Advanced Sake Tasting covers sake brewed with a very different concept than the ones introduced in the basic sake tours.
Sake you will taste in this experience is unique and exceptional: ones brewed using ancient methods that are different from modern methods, a new type of sake that utilizes the characteristics of microorganisms and sake that is brewed using local wood, giving it a taste unique to the region. By tasting these types of sake, you will be fascinated by the profundity of sake and the possibilities of how different tastes can be created by the sake making process.
Please note that in the Advanced Sake Tasting Experience, we also cover the basics of sake production and the sake categories. Even if you have no prior sake experience, you can enjoy the Advanced course.
Posted By : Nikam83
Kotaro was excellent at explaining the history & intricacies of sake. Would highly recommend this tasting if in Kyoto!
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Posted On : 2024-05-26 04:22:50 
Posted By : riyoo2015
It was one of the best activities we had in Kyoto!! I’ve been to Kyoto many many times but it was my first time joining this experience. And as Japanese I highly recommend the class!!!
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Posted On : 2024-05-23 23:24:37
Posted By : johns5923
I'm a wine nerd, and for some time, I'd been hoping to do a sake tasting that went deep on technical details of production and how it affects the end result, as opposed to a simply qualitative, empirical comparison tasting, as is so often done in the wine world. This tasting did not disappoint! Kotaro-sensei did a fantastic job of covering not just details of production, but what is happening chemically and how these details change what you get in the glass. I now have a solid foundation of knowledge to build on not only of different styles but also what keywords map to the production techniques that will help me find the experience I'm looking for.
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Posted On : 2024-05-15 00:34:48
Posted By : matie000
If you enjoy drinking Sake have an interest in knowing more about the traditional and modern processes for making Sake, you should really give this Tasting Experience a go.
I did both the Beginners Tasting Experience one day and the Advanced Course the next day. Both were extremely informative and interesting. Although I did a bit of sake research before going to Japan, I learned so much more about the various types of sake and their production processes.
Included in the beginners course is a visit to the Gekkeikan Sake brewery and museum, which was excellent.
Over the 2 sessions something like 18 different sakes were tasted, but at the end of it all I still preferred the more standard range of Junmai brews over the more esoteric brews that were aged or left in cedar for 2 weeks, etc.
If you're looking for something interesting, other than visiting the tourist sites, I would highly recommend this experience.
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Posted On : 2024-05-12 00:57:49
Posted By : Danamite427
This tasting was amazing and super informative, and Kotaro was an incredible teacher! We learned so much about the nuances of sake, and got to taste some very rare types that are not readily available. I will admit that I was hesitant at first, thinking that it may be very touristy, but I am so happy that we did this. We are much more knowledgable about what to look for when purchasing sake. Definitely a must do when visiting Kyoto!
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Posted On : 2024-05-08 08:32:51
Posted By : S4398VEanthonys
I have been finding myself enjoying sake (during this presentation, learned that what we in the West call "sake" just means "alcohol" in Japanese... the more precise term for rice wine made in Japan that we typically refer to as sake is, "Nihonshu") more and more recently, so on a trip to Japan, I decided to book a tasting. This particular tasting was absolutely perfect for you if you are in a similar boat, or even if you are new to the drink. Don't be dissuaded by the title of "Advanced" tasting. Also, note that this is a "tasting" not a "tour." You will not be seeing any brewing or equipment for brewing.
The session is 90+ minutes (all seated, in one room), and starts out with about 30 minutes of an entertaining and very informative presentation on the fundamentals of Nihonshu, how it's made, and most importantly, how the different processes affect the taste and experience of drinking the product. After this session (and with the super-handy cheat sheet card they give you), you will be able to shop for sake, even as a non-Japanese speaker, and reliably select a bottle that matches your taste preference. It's a game changer if you are a noob like me.
Our experience was lead by Kotaro, a native Japanese Nihonshu expert who spoke clear, fluent English and was able to perfectly answer all our questions. After the first 30 minutes, there was an hour of tastings (a full shot of each one) from 10 different bottles. What made this tasting "advanced" was not the fact that he assumed that we were experienced (some folks with us were extremely inexperienced with Nihonshu), but rather, we got to try some of the variations of the beverage that are a bit outside of the norm and harder to find. I don't know if you'll try the same ones as us, but to give some examples, we tried variations like Nihonshu that was...
- aged in cedar barrels
- brewed with sake instead of water
- fermented with different approaches
- fermented with alternative enzymes than is typical
and so on.
After the tasting is over, all bottles tried were available for purchase.
I cannot recommend this experience enough for people who enjoy "sake" and want to dig a little deeper, or even anyone curious about the drink. We used Google Maps to find the location via public transportation (trains) and it was very easy to get to. a short walk from Chushojima station on the Keihan Main train line.
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Posted On : 2024-04-22 01:49:45
Posted By : 148amarisb
EXCELLENT! Our instructor was immensely informative and kind. The sake was elite as well as difficult to obtain. I felt like I took a semester course in just 2 hours.
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Posted On : 2024-04-17 01:45:16
Posted By : Jennifer_T
Sake was excellent. Our instructor was great! Would definitley recommend. There’s a lot to understanding sake. I’m glad I took the class!
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Posted On : 2024-03-22 04:46:10 
Posted By : AndrewBrou
Very educational and informative, even if you have (or think you have) a strong knowledge of sake aka nihonshu. Mr. Hashimoto gave a great amount of detail into the creation process and introduced us to methods typically not seen in U.S. production.
We also tasted several different styles based on traditional and modern production, style of koji used, rice variety, yeast, and storing methods.
It's a definite must-do for any lover of sake/nihonshu.
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Posted On : 2024-01-03 17:03:43
Posted By : P5304IQjoshm
This experience was fantastic. The sake sommelier was extremely knowledgeable and we learned a lot about sake, while sharing some laughs and, of course, tasting a wide variety of sake. The setting was very relaxed and intimate, ideal for asking questions, while enjoying some sake. Would highly recommend this to anyone with an interest in learning more about sake.
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Posted On : 2023-09-24 17:18:42
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