The SAKE HANDBOOK

by John Gauntner

Sake, the popular, potent rice wine, was once a ritualiazed accompaniment to the elite moon-viewing ceremony of Japan's Heian period. Eight hundred years later, it is one of Japan's most popular exports. Readers will learn how to distinguish among various brands to develop their own informed preferences.

Genres: Japan, Food, Reference, Wine

Tankobon Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Sake Evangelist! Learn more here:
http://sake-world.com/html/about-john...

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains more information than most people will ever want to know about saké... but it keeps things fairly interesting. I learned quite a bit from it.

[Juan Durazo · Rating 5 out of 5]

muy interesante

[Kelsey Eubank · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot from this book and definitely felt well educated before my recent trip to Japan.

[Ad · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best part of this sake guide is Part One with a concise intrpduction of sake and the brewing process. This is handy information for drinkers new to sake.

I am not so enthusiastic about Part Two containing reviews of about 100 sake labels, although it is by far the largest part of the book. This is just a series of short tasting notes, which is no fun to read (although I know there are also books about wine written like this). Rather than ultimately subjective tasting notes of just one product, I am more interested in the story and history of sake breweries, what their philosophy is, what techniques they use, and what that means for the taste of the final product.

The Third Part, finally, about sake pubs and retailers is the kind of information that is old as soon as it is published - especially in the pub and restaurant world changes are always occurring - information like this belongs on the internet where it can be regularly updated.

[Stefan Haas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is split in three parts. The first one explains how sake is made and describes types of sake, parameters, tasting and so on. This was very captivating, if you are new to this world there is the information for you to start.
The second part recommends various sake, this was interesting but a lot of them are not buyable in my country. Anyway useful information, also about the breweries.
The third part just lists a lot of sake pubs in Japan and sake retailers in Japan and the US. Pretty useless if you don't live in Japan or in the US.
But the first part is great and enough to read the book. I Would buy it again.

[Ren Bedasbad · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written and informational book on sake. It goes briefly through the brewing process, different types of sake, and the different flavors. It is very easy and enjoyable to read, so especially good if you know nothing about sake. The book is short as the second half of the book focuses on particularly good sake, good pubs, and good liquor stores. They are mostly in Tokyo, Japan, but do have a few in other areas of Japan, States, and other countries. Overall, its a very good book especially if you are planning on visiting Japan.

[Mat Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid book. I really liked the simple to the point explanations of what sake is, where it is made and how to identify what makes a certain sake the way it is. Also, decent recommendations and clearly written. My on;y critique is that, as always seems the case, it is too Tokyo centric in the sake bar section.

[Stray Toki · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the cover promises this book has "All the information you need to become a sake expert". Of course, you still need to buy your sake and sample it. Or better join a brewery tour to see how sake is made with your own eyes. But all in all, it is a great book that allows you to move from a complete beginner to a person who can pick and appreciate sake.

[Marie Bouteille · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introduction to the basics of saké, well-explained. The list of 100-must-drink sakés is mouth-watering though frustating as there's no chance I'll find these in France... As to the list of saké pubs...

[Nick Arnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I just need to sort another trip to Japan to make use of my new found expertise

[Quicksilver Quill · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Saké Handbook by John Gauntner provides a nice little introduction to saké—aka nihonshu—the traditional alcoholic beverage of Japan. The neophyte and the connoisseur alike will both benefit from reading this exploration of Japan’s fragrant and poetic drink.

Demystifying the nature of saké and the complex process that goes into its production, Gauntner provides just enough detail to decode the intricacies and artistry of saké brewing in Japan to keep things interesting without getting overly technical. His discussion of the types of rice used, the special kōji mold and its variant strains that assist fermentation, and even the different qualities of the water and its mineral content shed light on just how delicate and precise the brewery process can be.

The latter half of the book lists individual saké breweries and brands of saké that the author recommends, and the accompanying images of Japanese saké labels and the related text does a great job of removing the esotericism from the process of finding a great Japanese saké to try. The taste, fragrances, alcoholic content, and acidity of several dozen different saké are shown to help you conduct your explorations.

While a more detailed look at the history and cultural traditions of saké would have been enjoyable, Gauntner sticks primarily to his task of explaining what saké is, how it is brewed today, how its variations differ, and how to enjoy it—a recommended read for anyone interested in learning more about saké or seeking to try new labels.

[Nameless · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the few books on sake in English that does a good job at describing what goes into the production of this beverage, as well as the various terminology used (part one).

Part two lists various recommended selections of sake along with the author's notes about each one. This may be of some use to those wanting to try various brands, but want another person's thoughts and impressions on the matter.

Part three, is a list of sake pubs and retailers, mostly in the Tokyo area, as well as a brief list of retailers in the US. Part three may only be helpful to some people.

[Daniel Simmons · Rating 3 out of 5]

A zippy and informative read. For me, the most useful section was his wide-ranging list of recommended sake brands -- a boon to people like me who are often in the dark when staring at the calligraphic scrawls on bottle labels and trying to figure out what the hell they mean. One day I hope to take Gauntner's sake course here in Japan, but until that day, this little guide will be a trusted companion for filling in the blanks where sake is concerned.

[E Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

didn't help me figure out what the funk is coming off my homebrew sake. good otherwise!

[Zhifei Ge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hope to find a better authoritative compilation on sake.

[Dave Friedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I commissioned and edited this book as a young editor at Tuttle Publishing.

[Marcos Cadena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good introduction to sake world

This book help me initiate my self in the world of sake and gave a good overview on where to start looking

[Harrison Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sake it to me baby