An alumnus of Japan's Gifu Commercial and Business High School, Eiji Mori has served as executive general manager of Newport Beach, California's Sushi Roku since 2015. Additionally, Eiji Mori holds distinction as a sake sommelier from the Japanese Sake Service Institute.
While sake has been commonly served warm in the past, it is now typically served chilled in response to brewery technology advances which cause heat to destroy its flavor profiles. Yet, if it is served too cold, its flavor components can be masked similarly to wine when it's served cold. Different sakes are best served at different temperatures but, as a general guideline, if you choose to have warm sake, serve it between 100 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit. It can be warmed by placing the flask in a saucepan of warm water.
In Japan, pouring sake for others is a common custom and a form of social bonding. The sake is often kept in a large flask known as a tokkuri and it is poured into smaller cups, known as guinomi or ochoko, to allow for frequent refills. The tokkuri should be grasped with two hands when pouring, while the person receiving should hold the glass off the table with one hand and support it with the other. In more informal situations, it is fine to abandon the above rituals after the first round and pour for yourself.
While sake has been commonly served warm in the past, it is now typically served chilled in response to brewery technology advances which cause heat to destroy its flavor profiles. Yet, if it is served too cold, its flavor components can be masked similarly to wine when it's served cold. Different sakes are best served at different temperatures but, as a general guideline, if you choose to have warm sake, serve it between 100 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit. It can be warmed by placing the flask in a saucepan of warm water.
In Japan, pouring sake for others is a common custom and a form of social bonding. The sake is often kept in a large flask known as a tokkuri and it is poured into smaller cups, known as guinomi or ochoko, to allow for frequent refills. The tokkuri should be grasped with two hands when pouring, while the person receiving should hold the glass off the table with one hand and support it with the other. In more informal situations, it is fine to abandon the above rituals after the first round and pour for yourself.
