# WESAKE

> WESAKE is a premium Japanese sake brand. Tagline: "No Rules. Just Sake." Two Junmai Ginjo sakes: a 180 mL can brewed by Kaganoi Shuzo in Itoigawa, Niigata (founded in 1650, one of the oldest sake breweries in Niigata), and the 720 mL Sakura bottle, brewed in Kobe, Hyogo. Sold at every BevMo! in California, every Spec's in Texas, and at shops, bars, and restaurants across New York. Must be 21+ to buy.

## Key facts

- The can: WESAKE Junmai Ginjo, 180 mL, 12% ABV, Gohyakumangoku rice polished to 60%, sake meter value -1, acidity 1.3. Brewed by Kaganoi Shuzo, Itoigawa, Niigata, Japan, with medium-hard local well water. Ingredients: rice, water, koji, yeast. No added sulfites, nothing else added. Gluten free, vegan friendly. Printed tasting note: dry and light; soft umami, crisp clean finish. Serve ice cold, from the can or a glass. UPC 860003548431.
- The Sakura bottle: WESAKE Sakura Junmai Ginjo, 720 mL, 14.5% ABV, Yamada Nishiki rice polished to 60%, sake meter value +5, acidity 1.5. Brewed in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan (a different sake from the can). Elegantly dry, soft floral aroma, white peach and pear, clean crisp finish. Ingredients: rice, water, koji, yeast. No added sulfites. Gluten free and vegan friendly (printed on its label). UPC 860003548493. Serve chilled in a wine glass; recap and keep cold after opening.
- Where to buy: every BevMo! in California, every Spec's in Texas, and shops, bars, and restaurants statewide in New York. Store locator with every location: https://wesake.co/where-to-buy/
- Trade and wholesale: https://wesake.co/wholesale/  Press and media kit: https://wesake.co/press/  Contact: https://wesake.co/contact/
- Distributors (trade orders): New York: Manhattan Wine & Spirits (Manhattan Beer); California: Park Street Imports; Texas: Bandol Wines.
- Instagram: @drinkwesake (https://www.instagram.com/drinkwesake/)
- Please enjoy responsibly. You must be 21 or older to drink. Never drink and drive.

## Pages

- [WESAKE | Premium Junmai Ginjo in a can](https://wesake.co/): Centuries of craft, none of the ceremony. WESAKE is premium Junmai Ginjo sake in a can, brewed in Niigata, plus the Sakura bottle from Kobe.
- [Our sake: Junmai Ginjo can and Sakura bottle](https://wesake.co/sake/): WESAKE Junmai Ginjo in a 180 mL can and the 720 mL Sakura bottle: full specs, tasting notes, and how to serve.
- [Where to buy WESAKE sake | BevMo!, Spec's, New York](https://wesake.co/where-to-buy/): Find WESAKE at every BevMo! in California, every Spec's in Texas, and wine shops, bars, and restaurants across New York.
- [About WESAKE: premium sake, without the ceremony](https://wesake.co/about/): Why we started WESAKE, the Niigata brewery behind it (founded in 1650), how sake is made, and what chefs say about it.
- [WESAKE FAQ: taste, ingredients, serving, where to buy](https://wesake.co/faq/): Answers about WESAKE: what Junmai Ginjo means, how the can and Sakura bottle taste, ingredients, serving, storage, and where to buy.
- [Learn about sake: guides, types, pairing, serving](https://wesake.co/learn/): Everything you need to know about sake: what it is, how it is made, the grades, serving temperature, food pairing, and how it compares with wine.
- [Wholesale: carry WESAKE sake at your store, bar, or restaurant](https://wesake.co/wholesale/): Carry WESAKE premium Japanese sake: trade specs for the Junmai Ginjo can and Sakura bottle, a media kit, and a wholesale inquiry form for retailers and bars.
- [Press and media kit](https://wesake.co/press/): WESAKE press: coverage, logos, can renders, product photos, and a downloadable media kit with a fact sheet on our Junmai Ginjo can and Sakura bottle.
- [Contact WESAKE](https://wesake.co/contact/): Contact WESAKE: questions about our Junmai Ginjo sake, where to buy it, wholesale orders, press requests, or a privacy request. Send us a message.

