The Joy of Sake
“Aftertaste” Events
Every year the U.S. National Sake Appraisal is held in Honolulu, Hawaii, with ten judges from Japan and the U.S. evaluating roughly 300 sake entries in a blind tasting. When the judging is over, all the entries are presented for tasting by the public at The Joy of Sake. This event, with entries from every region of Japan and representing virtually every brewing style, is the oldest and largest sake-tasting event held outside Japan and gives an unparalleled perspective on the great variety of delicious sakes being produced today.
But it all happens in three hours, hardly enough time to appreciate even a fraction of so many wonderful sakes. With this in mind, the Kokusai Sake Kai began to set aside “archive bottles” for sampling at small tasting sessions of around sixty people. Starting in October of 2006, these “Aftertaste” events have been held every month to give people a chance to explore the nuances of around forty different sakes selected from a certain region or belonging to a certain style.
Each Aftertaste begins with a 10-minute talk on an aspect of sake-making, followed by a 45-minute tasting. Then all the entries are moved into an adjoining room with appetizer stations so that the sakes can be enjoyed as they are meant to be, together with food. This second, convivial phase lasts an hour, with each event winding up at 8:00 p.m. Sixteen Aftertaste events are held during the brewery year (Oct. 1–Sept. 30) in Honolulu, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Completed Events
Aftertaste HI #11-04 • Hawaiian Mixed Plate • 6/1/2011
@ Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii
Aftertaste HI #11-03 • Tribute to Tohoku • 4/27/2011
@ Cupola Restaurant
Aftertaste HI #11-02 • Into the Valley of the Dolls • 3/3/2011
@ Yoshi-ya
Aftertaste HI #11-01 • Sakes of the Tohoku Region • 1/27/2011
@ Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii
Aftertaste NY #10-10 • Celebrating with Sake • 5/4/2010
@ Tanuki Tavern (at Hotel Gansevoort)
Aftertaste HI #10-09 • Sake Pau Hana • 4/27/2010
@ Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii
Aftertaste HI #10-08 • Sakes of the Heartland • 3/17/2010
@ Sake Street
Aftertaste LA #10-07 • Into the Valley of the Dolls • 3/3/2010
@ Torafuku
Aftertaste SF #10-06 • Sakes of the South • 3/2/2010
@ La Mar
Aftertaste HI #10-05 • Ceremonial Sake • 1/19/2010
@ Hiroshi's (Restaurant Row)
Aftertaste
HI #10-04 • Cold Sake vs Warm Sake • 12/15/2009
@ Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii
Aftertaste
LA #10-03 • Balance & Harmony • 11/12/2009
@ Geisha House
Aftertaste
SF #10-02 • All About Dry Sake • 11/10/2009
@ Ozumo
Aftertaste
HI #10-01 • Tohoku Favorites • 11/4/2009
@ Doraku
Aftertaste
LA #09-8 • The Origin of Aroma • 08/05/2009
@ Katana
Aftertaste
NY #09-7 • The Magic of Rice • 07/15/2009
@ Formerly known as Buddha Bar
Aftertaste
HI #09-5 • The Magic of Rice • 06/02/2009
@ Chai's Island Bistro
Aftertaste
NY#09-2 • Balance & Harmony • 05/06/2009
@ En Japanese Brasserie
Aftertaste HI #09-4 • Does the Yeast Make the Sake? • April 23, 2009 @ Yoshi-ya
Aftertaste
HI #09-3 • The Six Styles of Junmai • 03/26/2009
@ Wasabi Bistro
Aftertaste HI #09-2 • Balance & Harmony • 02/26/2009
Aftertaste HI #09-1 • The Origin of Aroma • 01/14/2009
Aftertaste SF #08-002 • All About Dry Sake • 07/22/2008
Aftertaste NY #08-002 • All About Dry Sake • 07/10/2008
Aftertaste HI #08-006 • The Afterparty • 06/25/2008
Aftertaste NY #08-001 • Umami: The 5th Taste • 05/29/2008
Aftertaste SF #08-001 • Umami: The 6th Taste • 05/22/2008
Aftertaste HI #08-005 • Best of the Rest • 05/15/2008
Aftertaste HI #08-004 • All About Dry Sake • 04/03/2008
Aftertaste HI #08-002 • Fun and Games • 01/10/2008
Aftertaste HI #08-001 • On the Soft Side • 12/06/2007
Aftertaste SF #2 • The Three Categories • 07/19/2007
Aftertaste SF #1 • The Sakes of Tohoku, Niigata and Shinshu • 07/28/2007
Aftertaste HI #7 • Tohoku Favorites • 05/31/2007
Aftertaste HI #6 • Best of the Best: Forty Top Labels • 03/28/2007
Aftertaste HI #5 • Sakes from the Heartland: Nagoya and Osaka • 02/22/2007
Aftertaste HI #4 • Sakes from the South • 01/24/2007
Aftertaste HI #3 • Sakes of Niigata and Nagano • 12/27/2006
Aftertaste HI #2 • Daiginjo A Sakes of Northern Japan • 11/30/2006