After a long pandemic-induced 3-year wait, the 8th edition of Singapore’s largest festival dedicated to all-things sake is back.
Sake Festival Singapore, organised by distributors Orihara Shoten, returns to the Suntec Convention and Exhibition Centre for its 2023 showing. Happening for one day only on 17 June, the ticketed event will once again see sake breweries representing themselves independently by their tojis and brewers at the festival.
Over 300 labels and 35 breweries will be showcased at the festival for sampling, including familiar brands like Dassai, Tatenokawa and Bijofu, as well as up-and-coming names the likes of Manatsuru and Shuho Syuzojo.
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Per festival tradition, breweries that are unable to make their way to Singapore will be represented by local sake-loving volunteers – as a way to engage with the sake community here – at the Orihara Shoten booth.
For the first time, several ultra premium sakes will be made available, though they are not included in the ticket price. Sakes such as the world’s first one percent polishing rate expression Tatenokawa Junmai Daiginjo Komyo, crowd favourite Dassai Beyond, and Sekiya Shuzo’s legendary Houraisen Arcadia II 2019 Kimoto Junmai Daiginjo, will be sold by the glass at $10-$15.
In another first, two pre-festival events – a masterclass and a pairing dinner – will be happening. Conducted by none other than the highly sought after Sake Samurai Chiba Marie of Eureka, Tokyo, the separately-priced events are meant to draw in sake enthusiasts seeking for even deeper experiences.
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One thing unlike previous festivals however will be the absence of cooked food, due to permit issues. So eat before you head down, or grab packaged snacks from the Yamagata Prefectural government booth if the munchies hit.
First held in 2013, the most recent Sake Festival Singapore took place back in 2019, and remains the longest running and largest gathering of nihonshu brands in Singapore.
Sake Festival Singapore 2023 takes place 17 June, 2-7pm at the Suntec City Convention Hall, Level 3, Summit Hall 1. Tickets are available online at S$60 each.
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About the Author
Dannon Har is the Managing Editor of Spill. Discovering his innate gift for drinking only at a ripe age, he spares no time trying to find more delicious drops to imbibe during his time on Earth. When he’s not minding every detail at Spill, he spends his time concocting luscious libations and sharing them with folks that visit his home bar.