Is it time to pivot to saké? Cate Blanchett certainly thinks so. The double Academy Award-winning actor and producer recently joined Toku Saké as Creative Director, overseeing creative strategy and direction for the Japanese brand, including new product development and innovation.
And having sampled the brand’s super premium Junmai Daiginjo saké, we think she might be onto something – it really is exquisite.
Brewed in Hokkaido, the coldest city in Japan, Toku Saké has a gloriously delicate taste. It’s sweet but not cloying, with aromatic, fruity notes and a smooth, rich finish.
With a nod to over 120 years of tradition, this Junmai Daiginjo is made using time-honoured techniques by one of the region’s oldest breweries. It’s crafted from highly polished Yamada Nishiki rice, said to be the best quality rice with which to make saké, and fermented in the region’s famously freezing conditions.
With a nod to over 120 years of tradition, this Junmai Daiginjo is made using time-honoured techniques by one of the region’s oldest breweries…
Toku Saké Junmai Daiginjo tasting notes
This saké has a distinctly fruity aroma, predominantly banana, melon, peach and apples. On the palate, you’ll taste steamed Nishiki rice, gently sweetened by sun-kissed fruits. Silky smooth and refreshing, it’s light and easy to drink. The finish lingers just long enough to savour.
Toku Saké can be enjoyed both neat or in a cocktail. Our preference would be to serve it chilled at 5°C in a stemmed wine glass. It pairs beautifully with fish, curry roux, and sembei crackers.
Interest in saké from UK shoppers is growing. We’re told that Waitrose has reported a 214 per cent rise in searches for saké, while wine merchants Berry Bros & Rudd has reported a 1,000 per cent rise in saké sales in the past year.
Two new exclusive bottlings have been released by The Whisky Exchange, offering dram-fans a chance to explore contrasting whisky styles from Ireland and Japan – one is a 20-year-old Redbreast, matured in Oloroso sherry casks, the other a single-cask Mars Komagatake, the latest entries in its Sumo Series. The Redbreast offers mature pot still character,…
High-end Technics turntable performance for less than you might expect. That’s the promise behind the SL-1500CS, a new direct-drive Hi-Fi turntable from the legendary Japanese brand, arriving March 2026. For decades, Technics has been synonymous with direct-drive turntables, from broadcast studios to DJ booths and audiophile listening rooms. Models such as the SL-1200 series helped…
Sumo fans visiting Tokyo have a new attraction to add to their itinerary. Opening January 7 is a 150-seat show restaurant that brings together Japan’s national sport, sumo, and traditional kaiseki cuisine. The Sumo Live restaurant, located in Ginza, features a full-size sumo-ring stage, where wrestlers will perform demonstration bouts for diners. The opening follows…
The Luxe Review 
Is it time to pivot to saké? Cate Blanchett certainly thinks so. The double Academy Award-winning actor and producer recently joined Toku Saké as Creative Director, overseeing creative strategy and direction for the Japanese brand, including new product development and innovation.
And having sampled the brand’s super premium Junmai Daiginjo saké, we think she might be onto something – it really is exquisite.
Brewed in Hokkaido, the coldest city in Japan, Toku Saké has a gloriously delicate taste. It’s sweet but not cloying, with aromatic, fruity notes and a smooth, rich finish.
With a nod to over 120 years of tradition, this Junmai Daiginjo is made using time-honoured techniques by one of the region’s oldest breweries. It’s crafted from highly polished Yamada Nishiki rice, said to be the best quality rice with which to make saké, and fermented in the region’s famously freezing conditions.
Toku Saké Junmai Daiginjo tasting notes
This saké has a distinctly fruity aroma, predominantly banana, melon, peach and apples. On the palate, you’ll taste steamed Nishiki rice, gently sweetened by sun-kissed fruits. Silky smooth and refreshing, it’s light and easy to drink. The finish lingers just long enough to savour.
Toku Saké can be enjoyed both neat or in a cocktail. Our preference would be to serve it chilled at 5°C in a stemmed wine glass. It pairs beautifully with fish, curry roux, and sembei crackers.
Interest in saké from UK shoppers is growing. We’re told that Waitrose has reported a 214 per cent rise in searches for saké, while wine merchants Berry Bros & Rudd has reported a 1,000 per cent rise in saké sales in the past year.
Bottle at 16% ABV, the 72cl Toku Saké sells for £155. Buy your bottle here.
The Whisky Exchange debuts 20 Year Old Redbreast Irish Whiskey and Mars Komagatake Japanese single cask exclusives
Two new exclusive bottlings have been released by The Whisky Exchange, offering dram-fans a chance to explore contrasting whisky styles from Ireland and Japan – one is a 20-year-old Redbreast, matured in Oloroso sherry casks, the other a single-cask Mars Komagatake, the latest entries in its Sumo Series. The Redbreast offers mature pot still character,…
Technics SL-1500CS hands-on: New direct drive turntable promises audiophile performance for less
High-end Technics turntable performance for less than you might expect. That’s the promise behind the SL-1500CS, a new direct-drive Hi-Fi turntable from the legendary Japanese brand, arriving March 2026. For decades, Technics has been synonymous with direct-drive turntables, from broadcast studios to DJ booths and audiophile listening rooms. Models such as the SL-1200 series helped…
Live Sumo meets classic Japanese cuisine at new Tokyo show restaurant
Sumo fans visiting Tokyo have a new attraction to add to their itinerary. Opening January 7 is a 150-seat show restaurant that brings together Japan’s national sport, sumo, and traditional kaiseki cuisine. The Sumo Live restaurant, located in Ginza, features a full-size sumo-ring stage, where wrestlers will perform demonstration bouts for diners. The opening follows…
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