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.
Marking its 200th anniversary, Midleton Distillery has unveiled a special 28 year old whiskey that introduces Mizunara oak to the celebratory series for the first time. The timber is prized for its spicy, fragrant influence and its notoriously difficult cooperage. The limited-edition bottling concludes a year of celebrations recognising two centuries of whiskey-making at the…
Orient Star has expanded its Classic Collection M45 with two hand-wound moon-phase watches built around a newly developed movement and design theme centred on the quiet passage of time. The models, one a regular production piece, the other a limited edition of 140, take their cues from the Pleiades star cluster, a recurring inspiration for…
The House of Suntory is uniting the worlds of fine art and fine spirits, with a collaboration between its acclaimed Japanese blended whisky Hibiki and internationally renowned painter Hiroshi Senju. The partnership is marked by the release of two collector’s editions – the Hibiki 21 Year Old and the Hibiki 30 Year Old – presented…
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.
Only 636 Bottles: Midleton celebrates bicentennial with 28 year old Mizunara-influenced whiskey
Marking its 200th anniversary, Midleton Distillery has unveiled a special 28 year old whiskey that introduces Mizunara oak to the celebratory series for the first time. The timber is prized for its spicy, fragrant influence and its notoriously difficult cooperage. The limited-edition bottling concludes a year of celebrations recognising two centuries of whiskey-making at the…
Orient Star adds new minimalist moon-phase watches to Classic M45 line
Orient Star has expanded its Classic Collection M45 with two hand-wound moon-phase watches built around a newly developed movement and design theme centred on the quiet passage of time. The models, one a regular production piece, the other a limited edition of 140, take their cues from the Pleiades star cluster, a recurring inspiration for…
Hibiki collaborates with waterfall artist Hiroshi Senju for limited edition 21 and 30 Year Old whiskies
The House of Suntory is uniting the worlds of fine art and fine spirits, with a collaboration between its acclaimed Japanese blended whisky Hibiki and internationally renowned painter Hiroshi Senju. The partnership is marked by the release of two collector’s editions – the Hibiki 21 Year Old and the Hibiki 30 Year Old – presented…
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