## Learn: everything about sake

- [The complete guide to sake](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-guide/): Everything you need to know about sake: what it is, how it's made, the types and grades, how to serve it, food pairing, and how it compares with wine.

### Sake 101

- [How is sake made? Step by step](https://wesake.co/learn/how-is-sake-made/): How sake is made, step by step: polishing and steaming the rice, making koji, the yeast starter, the main mash, pressing, pasteurizing, and bottling.
- [Is sake a wine, a beer, or a spirit?](https://wesake.co/learn/is-sake-wine-beer-or-spirit/): Sake isn't a spirit, and it isn't quite wine or beer. It's brewed from rice like beer, but drinks more like wine. Here's how it compares to all three.
- [Is sake gluten free?](https://wesake.co/learn/is-sake-gluten-free/): Traditional sake is made from rice, water, koji, and yeast, none of which contain gluten. But not every product is the same. Here's what to check on the label.
- [Sake glossary: the words on the label, explained](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-glossary/): A plain A to Z of sake terms, from Junmai and Ginjo to nama, nigori, and nihonshu-do. Short definitions of the words you'll see on labels and menus.
- [Sake rice explained: Yamada Nishiki, Gohyakumangoku, and more](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-rice/): Sake rice is grown for brewing, not the dinner table. Meet Yamada Nishiki, Gohyakumangoku, Omachi, and Miyama Nishiki, and learn how rice shapes taste.
- [What is koji? The mold that makes sake possible](https://wesake.co/learn/what-is-koji/): Koji is rice grown with a friendly mold, Aspergillus oryzae. It turns rice starch into sugar so yeast can make sake. Here's how it works and why it matters.
- [What is sake made from?](https://wesake.co/learn/what-is-sake-made-from/): Sake is made from four ingredients: rice, water, koji, and yeast. Here's what each one does, why sake rice is special, and what goes into every WESAKE can.
- [What is sake?](https://wesake.co/learn/what-is-sake/): Sake is a Japanese drink brewed from rice, water, koji, and yeast. Here's what it is, how it's made, how it tastes, and how to drink it.
- [Why water matters in sake](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-water/): Sake is mostly water, so a brewery's water shapes how it tastes. How hard and soft water change sake, from Nada's Miyamizu to Fushimi's softer groundwater.

### Types and grades

- [Ginjo vs Daiginjo: what's the difference?](https://wesake.co/learn/ginjo-vs-daiginjo/): Ginjo vs Daiginjo: Ginjo rice is polished to 60% or less, Daiginjo to 50% or less. Here's how that changes the taste, the price, and how to serve each.
- [How to read a sake label](https://wesake.co/learn/how-to-read-a-sake-label/): How to read a sake label: the grade, polishing ratio, rice, ABV, SMV, bottling date, and the Japanese words worth knowing, plus what a US label must show.
- [Nama, genshu, koshu: special sake styles](https://wesake.co/learn/nama-genshu-koshu/): Nama sake is unpasteurized, genshu is undiluted, and koshu is aged. Here's what each special style means, how it tastes, and how to store and serve it at home.
- [Sake acidity explained](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-acidity/): Sake acidity (san-do) is a number on the label that tells you how crisp or soft a sake will feel. Here's what it measures, typical ranges, and how to use it.
- [Sake meter value (SMV): dry vs sweet, explained](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-meter-value/): What the sake meter value (SMV) measures, how to read plus and minus numbers, why acidity and temperature matter, and what SMV can't tell you about taste.
- [Sake polishing ratio explained](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-polishing-ratio/): What the sake polishing ratio (seimaibuai) means, why brewers polish rice, how it sets the grade, and whether more polishing makes better sake.
- [Types of sake: the grades explained](https://wesake.co/learn/types-of-sake/): Junmai, Ginjo, Daiginjo, Honjozo, and futsushu explained, with a simple chart, plus Nigori, Nama, and the other sake styles you'll see on labels.
- [What is Futsushu? Table sake explained](https://wesake.co/learn/what-is-futsushu/): Futsushu is Japan's everyday table sake and the largest category of sake made. Here's what the word means, how it's made, how it tastes, and how to serve it.
- [What is Honjozo sake?](https://wesake.co/learn/what-is-honjozo/): Honjozo is premium sake made with rice polished to 70% or less and a small, measured addition of brewer's alcohol. Here's why brewers do it and how it tastes.
- [What is Junmai Ginjo?](https://wesake.co/learn/what-is-junmai-ginjo/): Junmai Ginjo is premium sake with no added alcohol and rice polished to 60% or less. Here's what that means, how it tastes, and how to serve it.
- [What is Junmai sake?](https://wesake.co/learn/what-is-junmai-sake/): Junmai means "pure rice": sake made only from rice, water, koji, and yeast, with no added alcohol. Here's how it tastes, the Junmai grades, and how to serve it.
- [What is nigori sake?](https://wesake.co/learn/nigori-sake/): Nigori is cloudy sake, coarsely filtered so fine rice solids stay in the bottle. How it's made, how it tastes, the main styles, and how to serve and pair it.

