Serving & Storing Saké

If you’re familiar with the best practices of serving and storing wine, then sake will feel like a friendly copy-paste. But there are still some myths tangled with tradition that need sorting. So here’s your guide to sorting myth from the truth!

Should sake be served hot or cold?--racy

In general, it's best to serve your sake chilled.

Though you may recall seeing sake served warm at a local Japanese joint, it is more of a tradition than a modern approach to enjoyment. Historically, sake was served warm to intentionally mask some of the characteristics considered unappealing, and less refined. But with an overflow of new modernised sake-making techniques and technology, it’s simply no longer the case! Today’s sake is much higher quality; it’s more delicate in style and refined in flavour. Serving it warm would mask this intended character. Serving it with a chill preserves its elegance and allows it to express itself with more finesse!

So… how chilled? Slightly. Think similar to full-bodied white wine, which is around 12°-15°. Also, note that serving it too cold (anything below 8°C) can also conceal its delicate flavours.

So it’s about finding that goldilocks perfect spot in the middle where the Sake can shine. And in this case, you get to be goldilocks. Like wine, play around with the temperature and see what you like best! You may even notice you enjoy different styles of sake at slightly different temperatures.

What should I drink sake out of? Is there special glassware?--red

Traditionally sake is drunk out of an o-Choko which is a small cylindrical vessel. Japanese ceramics have a rich history that goes back even further than sake production. So it's no surprise that this played a big role in sake drinking culture.

These days, however, the sake-tasting pros recommend enjoying sake out of a wine glass. Why? You can access the colour or cloudiness of the sake and allow light through the transparent glass. Also with its big bowl, you can swirl the sake. This is for the same reasons we swirl wine. It breathes oxygen into the sake which exhales all sorts of more vibrant aromatic expressions.

We recommend wine glasses with stems if you're feeling fancy; that way the temperature of the sake will remain more constant too.

How should I store sake?--wines

Opened sake:
Once opened, it's best to put that cap back on it and store it in the fridge — just like an open bottle of white wine or rosé. Avoid heat, oxygen and sunlight. This will preserve freshness and delicate flavours as long as possible.

Unopened sake:
If you haven't opened your sake yet, make sure it’s somewhere out of the sun or heat, and at a cool and constant temperature - room temperature is okay but the cooler the environment the better. If you’re one of the lucky people with a wine fridge, that’s your best option! Keep in mind in Japan they store their sake at near-freezing temperatures to preserve freshness!

Also, since sake doesn't have a cork, you don’t have to worry about laying it flat like you would with a bottle of wine (with a cork). You can store it standing right side up.

How long does a bottle of sake last once open?--lemon

Good news. Sake is much more forgiving than wine when it comes to how long it lasts after opening. Though sake is most expressive closest to when it was first opened, it will still maintain its character several weeks after!

Beyond that, much like wine does, over time an opened bottle of sake will begin to lose its freshness and flavour definition. Sometimes the sake will even start tasting more alcoholic. But as long as it’s not unpasteurized sake (namazake) it will not “go bad”, so you can trust your tastebuds when it comes to deciding whether it is still enjoyable to drink.

Tip: For the longest-lasting freshness, make sure you re-seal the open bottle and stored it in the fridge.

Does sake get better with age? Should I cellar my Sake?--cellar

The short answer? No.

Sake is meant to be consumed young and fresh. Breweries release their sake when they think it is ready to enjoy and most are built to be consumed within a year or two from release. It might not “go bad” if you open it later than that, but it’s very unlikely to improve. So drink it now — the answer you really wanted, right? ;)

That said, there are some very fine-aged examples out there; it’s just less common. If you’re curious, it’s best to try aged sakes that have been intentionally cellared by their brewmasters, instead of starting an experimental sake cellar collection of your own, which could lead to some disappointment.

About the Author

Meet Alex Tanner – a sommelier with a passion for both wine and the great outdoors. Whether it's après-ski on a mountaintop or camping deep in ancient woodlands, foraging along the way, Alex believes nature’s treasures are best enjoyed with the perfect glass of wine (or two).