Summer, Sunshine and Sake - Seven Sake to Sip this Summer

Do you like your sake hot or cold? Sake continues to grow in popularity worldwide and no matter how you enjoy it, there’s no denying the staying power of the beverage, which is neither beer, wine, nor spirit, but a category in and of itself. While Sake has its roots in China, it has been refined in Japan since it found its way there over 2500 years ago. That’s a lot of history, and with it comes a rich and varied category that can be enjoyed by anyone, anywhere. 

In simple terms, sake is crafted (like beer) via fermentation and filtration, and utilises rice, water, koji and yeast. It can be fragrant or savoury and produce flavours from all across the spectrum. Expect umami, citrus, flowers and so, so much more. Expect the driest, aged, most complex drinks down to the sweetest, sparkling and syrupy end of the drinks spectrum. 

Sake can be enjoyed any time of the year, but sake and sake-based beverages have a special place in the summer months, enjoyed over ice, in cocktails or served beautifully chilled and sparkling like the finest wines. So, if you’re looking for something a little different to sip this summer, look no further than these six sake perfect to sip this summer…

Gekkeikan Horin Junmai Daiginjo Sake

Junmai literally means that the Sake is totally without additives and of a certain percentage of “polished” rice, typically around 70%. In essence, making it a ‘purer’ Sake. Gekkeikan Horin is delightfully fresh, fruity and easy-drinking. The perfect choice for sipping over ice on the hottest summer days. Expect plenty of summer fruits, and a long, lingering pear finish. 

Size: 300ml
ABV: 15.5%
Where to Find: Japan Centre - £15.98

Hananomai Sparkling Blueberry Sake

Hananomai takes its name from the phrase “flower dance”, an apt title for an effervescent, sparkling floral sensation in a bottle. Sake can be many things, and in this case, it’s fun. Coming in at a low ABV, this can easily be enjoyed in a similar way one might enjoy a quality beer or cider. That is, in a beer garden under the sweltering heat? Yes please! The blueberries are infused in this super-fresh bottle or sourced locally to the brewery, making for a product free from artificial flavours while still being fun, fruity and easy to drink.

Size: 300ml
ABV: 6%
Where to Find: Japan Centre - £9.89

Gekkeikan Nigori Sake

Now for something a little different. Nigori means “cloudy”, which is visually what you can expect from this unfiltered sake. Once you get past the appearance, you can expect a much lighter, sweeter and creamier Sake experience. Super bright, refreshing and packed full of flavour. If you’ve struggled with other styles of Sake in the past, this may be the one for you! A must-try and totally unique sipping experience.  

Size: 300ml
ABV: Varied (Unfiltered and hard to pin down)
Where to Find: Japan Centre - £10.59

Tosa Shuzo Keigetsu Yuzu Sake

Yuzu is a particularly captivating flavour that shines in spirits, beers, cocktails and just about anything else you can throw it in, and this Yuzu Sake is a shining example of both the versatility of Yuzu and of Sake. This exquisitely sweet and sour Sake will transport you to the wonders of Japan! The very definition of “perfect for summer sipping” - enjoy over ice as an aperitif or with a splash of soda to mellow out those rich tart notes.

Size: 300ml
ABV: 8%
Where to Find: Japan Centre - £11.59

Samurai Sake, Junmai Daiginjo Genshu

Sometimes on a particularly hot day, you just want to sit and enjoy something a little dryer than the regular sugar-bombs of Summer sipping. After all, why else would white wine be so popular in the season? Samurai Sake is rich with umami, boasting notes of fresh nuts and sourdough. A fantastic option to sip super cold at a BBQ alongside your favourite summer foods, or even just a crisp salad. If you didn’t know, Sake pairs beautifully with most food - a brilliant all-rounder.

Size: 720ml
ABV: 16%
Where to Find: Master of Malt - £34.94

So Good Sake

Did you know Sake can actually be made anywhere in the world? Well, this one comes from California, and is the first of its kind! Their homegrown, Californian rice combined with traditional Japanese methodology makes for a unique bottling, rich in melon, honey and apple notes which make it a perfect summer tipple. A truly new and modern Sake offering. 

