Saké Resources

Where can you buy Saké? Where can you find more information about Saké, including Saké reviews? What Saké books should you buy?

Let me provide you with some additional Saké resources, some places, sites and books that I recommend.

Saké Stores
Sadly, many wine stores carry few, if any, brands of Saké. But this is changing and more and more places are starting to carry Saké. I have three particular recommendations for stores that carry an extensive collection of Saké, places where you can find many different varieties of Saké.

True Sake: This was the first all Saké store in the U.S. country. Located in San Francisco, this is an excellent store with over 150 different types of Saké, all imported from Japan. I have been there and would highly recommend it. They have free tastings and host other events as well. They have a good website and they do ship as well.

Sakaya: This is a new all Sake store that opened last December in New York City. I recently visited this store and you can check out my review. I thought it was an excellent store with a diverse selection of Saké. If you are in New York City, you must stop here and check it out.

Sake Nomi: This is a new all-Sake store located in Seattle, Washington. I have not yet been there but their website is enticing. If anyone goes there, please tell me what you thought.

The Sake Shop: Located in Honolulu, Hawaii, this shop opened in January 2010, and I have not been here either, though it too sounds great, with a nice selection of Sake and regular tasting events.

Astor Wines & Spirits: This is one of my favorite wine stores in New York City and they have a large and diverse selection of Saké. They have a cooler area where they store many different types of Saké including some excellent Namazake.

Saké Reference Sites
Here are three websites that provide much information concerning all aspects of Saké.

Sake World: This site is run by John Gauntner, a leading non-Japanese authority on Saké. It is a very extensive site and you can also sign up for his Saké newsletter.

ESake: This is another large reference site for Saké, and John Gauntner contributes there as well.

Japan Sake Brewer's Association: This site has some basic information about Saké, its brewing process and breweries in Japan.

Sake Social: This site has a blog filled with plenty of educational info about Sake and it is also a source for purchasing Sake.

Saké Blogs
Though there are hundreds of wine blogs out there, the number of blogs dedicated to Saké is very small. Here are the best Saké blogs of that small group. Check them out for Saké reviews, articles, commentary and more.

Tokyo Through the Drinking Glass
Urban Sake
The Sake Diaries
Nihonshudo NYC

Saké Books
There is only a small number of Sake books available, with some of them out of print. Here is a list of about 20 such books, most which I own.

The Sake Companion: A Connoisseur's Guide by John Gauntner

The Sake Handbook: All the information you need to become a Sake Expert! by John Gauntner
Sake Confidential: A Beyond-the-Basics Guide to Understanding, Tasting, Selection, and Enjoyment by John Gauntner
Sake’s Hidden Stories: The Personalities, Philosophies, and Tricks of the Trade Behind the Brew by John Gauntner
The Sake Notebook by John Gauntner
Sake: Pure & Simple by Griffith Frost and John Gauntner
The Insider's Guide to Sake by Philip Harper
The Book of Sake: A Connoisseur's Guide by Philip Harper
Sake: A Modern Guide by Beau Timken
Sake: Water From Heaven by Rocky Aoki
The Niigata Sake Book by Niigata Sake Brewers Association
Sake (USA): The Complete Guide To American Sake, Sake Breweries and Homebrewed Sake by Fred Eckhardt
Drinking Japan: A Guide to Japan's Best Drinks and Drinking Establishments by Chris Bunting
Brewing Sake: Release the Toji Within by William Auld
Guide to Sushi & Sake by Approach Guides
The Book of Sake by Hiroshi Kondo
Sake, A Drinker's Guide by Hiroshi Kondo
Sake, Heath & Longevity by Yukio Takizawa
Interesting Facts of the History of Sake by Sake Service Institute
100 of the Best Sake In the World by Alex Trost

(Note: This post has been updated as of 5/14/15 to add new information. And more changes will be coming soon.)