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.

Categories

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  Culture (23)
• 
  Food & Drink (27)
• 
  Recipe (12)
• 
  Sake (63)
• 
  Spotlight (33)
• 
  Travel (13)

Posts

Sake

The Journey of Branding Tippsy and Sake Itself

Hayataro Sakitsu

September 22, 2023

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. ...

Sake

What Is Nama Sake?

Taylor Markarian

September 15, 2023

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...

Sake

Brooklyn Kura: History, Bottles, Where To Buy

Sam Fairchild

September 13, 2023

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 ...

Sake

Ozeki Sake: History, Bottles, Where To Buy

Andrew Lamb

September 5, 2023

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...

Sake

5 Best Warm Sake 2023

Taylor Markarian

August 4, 2023

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...

Sake

What’s an Ochoko? All About the Sake Cup

Jake Lee

June 28, 2023

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

Sake: Resurrecting A Dying Art

Taylor Markarian

June 22, 2023

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...

Sake

Is Sake Vegan? Certified Vegan Sake Brands

Andrew Lamb

June 21, 2023

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

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

Russell King

June 6, 2023

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

Sake

The Koji Club: Boston’s First Sake Bar

Taylor Markarian

June 1, 2023

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...

Sake

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

Taylor Markarian

May 23, 2023

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...

Sake

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

Taylor Markarian

April 13, 2023

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...

Sake

Does Sake Have Sugar? Sugar Content in Sake

Taylor Markarian

March 30, 2023

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...

Sake

Does Sake Have Carbs? Is Sake Keto?

Andrew Lamb

March 30, 2023

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

Sake

Sake Meter Value and Acidity, Explained

Taylor Markarian

March 22, 2023

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...

Sake

What Is Umeshu? Is It Really Plum Wine?

Domenic Alonge

March 17, 2023

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

Sake

How Climate Change Affects Sake

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

Sake

What Is Sakamai? 20 Types of Sake Rice To Know

Andrew Lamb

February 2, 2023

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...

Sake

Is Sake Rice Wine?

Domenic Alonge

December 16, 2022

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...

Sake

Is Sake Good or Bad for You? Sake Health Benefits

Andrew Lamb

November 30, 2022

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

What Is a Sake Bomb?

Jake Lee

October 26, 2022

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...

Sake

Is All Sake Gluten Free?

Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

September 8, 2022

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...

Sake

What Does Sake Taste Like?

Taylor Markarian

August 30, 2022

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...

Sake

Everything You Need To Know About Koji Rice

Russell King

June 8, 2022

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...

Sake

What Is Nigori “Cloudy” Sake? Unclouding Nigori Sake

Russell King

March 16, 2022

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...

Sake

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

Alice Hama

February 28, 2022

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, ...

Sake

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

Russell King

December 22, 2021

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...

Sake

Gold Winners from 2021 U.S. National Sake Appraisal

Brad Smith

December 21, 2021

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...

Sake

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

Russell King

November 29, 2021

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...

Sake

5 Best Warm Sake Brands (2021)

Brad Smith

November 9, 2021

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...

Sake

Hiyaoroshi: Enchanting Fall Seasonal Sake

Alice Hama

October 26, 2021

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

Sake

Celebrate Hello Kitty’s Birthday with Hello Kitty Nigori Sake

Taylor Markarian

October 15, 2021

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...

Sake

Koshu: Aged Sake Brands, History and How-To

Brad Smith

September 23, 2021

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

What is Junmai Sake or “Pure Rice” Sake?

Russell King

August 25, 2021

“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...

Sake

10 Best Cold Sake

Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

August 17, 2021

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...

Sake

Does Sake Go Bad?

Alice Hama

August 12, 2021

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,...

Sake

Nada vs Fushimi Sake Tasting

Brad Smith

August 5, 2021

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...

Sake

How To Pour Sake: Mokkiri vs Wine Glass

Alice Hama

June 28, 2021

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

How To Drink Sake with the Right Sake Cup

Domenic Alonge

June 4, 2021

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...

Sake

Kimoto: The Living History of Sake

Bryan West

May 25, 2021

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 ...

Sake

Behind The Scenes: Tippsy’s Quality Control

Sachiko Miyagi

April 23, 2021

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 ...

Sake

Spring Sake for Cherry Blossom Season

Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

April 10, 2021

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

Sake and Alcohol Content: The ABC’s on ABV

Bryan West

March 25, 2021

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...

Sake

Seven Best Sake Picks for 2021

Bryan West

February 5, 2021

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...

Sake

U.S. National Sake Appraisal Gold Award-winners

Sachiko Miyagi

January 25, 2021

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...

Sake

Beat The Heat: Cold Sake

Bryan West

September 28, 2020

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

One-on-one Sake Tasting with Hakkaisan

Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

September 10, 2020

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...

Sake

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

Bryan West

July 28, 2020

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....

Sake

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

Bryan West

June 25, 2020

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

Sake

Sparkling Sake Brunch at Home

Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

June 1, 2020

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...

Sake

Finding Your Zen with Sake

Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

April 6, 2020

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

Sake

5 Sake Picks for a Romantic Date

Alice Hama

January 31, 2020

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...

Sake

Top 5 Best Sake for Beginners

Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

January 14, 2020

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

Best Hot Sake

Louie Anne Batac-Nguyen

October 22, 2019

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...

Sake

Is the Most Expensive Sake the Tastiest? Not Always

Saki Kimura

March 27, 2019

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...

Sake

Fact 5: Sake Complements More Than Japanese Cuisine

Saki Kimura

February 22, 2019

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...

Sake

Fact 4: You Should Not Make Sake Piping Hot

Saki Kimura

February 1, 2019

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 ...

Sake

Can You Make Sake with Regular Table Rice?

Seika Suzuki

January 25, 2019

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...

Sake

Fact 2: Sake is Not a Spirit

Saki Kimura

December 28, 2018

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...

Sake

Fact 3: Sake should Not Always be Preserved Like Wine

Saki Kimura

December 28, 2018

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 ...

Sake

Why Is the Brand “Dassai” So Famous?

Genki Ito

December 17, 2018

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...

Sake

What is Rice Polishing Ratio?

Seika Suzuki

November 11, 2018

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...

Sake

Fact 1: Sake is Made From Rice

Saki Kimura

October 1, 2018

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