Unlike wine and other alcoholic beverages, you can serve sake at various temperatures and still enjoy it. And because temperature affects it so dramatically, you can get multiple different tastes out of one bottle!
Understanding the effect of temperature on sake taste will elevate your drinking experience and maybe even help you find a new favorite sake.
How Does Temperature Affect Sake Flavor?
The temperature you serve sake at changes virtually every characteristic of the drink, including:
- Flavors: Sake generally tastes drier at lower temperatures and sweeter at higher ones.
- Aroma: Understanding how temperature influences sake aromas is important, as the right temperature will enable the sake to fully express its aromas with minimal swirling or stirring required.
- Mouthfeel: Warming sake gives it a lighter, more fluid texture. Chilling it causes the molecules to slow down, increasing its viscosity and creating a denser, thicker mouthfeel.
- Acidity: Chilling sake subdues its acid and alcohol content, while heating it makes these characteristics more noticeable. This shift can dramatically change how a sake interacts with food, which means one bottle could pair well with many different dishes.
The compounds in each sake will react differently depending on the temperature, which can transform one drink into multiple depending on which temperatures you serve it at. While the full scale of sake serving temperatures is highly specific, the three main categories include:
- Chilled (hiya-zake): 41 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit
- Room temperature (jo-on): 68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit
- Warmed (kan-zake): 86 to 131 degrees Fahrenheit
If you’re trying to decide whether to drink cold vs. warm sake, consider what you’re eating and how the temperature of your drink complements your surroundings. If it’s a hot day, try it chilled! On a colder day, hot sake can warm you up and keep you cozy.
Should All Sakes Be Served at the Same Temperature?
Simply put, no. While each sake has a recommended temperature range, serving temperature is not a one-size-fits-all equation. The type of sake you’re drinking plays a big role in how you should serve it.
Here’s a general breakdown of ideal temperature ranges for each type of sake:
- Futsu-shu: You can serve “table sake,” or futsu-shu, at many different temperatures due to its lower rice polishing ratio. Some varieties of futsu-shu are best straight out of the fridge, while warming others elevates them to the level of a more premium sake.
- Junmai: A Junmai like our Sho Chiku Bai Classic Junmai is typically dry and high in acidity, with a full body and deeply complex savory notes. Its intensity makes it super versatile, so you can drink it chilled, at room temperature and warmed.
- Honjozo: Like futsu-shu, Honjozo is robust in flavor and aroma and suitable for drinking at almost any temperature.
- Ginjo and Junmai Ginjo: Ginjo is more delicate than Junmai or Honjozo, which means it’s best when served cold or at room temperature. Though a dry Junmai Ginjo, like our Sho Chiku Bai Premium Ginjo, can handle a slight warmth.
- Daiginjo and Junmai Daiginjo: Junmai Daiginjo, like our Sho Chiku Bai REI Junmai Daiginjo, has one of the highest polishing ratios of any type of sake. This property lends it a delicate aroma and flavor profile that shines when chilled and at room temperature. At higher temperatures, though, this flavor profile can easily become distorted.
- Nigori: A sweet, creamy nigori like our Sho Chiku Bai Nigori Silky Mild is best served chilled. Some nigoris are especially delicious over ice, where the lower temperature can accentuate their low acidity and smooth mouthfeel.
- Sparkling: While sparkling sakes like our Sho Chiku Bai Shirakabegura MIO are best served chilled, they can still be enjoyable at room temperature. Heating this type of sake would cause it to go flat, as the heat would make the carbon dioxide bubbles escape.
The sake producer will typically provide a recommended temperature range on the label, which may contradict these guidelines. While you can certainly heat or cool your sake to another temperature to see how it tastes, the suggested serving temperature will help you with choosing the right temperature for different sake types.
Tips for Heating and Cooling Sake
When you order sake at a bar or restaurant, they’ll take care of the finer details for you. But what happens if you want warm sake at home? How do you ensure it stays drinkable when you change its temperature?
Here are some tips and tricks for heating and cooling sake outside the izakaya.
Use Good Heating Techniques
Unless you have to use it, it’s best to avoid heating sake in the microwave. You have no control over how quickly or evenly the sake will heat up, which can cause:
- Burning
- Uneven temperature
- Unpleasant aroma
- Spoilage
Instead, follow these simple steps to safely heat your sake to the right temperature:
- Fill a medium-sized saucepan with water and bring it to a simmer.
- Pour your sake into a heat-safe carafe. A traditional ceramic tokkuri is perfect for this purpose.
- Remove the water from heat and place the sake in the saucepan.
- Place a thermometer in the sake and wait for it to reach the desired temperature.
- Remove the carafe from the water and serve.
Chilling at the Right Temperature
Chilling sake is fairly easy, but there are a few steps you can take to prevent it from spoiling. Here are some tips for storing cold sake:
- Keep the sake away from pungent foods that could alter its aromas.
- Store the bottle upright.
- Ensure your fridge maintains a consistent temperature.
When it’s time to serve, simply remove the bottle, uncap it and pour into a wine glass or ochoko. Replace the cap when you finish drinking, and make sure the seal is tight before placing it back in the fridge.
Storing Leftover Sake
Let’s say you serve a cozy, warm Junmai at a dinner party. While everyone drinks their fill, you still end up with some extra sake. Is it still good after you’ve warmed it up?
Yes! Just follow these steps:
- Pour the excess back into the original bottle or another airtight container.
- Make sure it’s sealed tight.
- Place the sake into your fridge.
- Enjoy within a few days.
Remember — whether you heated or chilled your sake, you need to finish it within about a week after opening for the best flavor. Any longer and the sake’s flavor and aromas will begin to change.
Enjoy Premium Sake From Takara Sake USA
Your sake drinking experience should be enjoyable at any temperature, and choosing a high-quality sake is essential for that experience. We’ve been brewing sake since 1983, and we’ve used that time to develop delicious, accessible varieties for experienced fans and new drinkers alike.
Browse our Online Store to find your new favorite sake, and check the product description for more information about the best serving temperature for each variety. We hope you have fun experimenting with our sake!