### How to drink it

- [Does sake need to be refrigerated?](https://wesake.co/learn/does-sake-need-to-be-refrigerated/): Does sake need to be refrigerated? Opened sake: yes. Unopened: it depends on the style. When the fridge matters, nama sake rules, and storing cans and bottles.
- [How long does sake last? Opened vs unopened](https://wesake.co/learn/how-long-does-sake-last/): How long sake lasts unopened and after opening, how to store it, why nama sake is different, and how to tell when a bottle is past its best.
- [How much is a serving of sake?](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-serving-size/): How much is a serving of sake? The traditional go (180 mL), tokkuri and ochoko sizes, how many US standard drinks are in a glass, a can, and a bottle.
- [How to drink sake: sip it, pour it, enjoy it](https://wesake.co/learn/how-to-drink-sake/): How to drink sake: sip it slowly like wine, serve it at the right temperature, pick a glass, pour for friends, and pair it with food. A simple, friendly guide.
- [How to store sake, before and after opening](https://wesake.co/learn/how-to-store-sake/): How to store sake before and after opening: fridge or cupboard, light and heat, upright bottles, nama sake, chilling cans fast, and what to do with leftovers.
- [Sake etiquette: pouring, toasting, and the pour-your-own rule](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-etiquette/): Sake etiquette made easy: who pours, how to hold your cup, how to toast with kanpai, whether pouring your own is bad luck, and how to politely pass on a refill.
- [Sake serving temperature guide (with chart)](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-serving-temperature/): Every sake serving temperature, from yukibie (5°C) to tobikirikan (55°C), with °F, what each does to flavor, which styles suit it, and how to hit it at home.
- [Should sake be served hot or cold?](https://wesake.co/learn/hot-or-cold-sake/): Hot or cold sake? Which styles to chill and which to warm, the Japanese temperature names, how to warm sake gently, and how to serve the can.
- [The best glass for sake](https://wesake.co/learn/best-sake-glass/): The best sake glass for every style: wine glasses, ochoko, guinomi, masu, and the can itself. What each one does to aroma and taste, and when to use it.

### Food pairing

- [Sake and cheese pairing guide](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-and-cheese/): A sake and cheese pairing guide: why the two fermented foods get along, which sake to pour with fresh, soft, aged, and blue cheese, and how to build a board.
- [Sake and fried chicken](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-and-fried-chicken/): Why sake and fried chicken work so well together, plus easy pairings for Japanese karaage, Southern fried chicken, Korean fried chicken, and hot chicken.
- [Sake and pizza: why it works](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-and-pizza/): Sake and pizza are a great match. Why a crisp Junmai Ginjo works with tomato, cheese, and crust, plus pairings for Margherita, pepperoni, white pies, and more.
- [Sake and sushi: how to pair them](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-and-sushi/): Sake and sushi: why the pairing works, which sake to pour with white fish, tuna, salmon, eel, uni, and rolls, plus serving tips for takeout or omakase.
- [Sake and tacos (and other Mexican food)](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-and-mexican-food/): How to pair sake with Mexican food: tacos al pastor, carnitas, fish tacos, ceviche, mole, and salsa, plus which sake styles work and how to serve them.
- [Sake food pairing: the complete guide](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-food-pairing/): How to pair sake with food: why sake is so food friendly, simple pairing rules, and ideas for sushi, tacos, pizza, fried chicken, cheese, and more.
- [Sake for barbecue and burgers](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-with-bbq-and-burgers/): Does sake go with BBQ? How to pair sake with brisket, ribs, pulled pork, grilled chicken, and burgers, plus easy tips for serving sake cold at a cookout.
- [Sake with oysters and seafood](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-and-oysters/): Sake and oysters are a natural pair. Why a crisp, dry sake suits oysters, how to handle mignonette and toppings, and what to pour with clams, crab, and shrimp.
- [Sake with spicy food](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-and-spicy-food/): Does sake go with spicy food? How alcohol and chili heat interact, which sake styles work best, and pairings for Thai, Sichuan, Indian, Korean, and Mexican.

