Singapore Sake Awards

Organised by a panel of seven judges distinguished in the Asian sake industry, the inaugural Singapore Sake Awards was launched at Sake Matsuri Singapore 2022 on Saturday, 5 November 2022, at UE Square. Emphasising complete transparency, judges assessed sake entries in a double blind tasting of real-world consumer bottles, with full consideration of the Southeast Asian palate.

Award Categories:
- Best Junmai Daiginjo/Daiginjo
- Best Junmai Ginjo/Ginjo
- Best Junmai/Honjozo

Special Prizes:
- Best of Show
- Best Value-for-Money Sake
- People’s Choice Award - awarded via popular vote by Sake Matsuri’s festival attendees

2022 Awardees

  • Best Junmai Daiginjo/Daiginjo

    Category Winner:
    - Kamonishiki Nifudasake Junmai Daiginjo Kisuisen, Kamonishiki Shuzo (Niigata)

    Silver:
    - Dewazakura Daiginjo, Dewazakura Sake Brewery (Yamagata)

    Bronze:
    - Ten To Sen Junmai Daiginjo, Abunotsuru (Yamaguchi)

    - Kamonshiki Junmai Daiginjo Brilliance, Kamonishiki Shuzo (Niigata)

    - Gangi "Yuunagi" Junmai Daiginjo, Yaoshin Brewing Company (Yamaguchi)

    - Tenmei Junmai Daiginjō Yumenoka 40, Akebono Shuzo (Fukushima)

  • Best Junmai Ginjo/Ginjo

    Category Winner: 
    - Rokkon Sapphire Junmai Ginjo, Matsumidori Brewery (Aomori)

    Gold: 
    - Tenbu Junmai Ginjo, Nishi Shuzo (Kagoshima)

    Bronze:
    - Tamakashiwa Junmai Ginjo "288 Nights", Yamadashoten (Gifu)

    - Yamamoto Midnight Blue Junmai Ginjo, Yamamoto Gomei (Kyoto)

  • Best Junmai/Honjozo

    Category Winner: 
    - Matsui Junmai Murouka, Matsui Sake Brewery (Kyoto)

    Silver: 
    - Nito Junmai Banzai 70, Maruishi Brewing Company (Aichi)

    Bronze:
    - Haginotsuyu Concept Workers Tankanwataribune Jikagumi Nama Wolf, Fukui Yahei Shoten (Shiga)

    - Lagoon Sho-Ku Kamenoo R305, Lagoon Brewery Inc. (Niigata)

    - Sohomare Tokubetsu Junmai Kimoto (Bronze), Sohomare Sake Brewery (Tochigi)

    - Mitsutake Junmai Karakuchi (Bronze), Mitsutake (Saga)

  • Best of Show

    - Nito Junmai Yamadanishiki 65, Maruishi Brewing Company (Aichi)

  • Best Value-for-Money Sake

    - Toko Junmai Ginjo Genshu, Kohima Sohonten (Yamagata)

  • People’s Choice Awards

    - IBI Barrel Muroka Nama Genshu, Sugihara Shuzo (Gifu)

    - Mu Black Junmai Daiginjo, Yaegaki Sake & Spirits, Inc. (Hyogo)

    - Ten To Sen Junmai Daiginjo, Abunotsuru (Yamaguchi)

    - Yamadanishiki Namazume, Abunotsuru (Yamaguchi)

    - Aichi Craft Gin Kiyosu, Kiyosuzakura Brewery (Aichi)

Panel of Judges

  • Head Judge

    Adrian Goh

    Director, Inter Rice Asia Pte Ltd IWC Judge, WSET Sake Educator, WSET & IWSC Future 50 Award

  • Senior Judge

    Sean Au

    Head of Education, The Beverage Clique Academy IWSC / IWC Sake Judge & Master Sake Sommelier, Japan Sake & Shochu Makers Association SEA Representative

  • Senior Judge

    Elliot Faber

    Certified Sommelier and an Advanced Sake Professional, coauthor of “SAKE: The History, Stories and Craft of Japan’s Artisanal Breweries”; 'Sake Samurai' from the Japan Sake Brewers Association Junior Council

Daisuke Shibuya 

Operations Manager, SFBI Pte Ltd — IWC Sake Judge 


Andrew Ang 

Director, Kirei Japanese Food Supply (Pte) Ltd — UK SSA Certified Sake Sommelier 


Cheong Wai Lung 

Founder, Ryu Sake 


Olivia Chey

Sommelier, Kurara