Once a niche drink, Sake is now experiencing a surge in popularity in the UK. The Guardian reported that this Japanese alcoholic beverage has continued to make a significant impact on the international drinks industry for more than a decade now. Sake sales reached up to £211 million in overseas markets like the UK, and that is almost double what the industry witnessed in 2019. This wave has led to a dedicated number of retailers who are offering diverse selections of sake while also bringing in an authentic Japanese drinking experience. The London Wine Competition unveils the top 10 sake retailers shaping the UK's drinking landscape.

Image Source: More Sake

1. More Sake

More Sake started off as a company that sold top-notch sake from Japan to hotels and bars in the UK, but after seeing an increasing demand of consumers who wanted to buy the sake bottle, it expanded and opened its very own retail shop. With the company’s client list including the finest restaurants and bars such as Clarette, Novikov, Hakata and more, it is a guarantee that More Sake is stocked with only the best and authentic options. 

Image Source: Tengu Sake

2. Tengu Sake

Determined to sell only excellence, Tengu Sake has scoured all over Japan and curated a collection that demonstrates exactly that so its customers can sample authentic sake from the East Asian country. Tengu Sake ensures that the drinking experience is also authentic through the pictogram labels the company has attached to each bottle, showing the taste notes, type, and ideal serving temperature of the drink. 

Also read: Selling Your Wine To UK Distributors and Importers

Image Source: UENO GOURMET

3. UENO GOURMET 

Since beginning its business in 2005, UENO GOURMET's primary goal has been to make sure that sake achieves its status as one of the popular choices of alcoholic drinks at restaurants, much like wine or champagne. With that in mind, UENO GOURMET sells an exceptional selection of sakes from the 30-plus breweries the company nitpicked from about 1300 family-owned breweries in Japan. 

Image Source: Sorakami

4. Sorakami

Sorakami is particularly focused on bringing sakes from small craft breweries in Japan and as a result, this UK-based sake retailer boasts a unique collection. This also makes Sorakami the perfect destination for consumers who want to discover sake, as the retailer has a sake club that people can subscribe to and get the Japanese alcoholic beverage delivered to their doorstep on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. Each box comes with a select sake bottle, taste notes and a guide that educates the consumer about sake. 

Image Source: Sake Shoten

5. Sake Shoten

Sake Shoten is managed by Chris Ashton, a Sake Samurai who was one of the 97 people selected by the Japan Sake Brewers Association Junior Council to promote sake outside Japan. Fittingly, Ashton has carefully curated a range that showcases the diversity and craftsmanship of sake. Moreover, this retailer constantly updates its collection, ensuring that there is something new to discover regularly.

Image Source: Sake Collective

6. Sake Collective

Sake Collective features a varied assortment of 100 sake bottles, ranging from sweet to spicy, fruity to earthy and many more tasting notes. The collection is put together by the company's CEO, Yuya Yamamoto, who did in-depth research and meticulous groundwork, finding 30 top-notch breweries from where the sakes are sourced. Best of all, Sake Collective also runs its own sake bar, giving buyers the opportunity to try the drink by the glass before purchasing an entire bottle. 

Also read: The Significance of UK Supermarkets to the Wine Industry

Image Source: Moto

7. Moto

Moto is the first sake bar-cum retail shop in the UK where individuals can look forward to an unforgettable sake drinking experience, thanks to the shop’s phenomenal selection of sake and expert sommeliers who will find the right bar food to go with your sake, or vice versa. But what truly attracts sake enthusiasts to this place is its unique offerings that are exclusively imported from Japan only in Moto. 

Image Source: London Sake

8. London Sake

London Sake aims to make sake more accessible and less intimidating to non-Japanese-speaking people who want to try the beverage but are unsure where to begin. Each bottle comes with an informational sheet detailing the tasting notes, food pairing suggestions, serving instructions and more that were written by the retailer’s staff with a level 3 award in sake from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust. This ensures that every customer, whether a beginner or a connoisseur, feels confident and informed when drinking it.

Image Source: Yutaka

9. Yutaka

As a retailer that sells Japanese foods and drinks in the UK, Yutaka’s portfolio has a diverse selection of sake that caters to different taste preferences. Whether a buyer wants to try something smooth and subtle or bold and full-bodied, this shop sells it all. Yukata is particularly appreciated for bringing its buyers high-quality sakes while keeping the price of the bottles affordable.

Image Source: Japan Centre

10. Japan Centre

As a brand that has been selling a wide range of Japanese items since the 1970s, the Japan Centre has established itself as one of the trusted and go-to places for people seeking authentic Japanese drinks and edibles. Even though Japan Centre is not a retailer that exclusively sells sake, it has earned a spot in our list for its large and distinctive collection of sakes that were meticulously handpicked by the in-house sommeliers. 

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Whether you are a restaurant looking to expand your drinks menu or a bar looking to stock up on some new sakes, the above retailers offer a variety of sake picks, guaranteeing that you are sure to find something or another to impress even the customers with the most discerning palates. 

Header image sourced from Sake Collective

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