Pairings
You don’t need sushi to open a bottle of sake. Have cheese in the fridge? Perfect. Pick one. Pour a little sake. Take a bite, then a sip. You might be surprised by what happens next.
Try it with a light, fragrant sake. Take a bite of Brie. Then take a sip. Does the sake feel fruitier? Softer? Maybe a little sweeter? There is no right answer. Just notice what you notice.
Sake and cheese can be very simple.
You do not need a special dinner. You do not need to know the rules.
Start with cheese you already enjoy, then see what changes when you add sake.
Do you notice something sweeter? Something softer? Something you did not notice before?
That small surprise is the fun.
PRACTICAL IDEAS
01 — SOFT & CREAMY
Brie is soft, creamy, and easy to love. Dewazakura Oka Ginjo brings a fresh, fruity side to the glass. Take a bite. Then a sip. A very easy place to start.
02 — FRESH & LIGHT
Mozzarella is mild and fresh. Dassai 45 is fruity, with a gentle sweetness. Put them together and neither one needs to shout. Add tomato or a little bread. Friday night, sorted.
03 — RICH & SAVOURY
Love aged Gouda? Go a little deeper. Aged Gouda is nutty, salty and rich. Tengumai Yamahai Junmai is richer too, with plenty of flavour and acidity. Take a bite. Then a sip. This might be the moment sake surprises you.
Sake and cheese are both made with the help of fermentation. Both can be full of umami — that deep, savoury taste that makes you want another bite. And something else happens. The salt in cheese can make the sweetness and umami in sake easier to notice. Sake can also soften the salty edge of the cheese. Interesting? Yes. Something you need to memorize? Absolutely not. Take a bite. Take a sip. Did something change?
RELATED BOTTLES
NEXT STEP
Next time you buy cheese, pick one you already love. Then try it with sake. You don’t need to know the perfect pairing. You just need to be curious enough to take the next sip.
FIND A SAKE FOR YOUR TASTE →