The Ultimate Sake Tasting Event

You’ve always had a thirst for all things Japanese.

And with Autumn arriving, it’s time to trade up to a new drink for the new season.

Skip the usual cocktails for something more exotic and refreshing. Find it at… The Joy of Sake. If you already know about the country’s premiere sake tasting event, just skip ahead to joyofsake.com for access. For everyone else, The Joy of Sake is the ultimate tasting of premium sakes in the U.S.

This year, over 300 premium sakes (327 to be exact) will find their way onto three floors at Webster Hall—including over 100 that never make it to the US aside from this event. There, you’ll learn to taste the difference between chewy junmai sakes, zippy ginjos, and delicate, aromatic daiginjo labels. Veteran aficionados head for bottles sporting colored stars–the winners of gold and silver awards at the 2008 U.S. National Sake Appraisal held last month in Honolulu.

To enhance your tasting, the city’s top restaurants are lending small plates and appetizers to the cause. Feast on complementary Japanese and pan-Asian fare from 15 East, Bond St, Nobu, Sakagura, SushiSamba, wd-50, and a host of other A-List eateries.

The best part?

You have three hours to indulge in it all.

The Joy of Sake kicks off at 6 p.m. on Thursday (9/25) at Webster Hall, 125 East 11th Street (off Third Avenue).


To score a ticket for Thursday’s main event or to learn more about The Joy of Sake, the country’s largest sake tasting event, head to JoyOfSake.com.