. Tho...

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