Sake has fully moved into the mainstream, so now is the time to cross-train yourself and your staff in all the new trends, says sake educator, judge and distributor Adrian Goh
We speak to:
Adrian Goh
Director, Inter Rice Asia; co-founder, Sake Matsuri; sake educator and judge
3 tips to maximise your tastings at Sake Matsuri:
- Bring your own spittoon
- Write your notes immediately or you won’t remember them later!
- Use social media as your sake diary to document your journey
Adrian Goh wears many hats, but most of them are powered by his love of sake. Since getting into the sake industry professionally in 2013, he has seen it move out of its niche and into the mainstream. “As recent as the 90s, sake was seen like alcoholic rice water - not bad, but drank warm and only with Japanese food,” he recounts with a laugh. “The new style of Japanese sake tends to taste more like wine, so people who are used to wine find it more familiar.” This is why he finds that staff from all kinds of restaurants, not just Japanese, are seeking to be cross-trained in sake.
Who are the people getting serious about sake? His classes tend to comprise 60% trade and 40% enthusiasts, with a boost in number from those using their SkillsFuture credits.
In a generalisation, he notes that most beginners start with the delicate style of sake, such as junmai daiginjo and daiginjo. However there are many more styles available today, which is where Sake Matsuri comes in, offering almost 300 sakes in one location for free-flow tasting.
Adrian assures us that there is no right or wrong way to do tastings at Sake Matsuri. For some people, tasting from lighter to heavier will make sense, while others may choose to start with the heavier, full-bodied sake, and progress to the more refined bottles. For those who are experienced, Adrian says tasting by prefecture for their regional characteristics would be an excellent idea.
But as the stalls are organised by distributors rather than prefectures, there is another method - all the stalls at Sake Matsuri will be putting their best foot forward, showcasing what they do best. They will curate by prefecture, styles or even themes such as using different yeast starters.
Trade professionals will also be able to taste a wide range of sake at different price points, which is particularly useful if they are seeking sakes to add to their beverage menus, whether a house sake or special finds.
Trade professionals:
You are invited to attend Sake Matsuri’s Trade Show on 10 May 2024 at the iconic F1 Pit Building! Pre-register below for free.
Link: https://sakematsuri.sg/products/10-may-fri-sake-matsuri-trade-show
Sake Matsuri Trade Show
Date: 10 May 2024
Time: 11am-5pm
Venue: F1 Pit Building, Garage, 1 Republic Boulevard
*Pre-registration is free, $50 for on-site entry
**Open to trade professionals only
