I think the first thing that a beginner to sake faces when they start to become interested in sake is not knowing which sake to buy. And when that happens, the important thing is to buy it at a good price, so today I would like to explain some tips for buying good-value sake.
What is a bargain anyway?
First of all, when do we feel like we're getting a good deal?
That's when the "actual value felt" exceeds the "expectation."
For example, when you eat at a restaurant with an incredibly good reputation or see a movie, you may have had the experience of having your expectations too high, and so even though the food was delicious or the movie was interesting, you may not have been very satisfied with it, and therefore not feel like you got a good deal.
And when it comes to sake, the "actually perceived value" is mainly the taste of the product . However, since the actual perceived value is different for each person and depends on personal preference, it is important to choose a product that suits your taste. Please refer to this article for information on how to do this. Also, the taste of the same product can be greatly affected by how you drink it, so please refer to this article .
Having increased the actual perceived value, we will now move on to "expectations." As expectations are mainly determined by price , we will focus on explaining the factors and points to consider when judging price, both in terms of sake in general and sake products.
Is sake a better value than other alcoholic drinks?
I think this is a YES in Japan . Of course, it is more expensive than regular canned beer or canned chuhai, but it is a product with a different purpose, so if you were to compare it, it would be to a one-cup sake. The sake we are talking about is something that pursues deliciousness, so if you compare it to craft beer, I think you will understand that it is a good deal.
The prices below are a rough guide, but being able to buy a bottle for under 1,000 yen isn't particularly expensive compared to wine or craft beer, and even when you consider the effort, skill, and cost involved in brewing it, as well as the quality of the finished product, I think sake is still good value .
Price guide (720ml)
1,000 to 1,500 yen General microwave oven
1,500-2,000 yen Something a little nicer
Over 2,000 yen Good stuff
What products are good value?
The key to choosing a sake product is basically the information on the label. Among them, the following three elements are the key to determining whether a product is a good deal or not.
Rice
brand
Japanese sake is mainly made from rice that is suitable for sake brewing, known as sake rice , and among them, "Yamada Nishiki" is the number one brand of rice, so it tends to be expensive. Also, be careful when using products that feature Yamada Nishiki, as they may not have any other selling points and are just promoting the rice brand.
Rice polishing condition
Products labeled "Daiginjo" or "Ginjo" require a lot of shaved rice, which means they are more expensive. Ginjo sake is said to have a clear, transparent taste with few impurities, and it requires great skill to shave a lot of rice without crushing it, a taste that was only made possible after the hard work of our predecessors. Yamada Nishiki Daiginjo in particular is a very luxurious sake and is expensive, but because it has a clear and delicate taste, there is a high possibility that you will think, "Is this the taste for the price?"
Making yeast starter (Yamahai, Kimoto)
Sakes labeled "Yamahai" or "Kimoto" are made using traditional handmade methods that take time and effort, so they should be more expensive... but personally, I don't think that's reflected in the price, and I'm a little worried about whether the brewery is okay. This is proof that the sake is made carefully, and it has a strong, flavorful taste that I personally find important.
Other factors
The reputation and brand of the brewery
If a brewery is famous or has many fans, there is demand and the price tends to be high. Breweries have value as brands and there is a reason for their large fan base, so if it is a brand you can relate to, please try it even if it is a little expensive. However, there are still not many such famous brands in the Japanese sake industry.
Received institutional recognition and awards
In Japan, there has long been a national sake tasting competition, and there are "gold medal winning sakes," but this is a competition of brewing techniques, so I don't think you need to worry too much about it. In fact, in recent years, there have been international competitions such as the IWC and Kura Master, and products that win at such competitions tend to attract more attention and are more expensive.
New Initiatives
Development costs for highly designed labels and bottles, and new genres of sake, are the result of trying things other than just making alcohol, so they are expensive because of these costs.However, even if something is being sold at a similar price, it may be because it uses something that is cheaper for pure alcohol, so you need to be careful.
You don't need to get too hung up on the price, but buying a good deal will make you feel more excited and you'll enjoy it even more. Many people have probably realized that they've been drinking more at home due to the effects of COVID-19, but if you buy a bottle yourself and drink it at home, it's about half the price of drinking outside, so be sure to judge the price appropriately and find a good bargain to enjoy!
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