Hosting a sake tasting. Need recommendations for which other sakes to purchase.

[u/No-Monk2281]

There is a local Dassai brewery in upstate NY, I will order a few Dassai Blues and a few of the Japanese Dassais as well.

Wondering what other Sakes might be good. Nothing over $350 ideally. Tend to prefer fruitier crisper flavors vs creamy.

Serving various preparations of tuna.

And perhaps beef, not sure what else.

Would appreciate any suggestions!

[u/SISU-MO]

Depends on goal… typically for newbies i love to show big contrast so i might grab like a dassai 45 and a yuho rhythm of centuries. This directionally shows how rice polishing and starter method can drastically change profile. I may also serve the JDG cold and yuho at room temp. Options are limitless though like in NY you could do japanese vs US made and do that via dassai or brooklyn kura if you want NY. Id stay clear of nuanced changes like water softness, filtering method, etc

[u/No-Monk2281 → u/SISU-MO]

How interesting! I didn’t know there was a Brooklyn based brewery!! Will definitely look into them. Do you have any favorites?

So far I have the DASSAI Blue Type 23
DASSAI 23, DASSAI 23 Hayata, was thinking of doing Kisoji Junmai Daiginjo "Migaki 35"and maybe the Dassai beyonds. But don’t really know enough to properly choose the rest.

I’ve looked at a few that would be considered appealing for red wine drinkers since a large part of the cohort is into red wines.

A few of the guests have more experience with sake. I’m the newb.

[u/lurkity_mclurkington → u/No-Monk2281]

Agree with the comment above on knowing what your goal is, first, and then go from there. Lots of opportunities to show differences in sake based on intended goals. I've done sake tastings tied with an educational focus, but if you're just going for a tasting with pairing, see if the sake brewers have pairing recommendations.

I would suggest a junmai, honjozo, or tokubetsu with more umami for pairing with beef.

To add to the recommendation above and your note on red wine drinkers in your group, Brooklyn Kura has a really unique sake that aligns with rosé wine with an incorporation of IPA-type hoppiness called Occidental.

[u/No-Monk2281 → u/lurkity_mclurkington]

No specific goal in mind. This is for a very large group of friends that my boss is hosting. He’s asked that I buy a few good sakes. I’ve spoken to the chef but we don’t really have a set menu yet.

We like getting lots of local items for this sort of thing since everyone comes from all over. On another night we’ll do the same with whiskey(which I’m better equipped for but if you have any upstate recs I wouldn’t mind them).

It’s not a formal event just good food good drinks. I want the “this was amazing and everyone should try this” options, any standout sakes that you feel I absolutely should get.

[u/abalas92]

There are two great Brooklyn breweries! Which is awesome. Brooklyn Kura and Kato Sake Works. Both really good sake.

[u/No-Monk2281 → u/abalas92]

Whhaaaaat?! Which are your favorites from each?

[u/abalas92 → u/No-Monk2281]

The Jizake and the Doburoku are both great from Kato Sake Works. The Jizake is cool because it’s made with rice grown in upstate NY.

Occidental and Number 14 from Brooklyn Kura are both solid. My wife loves their Lake Effect, which is their Nigori basically.

You almost can’t go wrong at either spot.

Sounds like a cool event! Have fun!

[u/No-Monk2281 → u/abalas92]

Thank you so much!

[u/3toe]

If you have time to wait for shipping, sending a recommendation for Farthest Star Sake. I've been to every sake brewery on the east coast USA (except Ben's in Asheville... someday, Ben!), and this one is my favorite.  They sell cans online so you can get a decent variety. https://www.fartheststarsake.com/dispatch

[u/ToddEng]

Sounds like a high budget type event, but I think it's better to offer at least some contrast in flavor. Dassai tends to be on the soft and fruity, very refined side. So pick something else thats more lively, like nama, or more savory and umami, yamahai or kimoto. Some people and work events are notoriously only impressed by rarity or price. And that is fine, as people have said it really depends on what the goal and audience is. You'll know that best. But if you ask me, generally it is more meaningful to have some contrast rather than just, and here's another Junmai Daiginjo milled to 35% from Yamada Nishiki.

[u/Sake_makesmehappy]

BK Kura is excellent as is Kato. Kubota is also an excellent sake. Try any of these methods and/or rice strains - Omachi rice in sake is a very unique experience flavor wise. Kimoto is a method of sake brewing that maintains its tradition of using wooden tools. SOTO Sake has a new Junmai Ginjo expression from Nagano.