In Japanese, the word sake (kanji: 酒, Japanese pronunciation: [sake]) can refer to any alcoholic drink, while the beverage called sake in English is usually termed nihonshu (日本酒; meaning 'Japanese alcoholic drink'). Wish you could enroll in Sake 101? Learn everything you've ever wanted to know about Japan's national drink with this COMPLETE sake guide for beginners!

Understanding the Context

Learn how the Japanese alcoholic rice beverage sake is made, the types of sake to try, and how to best drink sake cold or hot or mixed in cocktails. What Is Sake? Why You Should Try It and What to Sip Sake is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented polished rice. In Japan, it is called nihonshu (日本酒), which literally means “Japanese alcohol.” The word “sake” in Japanese actually refers to alcohol in general — but outside Japan, it has become the universal term for this specific drink.

Key Insights

The word “sake” (pronounced like “sah-kay,” not rhyming with “hoockey”) in Japanese simply means alcohol in general. Beer is sake. Wine is sake. Whiskey is sake. Context matters.

Final Thoughts

But globally, sake has become shorthand for Japan’s traditional rice-based brewed alcohol. It’s not distilled like vodka It’s not fermented like ... Here's everything you need to know about sake. What is sake? Sake is a Japanese alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice. It consists of four ingredients: rice, water, yeast, and a mold called...

Learn the main types of Japanese sake: junmai, ginjo, daiginjo, honjozo, and more. A beginner's guide to flavor, polishing ratio, and how to choose.