Tasting and Talking About Sake
Seattle is generally known for its love of wine and coffee, but at Sake Nomi, owners Johnnie and Taiko Stroud are trying expand our beverage interests by creating a place to learn about and taste premium Japanese sake. It’s not just about the taste and flavors of the beverage, it’s about the culture and tradition that accompany it.
Sake Nomi is both a sake store and a sake bar, where sake aficionados and novices alike can share their interest in this mysterious alcoholic beverage. Learn, ask questions taste. And if you find yourself hooked, you can purchase a bottle to take home, or browse through sake related accessories.
Since I’m very much a beginner in the sake arena, I found these tips interesting and helpful:
- Sake is properly pronounced “sa-kay” (rhyming with day) not “sa-key” (rhyming with me).
- Sake is not served hot, and it is not always served warm. It was originally heated because doing so eliminated funky flavors and odors. That’s not a problem with modern technology, so lightly or gently warming sake becomes a matter of personal taste preference.
- Most high end sake should be slightly chilled, like white wine, in order to best appreciate the flavors and aromas.
- A few degrees in temperature can make a substantial change in how sake tastes.
Sake lovers will feel right at home at Sake Nomi. If you’re new to the beverage it may take a little time to acquire and appreciate the nuances of the drink, but the Stroud’s will make sure you have a good time while doing it.
Location: 76 South Washington Street, Pioneer Square between 1st Avenue and Alaska Way (map it)
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, noon – 8 pm; Sunday, noon - 7 pm. Closed on Monday. Monthly seminars and special tastings offered.
Image credit: Amazon
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3 Comments
Sake … hmm. I have never tasted it before. But maybe good to have one sometime. In Bali where I live, there is something similar to Sake. Kind of alcohol beverage made of fermented rice. We call it Brem.
This sounds like a great store Mary Jo!
My first taste of sake was warm but if you order it in Tokyo it either comes chilled or at room temperature. I think that it might actually be offensive if you were to ask for it to be heated but I’ve never tried as I am now a convert to the chilled style.
I still have a tough time with sake, and it’s a little too strong for my taste. However, now that I’m learning a little more, I may be able to find something that appeals to me. And having it chilled will definitely be a plus.