Ever been to a sake festival and thought: “Hey, I’m having a great time, but I would like to go deeper and really know more about what I’m drinking.”
At the soon-to-happen (July 1-2) first edition of Sake Social, a two-day intimate gathering of sake experts and enthusiasts organised by the same folks behind Sake Matsuri, that’s precisely what you’re gonna get.
Regulars of Sake Matsuri will know exactly how the format goes. A ticket entities you entry to a 3-hour session (12-3pm or 5-8pm), where during that time, you’re free to roam the space and enjoy tasting pours of sakes offered by various vendors.
[Read more: A beginner’s guide to sake]
But unlike the boisterous bustle of previous festivals, Sake Social will take on a much more cosy vibe where you can more freely mingle with fellow sake otakus. Rather than hundreds upon hundreds of festival goers, each session is limited to only around 100 people. This ensures everyone has more time to chat and talk about the sakes being served.
The chosen venue too is a much more elegant and refined space – an air-conditioned private warehouse of an upmarket furniture purveyor located in the Henderson Road area. So feel free to ditch the t-shirt and shorts for your smart casual attire.
Still, it’s the sake programming that really sets a different tone from your usual festivals. You won’t find any crowd pleasing yuzu sakes or run-off-the-mill junmai daiginjos here. In fact, on both days of the festival, there will be different sake styles on showcase.
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On the first day of Sake Social, it’s all about aged versus new sake. Not just about fresh sakes pitted against koshus (aged sakes), explore the intricacies of how modern techniques are inspired by traditional ones, or how heating up a three-year-old sake is also a perfectly great way to enjoy it.
The theme for the second day is raw and unfiltered. This will be the place to be for natural sake (including unpasteurised nama sakes and unique junmai) lovers, as well as those who enjoy their nigori (coarsely filtered sake) and doburoku (unfiltered home brew) styles.
It’s also exciting that vendors will not be sectioned according to their own brands. Instead, attendees can expect theme-focused zones, with sake experts and merchants representing different labels working together to bring life to each section.
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For those worried about having the munchies, do not fret. Easy eats from mod-Sin izakaya The Kongsee will be available too: just in case you didn’t mange to grab lunch or dinner before heading down.
The ideation behind Sake Social came about due to a growing sophistication of drinkers here. “Singapore ranks among the top five export markets of sake in Asia, so there is clearly a strong demand for the beverage here, though sake drinkers are mostly acquainted with a limited range of premium sake,” remarks Kevin Ngan, founder of Sake Social and Sake Matsuri.
“Sake Social will add to that by shining a spotlight on the diversity of sake, introducing more esoteric styles for Singapore’s sophisticated consumers.”
Sake Social takes place July 1-2 at 203 Henderson Road, #04-07 Henderson Industrial Park Wing B, Singapore 159546. Tickets are S$128 per session, or S$228 for a two-session pass (one on each day).
All tickets come inclusive of a Sake Social tote bag and t-shirt, sticker/pin pack, and (for the first 150 ticket holders) a Riedel sake glass.
Exclusively for Spill readers, use code SPILLSOMESAKE for a special discount off the final price.
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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.