Sake Tasting Collection: Three Breweries & Hagi Ware Cup

This gift box brings together three junmai sakes from three of Japan's most storied breweries, each with over a century of brewing history, giving you a side-by-side look at how sake can vary in character while staying true to the same core craft.

Ryokusen Honjikomi comes from Kamoizumi, the brewery that revived traditional junmai sake, (made only of rice, koji, and water), after World War 2. Brewed slowly using traditional ginjo-zukuri techniques and left unfiltered by activated carbon, it keeps its natural pale gold color and umami. Expect a plump, gentle rice flavor with real depth and balance.

Seikyo Junmai Takehara comes from Nakao Brewery, made continuously since the brewery's founding over 150 years ago. With 35% of the rice polished away and a slow aging process, it offers rich rice umami, a mild sweetness, and a light touch of acidity, a softer, more rounded profile in this set.

Kamotsuru's flagship junmai carries the brewery's history back to 1873. Made with rice grown in Hiroshima and polished down by 40%, it has a rich aroma, deep body, and soft mouthfeel, and is widely regarded as one of the finest sakes for warming, recognized in domestic and international competitions and served at restaurants like Sukiyabashi Jiro.

Taste chilled to compare distinct profiles, then warm to experience how each opens with heat. Pairs well with cheeses, tomato dishes, grilled meats, and Japanese fare.

Hagi Yaki (Ware)

Hagi-Yaki is a 400-year-old ceramic tradition from Hagi in southwestern Japan. Known for its soft, earthy aesthetic, it develops fine surface cracks as the clay and glaze shrink at different rates during firing. These cracks allow moisture to seep in, gradually changing the vessel's color and patina over time. A small notch cut into the base marks each piece—a distinctive detail reflecting the craft's heritage.