Taste With KJ – How to Enjoy SAKE this Dry January

Happy New Years and Kanpai to 2025! As avid readers of the True Sake newsletter, I am sure you toasted the new year with some epic choice sake. But if you are like many of us, you may be starting a diet or cutting back from drinking to even out some of that holiday overindulgence.  If you truly love sake, but need a well-deserved break from excess, you are in luck! There are many ways to cut down on alcohol consumption, while still enjoying sake culture. Whether it's through drinking more mindfully or limiting drinks to once a night or weekends, picking top-quality sake will always be a tasty and satisfying choice. Let’s start with a few insights into the concept of Dry January. 

• Everyone’s definition of ‘dry’ is different.

The concept of ‘dry’ for people who like to imbibe may not equate to complete abstinence. One common way to honor this month is deciding to drink no more than two glasses a day. Others may choose to drink only on weekends. Some people eliminate the types of beverages they are most likely to overconsume. If a total cleanse is in order, go for it. But it’s okay to make your own rules and decide how you define your own personal Dry January. 

• Why sake is the better choice this month.

There are plenty of beverage categories to consider cutting out. When working on a health overhaul, beer and malt beverages should be the first to go. Unless you're a fan of craft Belgian or Trappist beers, most beers are simple tasting and easy to overconsume. They are filled with carbs and potentially adjuncts containing sugar. While some malt beverages such as hard seltzers are a good choice for low-carb diets, they also contain loads of artificial sweeteners. Sake has carbs, but if you choose a premium sake, there is no chance of sweeteners or additives. The trope of quality over quantity applies well to sake and with flavorful premium sake, it is easier to drink less. Forgoing spirits due to their high ABV is a no brainer. Cocktails usually contain a significant amount of sugar, which can spike calories and lead to overeating on salty snacks. Spirits can sit on the shelf for eternity, so if you have a full bar at home, there is no risk of spoilage and no reason to worry.  

As for wine, there is plenty of it. Your favorite commercial wines are not going anywhere. If you are a connoisseur of fine wine, this month could easily be used for research and acquisition to restock your cellar which may be in desperate need of replenishing after the holidays. For cellar geeks, try stocking some Hakkaisan 8 Year Snow Aged Junmai Daiginjo "Yukimuro" to experience the wonders of sake aging. Buy one to consume in the near future and another to hold.

• Go low ABV!

The average alcohol content of sake is at the higher end of still wine, around 15-16% ABV. But there are plenty of high quality lower alcohol options in the sake world to choose from. Clocking in at a mere 5% abv, Gokyo Ne Ne Sparkling "Five Bridges" is a fun, bubbly quaffer that comes in a small 300ml bottle size. It has ample sweetness with yogurt-like acidity and makes a superb pairing partner with freshly sliced melon and strawberries. Another tasty treat in the low ABV realm is Homare Chocolat Nigori. This incredibly chocolatey cloudy sake is so rich, sweet and full of cocoa powder power, that some people like to add a dash of half-and-half. Purists can enjoy it straight or slightly frozen. Three ounces of this as a nightcap is all you need! For a more refreshing option, try Tsukasabotan Shibori Junmai Yuzushu "Mountain Yuzu". At 8% ABV, this is our driest and lightest yuzu-infused sake at the shop. It makes a perfect highball with ice and club soda or as a straight pour on the rocks. 

For those of you completely on the wagon this month, there are still many ways to enjoy sake culture while taking a break from alcohol. Continue enjoying sake without drinking this January with our suggestions below!

• Volunteer at a local brewery! If you are lucky enough to live near a local brewery here in the US, consider offering your services as a volunteer. Being a part of the creation of one of your favorite beverages can be highly enlightening and extremely fun. There are sake tours in Japan that people pay for to get the same experience you could get working locally for free. As a volunteer, be sure to treat it as a real job and commitment. Even if you are just coming in to help for a few hours, no one likes a no-show. One less person could throw off an entire day’s duties at a small brewery. Take the opportunity seriously and you may even receive a small bottle of sake or lunch in exchange for your efforts!

• Take an online sake class! Some sake courses are offered virtually, such as the Sake Scholar Course (SSC) by Michael Tremblay or SSA's Introductory Sake Professional (ISP) where sake tasting samples are optional. While SSC requires prior sake certifications, ISP can be easily enjoyed by the casual connoisseur looking to broaden their horizons and deepen their sake knowledge. Contact Fifth Taste Sake School for more info! 

• Use sake kasu as a cooking ingredient! Sake kasu are the sake lees or rice remnants left over after the brewing process. This byproduct is incredibly useful and can be used for many things such as baking, cooking and believe it or not, skincare! When used in cooking or baking, the alcohol burns off, therefore it is perfect for a dry month or for a family of all ages to enjoy. Chef Geoffrey Reed from Ichido makes a beautiful vegan chocolate mousse using sake kasu from Sequoia Sake Brewery. Sequoia also features a salmon kasuzuke recipe video with Geoff on their website. This page also includes outstanding recipes for ginger amazake and sake kasu pickles. These recipes can be difficult to perfect, but are worth the effort. Sake kasu can be purchased at a local brewery or at Japanese grocery store such as Nijiya or Mitsuwa Marketplace. Give these recipes a try! 
  

• Up your beauty regime! It is well-known sake lore that the person with the best skin and softest hands in the business happens to be the toji, who if using traditional methods to make sake, has for years upon years encountered the essence of perfectly steamed sake rice. It is thought that the rice-infused steam preserves the toji’s skin and makes it baby soft. Since this discovery, rice products from the sake industry have been used in many soaps and beauty products. Products containing sake kasu or rice powder can be applied topically or while cleansing and bathing. Sake itself can also be incorporated into a beauty regime. According to the the Sake Sommelier Association guidelines, making a proper sake bath consists of a small to medium-large bottle of sake (about 400-900ml), and a bathtub filled with warm water (37-40C / 98.6-104F). Make sure that the sake takes up about 1% of the bath volume itself. This bath can be taken once or twice a week, and is said to brighten and smooth the skin. It is also said to bring forth anti-aging effects, detoxification of skin and even improve circulation for better sleep and waking hours. If anyone has ever spent 10-15 minutes or more in a warm onsen bath, while it does not contain sake, the effects of the warm spring water alone can feel almost like a deep sleeping aid. Disclaimer: I do not recommend throwing sake into a private or public onsen bath, so please refrain from doing so! But try a sake bath at home and you may be able to replicate some of those relaxing onsen moments! 

• Taste sake like a professional… using a spittoon! This is my strategy during Dry January. Taking a month off from drinking casually and using all of my palate power when tasting at work a few times a week actually heightens my perception of flavor on the tongue. Like anything, taking a rest or break from a task or hobby usually results in a more powerful experience the next time you encounter it. 

What are your strategies and/or habits during Dry January? Please share your stories at KJ@truesake.com and you could be featured in a future article. Have a great month sake lovers and I’ll see you for more tasting in February!