### Sake vs

- [How strong is sake? ABV compared, plus what a standard drink is](https://wesake.co/learn/how-strong-is-sake/): Sake alcohol content explained: most sake is 15 to 16% ABV. How it compares with beer, wine, and spirits, what a US standard drink is, and how to pace it.
- [Sake vs beer: what's the difference?](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-vs-beer/): Sake vs beer: both are brewed from grain, but they differ in ingredients, brewing, strength, flavor, and serving. Here is a clear side-by-side comparison.
- [Sake vs mirin vs cooking sake](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-vs-mirin/): Sake, mirin, and cooking sake all come from rice, but they do different jobs. Here's how they differ, which to use in a recipe, and which one is for sipping.
- [Sake vs soju: what's the difference?](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-vs-soju/): Sake vs soju: one is brewed in Japan from rice, the other is a Korean spirit, distilled or diluted. How they're made, ABV, flavor, and how to serve each.
- [Sake vs wine: what's the difference?](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-vs-wine/): Sake vs wine: how each is made, ingredients, ABV, flavor, acidity and tannins, aging, serving, and food pairing. Plus which sake to try if you love wine.

### Culture

- [Hanami: sake under the cherry blossoms](https://wesake.co/learn/hanami-sake/): Hanami is Japan's cherry blossom picnic tradition. Here's what it is, what to eat, how to bring sake along, and how to host a relaxed blossom picnic at home.
- [Inside a sake brewery: the kura and the toji](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-brewery-kura-toji/): What happens inside a sake brewery: the kura, the toji who leads the brew, the team, the rooms, and how modern sake breweries are changing an old craft.
- [Kobe and Nada: Japan's sake capital](https://wesake.co/learn/nada-kobe-sake/): Nada sake comes from the Nada Gogo, five brewing districts in Kobe and Nishinomiya. How Miyamizu water, Yamada Nishiki rice, and Rokko winds shaped its style.
- [Niigata sake: why it's known for clean, dry sake](https://wesake.co/learn/niigata-sake/): Niigata sake is famous for its clean, dry tanrei karakuchi style. How snow, cold winters, Gohyakumangoku rice, and craft shape it, and where WESAKE fits in.
- [Sake regions of Japan: a quick map](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-regions-of-japan/): A quick map of Japan's sake regions: Niigata, Hyogo and Nada, Kyoto and Fushimi, Hiroshima, Akita, Yamagata, and more, with the style each region is known for.
- [Sake seasons: shinshu, hiyaoroshi, and more](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-seasons/): Sake has seasons. Meet shinshu and shiboritate in winter, spring nama, light summer sake, and autumn hiyaoroshi, plus how to enjoy each one at the table.
- [What does kanpai mean? How to toast in Japanese](https://wesake.co/learn/what-does-kanpai-mean/): Kanpai (乾杯) is how to say cheers in Japanese. What the word means, how to pronounce it, and simple toasting etiquette for your next dinner, party, or night out.

### Cocktails and serves

- [How to make a sake highball](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-highball/): A sake highball is sake, ice, and sparkling water in a tall glass. Here's the easy recipe with one WESAKE can, plus ratios, garnishes, and five variations.
- [How to make a sake martini (saketini)](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-martini/): A simple sake martini recipe: gin or vodka stirred with chilled Junmai Ginjo, plus a lighter sake-forward version, garnish ideas, and tips for serving it.
- [How to make a sake spritz](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-spritz/): How to make a sake spritz: an easy recipe with sake, soda, and citrus, plus yuzu, elderflower, cucumber, and grapefruit twists and a pitcher for a crowd.
- [Sake on the rocks: how and when to serve it over ice](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-on-the-rocks/): Sake on the rocks is chilled sake poured over ice. Which sake styles work best, what ice and glass to use, how much to pour, and when to choose it over neat.
- [Sake sangria for a crowd](https://wesake.co/learn/sake-sangria/): An easy sake sangria pitcher recipe with Junmai Ginjo, white peach, pear, citrus, and sparkling water. Make it ahead, pour as you go, and serve it with food.
- [Ways to serve the can: straight, on ice, highball, or shared](https://wesake.co/learn/how-to-serve-canned-sake/): How to serve canned sake four easy ways: ice cold from the can, over ice, as a simple highball, or split between two glasses at the table. Plus a few tips.

