Falling into its own category of alcohol, sake, the Japanese fermented rice beverage offers an extensive experience with so many different flavour profiles on offer. Sake is truly the perfect match for any occasion and here is where you can find it in Melbourne this winter.
Grand Lafayette, Prahran
Beat the winter blues and warm your soul through and through with Grand Lafayette’s sensory stimulating sake flights. Patrons are invited to not only sample the extensive sake collection at Grand Lafayette but sip on the luxe, rare sake ‘Junmai Daiginjo’. Revived from only 25 grains Junmai Daiginjo is notably one of the rarest sakes. Boasting in crisp and sophisticated flavour profiles, this experience will truly ignite first-time sake sippers love for this special fermented rice. With two sake flights on offer, flight B includes a rare, hard to find and expensive sake and for the entirety of August, join Grand Lafayette and sip away into the sunset while enjoying their famed Japanese cuisine. Not only are patrons given the opportunity to try Junmai Daiginjo, but they can so for the hot price of under $30!
Yakikami, South Yarra
Brace yourself! Yakikami takes luxurious to the next level, offering up one of the most expensive, rare, and sophisticated sakes to ever hit the market. Now, if you’re well versed in the sake world, I’m sure you have heard the name ‘Juyondai Honmaru’. While this sake is ultra-rare and one of the hardest to find, Yakikami has found it! Bottles go for approximately $1350 but you can try it for a fraction of the price at Yakikami. Think medium-dry and velvety mouth feel with big floral aromas. This sake is considered by many as the pinnacle of high-end sake but if this doesn’t tickle your fancy, the food, and groovy cocktails at Yakikami is sure to. Either way, a visit to Yakikami is an experience worth telling. Highly recommend!
Grand Lafayette in Prahran pairs warm sake with delectable dishes
NOBU, Southbank
Pricy we know, but Nobu has been slinging sake flights since opening in 1994. For under $50, patrons are given 3 dreamy, high-end and Hokusets u sakes. Designed for those of you who are beginner sake specialists or simply cannot decide from their ample sake list. For those on the hunt to taste-test the rarest sakes in Melbourne, Nobu is sure to hit the nail on the head! Hokusetsu YK 35, an extremely rare sake is on the menu, presenting with aromas of aniseed and tiny hints of sweetness, all balanced out with a mellow acidity. Check this one off your sake adventure list at Nobu, located within Crown in the centre of Melbourne’s CBD.
Robot Bar, CBD
With constant new additions to their extensive sake menu, Robot bar is sure to have something for everyone. Located in Melbourne’s CBD, Robot Bar is known for their amazing cocktails, good vibes, and sake! With a pop culture theme throughout the interior, Robot bar not only provides good food and Japanese inspired cocktails, beer, and sake but is an experience that is calling your name. For those who enjoy anime, join their Anime nights every Tuesday at 9pm and for those looking to taste new sake, the menu has a lengthy list of different sakes to tempt and delight your palate.
Sake Bar & Restaurant – Hamer Hall, Southbank
Boasting in dim lighting, great food, and rare sake flights, this sake bar and restaurant will leave tummies full and sake cravings cured. Hamer Hall’s ‘Sake Master’ flight has 3 luxe inclusions of rare sakes. Enjoy Yoshinogawa Ginjo Gokujo, Dassai ’23’ Junami Daiginjo, and Shinbunshi ’65’ Junmai Muroka Nama Genshu. Dip your toe in the sake pond with the ‘Sake Explorer’ flight for first-time sake sippers keen to ignite a new passion for the rich fermented rice drink. This sake flight includes, Kizakura Yamahai Jikomi, Kunizakuri ‘Saika’ Daiginjo, Dewazakura Junmai Ginjo Dewa Sansan. Each sake flight is paired perfectly with their expert Japanese food. A small train, or car ride away Sake Bar & Restaurant is located within Hamer Hall Southbank. Enjoy sashimi and sip on sake at this perfect date location!