Size: 750ml
ABV: 15.5%
Where to Find: Master of Malt - £33.02

Chilled Kamoshibito Kuheiji Eau de Desir Junmai Daiginjo Sake

Believe it or not, in this bottle you may find a Sake with all the complexity and rich flavour profile of a high end French white wine. The brewery hand-grows their rice to ensure only the highest quality grains make it into the final production process. You can find this Sake in Michelin star restaurants all over Paris, and when you take a sip it’s easy to see why. Expect a deeply aromatic liquid, full bodied and velvety with plenty of super fresh citrus notes. Best enjoyed chilled in a wine glass - after all, you’d subject a fine wine to no less than the perfect temperature and glass, right? For a show-stopping Summer party where you’re looking to impress! 

Size: 720ml
ABV: 16%
Where to Find: Japan Centre - £49

Looking for more unique summer tipples? Have you jumped on the Orange Wine wagon yet? Because you should! Read more here!

The Best Cocktail Terraces in London

The sun is (finally) coming out and summer cocktail terraces are starting to bloom. Whether you like your alfresco drinks skyscraping and swish, or garden-fringed and intimate, grab your sunnies, gather your mates and book off the afternoon. We’re heading out for cocktails at these must-visit London terraces.  

Bingham Riverhouse

*Technically* this is in Surrey – elegant Richmond, to be exact – but this terrace is definitely worth the extra few minutes on the District Line. An extension of Bingham’s chic (and utterly delicious) restaurant from MasterChef-winning chef Steven Edwards, the intimate strip looks out to lawns and the River Thames, so you can watch boats slink past as you sip. Order a Jalapeno’s Negroni – the perfect smoky-spicy blend of mezcal, Cocchi red vermouth and jalapeño-infused Campari – then follow up with a Laurent Perrier-topped Blackberry Royal, made with the Bingham garden’s rosemary. There’s no need to wobble home after; Bingham’s elegant hotel rooms, with copper baths and sustainable La-Eva toiletries, are dreamy crash pads. Rise for morning bellinis and hangover-busting aromatherapy massages at Bhuti spa.

Book Here 

Native at Brown’s

If you’re seeking a full-on garden terrace vibe, you could do far worse than this central London restaurant. Coddled by rows of lush ferns, and towering trees, if feels the perfect spot to sip a cocktail bursting with foraged flavours – exactly what Native majors in. In a spin on a classic Amaretto Sour, the Meadowsweet Sour uses foraged meadowsweet flowers. The Seasonal Spritz, meanwhile, comes with a dash of zingy sea buckthorn. Cocktails are shaken up with sustainability in mind, too. The espresso martini is made with waste coffee grounds, as well as locally sourced East London Liquor Co vodka.

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Fortnum & Mason Royal Exchange, Bank

As we’ve all been pushed outdoors by pandemic dining, some amazing drinking spaces have popped up as a result, including this previously underused patch of pavement outside the Royal Exchange. Sandwiched spectacularly between Cornhill and Threadneedle Street, the terrace at Fortnum & Mason Royal Exchange lets you take in the epic, chiselled panoramas of Bank – a quintessential London scene – over a dry martini or, if you prefer something lighter, a glass of pink Fortnum’s own fizz. Visit in late afternoon, when it’s washed in sunshine, and you won’t want to budge until closing time at 11pm.

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Hicce

Set on the vast open space by Coal Drop’s Yard, just off Regent’s Canal, Hicce is the pick for when you want a big buzzy terrace vibe, but top-quality drinks too. Book in with a bunch of friends, grab a seat in the sun, and work through the innovative list: Matchagras (shiso leaf-infused Tanqueray, matcha, lemongrass and aquafaba); Hibilep (pandan leaf-infused Bulleit bourbon with hibiscus and pomegranate); Beetarita (mezcal, cherry liqueur, lime, beetroot juice). There’s a brilliant wine selection for your crowd to tackle too, with a raft of skin-contact whites and low-intervention reds.

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Nest, Treehouse London

If you’re anything like us, after braving the throngs of Oxford Street you’ll be in serious need of a drink. Enter Nest: a skyscraping bar just a few minutes’ walk away, perched at the top of Treehouse hotel, with views sweeping across the capital. Drop your shopping bags and order a Botanical Sour – gin, elderflower, coriander, vermouth and citrus – or a Bee Sting (Calvados, Beesou, honey, banana and citrus). Some time slots incur a minimum spend, so be sure to choose an hour that suits you budget. And, when booking, ask for a comfy sofa seat on the west side – the sun floods it in the afternoons.

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If you’re feeling more in the mood for a picnic then check out our delicious canned wines and no and low drinks recommendations!