## FAQ

**What is WESAKE?**
WESAKE is premium Japanese sake for the next generation: a Junmai Ginjo in a 180 mL can, brewed in Niigata, and the 720 mL Sakura bottle, brewed in Kobe. Both are made only with rice, water, koji, and yeast.

**What does Junmai Ginjo mean?**
Junmai means it's made only with rice, water, koji, and yeast, with no added alcohol. Ginjo means the rice is polished to 60% or less of its original size, which gives a cleaner, more refined sake.

**What does the can taste like?**
Dry and light, with soft umami in the middle and a crisp, clean finish. It drinks easy for anyone new to sake and still has the refinement seasoned sake drinkers look for.

**What does the Sakura bottle taste like?**
Elegantly dry, with soft floral aromas and notes of white peach and pear. Light-bodied, smooth, and balanced, with a clean, crisp finish.

**Is the bottle the same sake as the can?**
No. The Sakura bottle is its own sake, brewed in Kobe with Yamada Nishiki rice. The can is brewed by Kaganoi Shuzo in Itoigawa, Niigata, with Gohyakumangoku rice. Both are Junmai Ginjo polished to 60%.

**What's in it?**
Rice, water, koji, and yeast. Nothing else added.

**Is it gluten free and vegan?**
Yes. WESAKE is gluten free and vegan friendly.

**Does WESAKE have added sulfites?**
No. Neither the can nor the Sakura bottle has added sulfites.

**How much alcohol is in it?**
The can is 12% ABV in 180 mL. The Sakura bottle is 14.5% ABV in 720 mL.

**Should I drink it hot or cold?**
Cold. Both the can and the Sakura bottle are made to be served chilled, straight from the fridge.

**Can I drink it straight from the can?**
Yes. The can has a full-aperture pull-top, so you can drink it straight from the can or pour it into a glass.

**How should I store it?**
Keep it somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight, then chill before drinking. Like most sake, it's best enjoyed fresh.

**How long does it keep once opened?**
Sake is best fresh. A can is one pour, so finish it once it's open. Recap an opened bottle, keep it cold, and enjoy it soon.

**What food goes with it?**
Sushi and oysters, of course, plus tacos, pizza, fried chicken, ramen, and burgers. Its dry, clean profile cuts through salt, fat, and spice.

**Where can I buy WESAKE?**
Every BevMo! in California, every Spec's in Texas, and wine shops, bars, and restaurants across New York. See Where to buy.

**How do I carry WESAKE at my store or restaurant?**
Send us a note through the wholesale page and our trade team will get back to you with pricing and next steps.

**Do I need to be 21?**
Yes. You must be 21 or older to buy and drink WESAKE.

**Who makes WESAKE?**
WESAKE is a modern sake brand. The can is brewed by Kaganoi Shuzo in Itoigawa, Niigata. The Sakura bottle is brewed in Kobe, Hyogo.

**How do I reach you?**
Use the contact form. For press, see the press page.

## Optional

- [Do not sell my personal information](https://wesake.co/ccpa/): California residents: how to ask WESAKE not to sell or share your personal information under the CCPA, and how to send us a privacy request.
- [Privacy](https://wesake.co/privacy/): How WESAKE collects, uses, and protects your personal information when you visit wesake.co, sign up for updates, or contact us.
- [Return Policy](https://wesake.co/returns/): The WESAKE return policy: how to return wrongly shipped or defective products and what you need to request an exchange.
- [Shipping](https://wesake.co/shipping/): Shipping information for WESAKE orders: where we ship, delivery times, and what to expect when your sake is on its way.
- [Terms & Conditions](https://wesake.co/terms/): The terms and conditions for using wesake.co, including intellectual property, acceptable use, and the limits of our liability.