A recently published book about Champagne and other global sparkling wines had a tiny section about sparkling Sake. Any locals know about this new phenominum? Going to Tokyo in 2 weeks and thought I would check it out.

I first had it at a get together at Bar Kan-tsuma BAR 缶つまBAR on the river bank next to Nihonbashi back in 2008. I hadn�t had it before and it was unchallenging and easy to drink, light and creamy, floral and citrusy. It was also the first time I�d had �puttina� プッチーナ a very pretty refreshing vegetable that looks like it is covered in iced dew, so I associate the two.

Most of us at the get together were female, make of that what you will�

The book mentioned that Japanese sake brewers developed sparkling sake for the purpose of enticing more women to drink sake.

I�m expecting this thread�s lack of participatory vigour will also play testament to that fact.

Harumph.

I was trying to figure out which sparkling sake I was drinking that glorious evening, it was in a striking blue bottle (this was well before Mio was introduced) but that is no longer unusual. As I looked I came across this helpful introduction to sparkling sake featuring 20 kinds. Just use your preferred translation tools.

https://azumarikishi.co.jp/media/sparkling

Another collection of introductions (10) here:

https://sakenoshizuku.com/sparkling-sake

Many of the sparkling sakes available in the US (think Mio as an example) can be very much on the sweet side.
There are a number that are not, however.

My favorite sparkling is from Masumi in the Nagano region. The usual version you will find in the US is the Grand Prix version (with a price to match) but there is a "lesser" version that tastes just as good if you search for it.
The immediate visual difference you will see is that the Grand Prix version has a champagne style cork and cage while the other version has a metal bottle cap.

Fukucho also make a sparkling Junmai named Seaside which can also be very good and not so much on the sweet side. That can be found a little more readily in the states

Hope this helps

I tried sparkling sake a couple of nights ago, not sure what brand but also a blue bottle.
It was much too sweet and floral for me, I can say I've tried it now but probably won't again.

Here are the 2 suggestions from the book: Hakkaisan and Fukucho There was a mention of fruit and sweetness in some of these sparkling sakes. Not sure if these 2 have that or not. The photos show a champagne style bottle and cork.

They have been around for a while, but are getting better. I went to a Hyogo sake event last year and there was a dry one that was excellent. I remember a blue bottle, but that seems to be a common color for sparkling sake.

On an aside, Japanese cider is coming into its own. Good stuff out there (can be pricey though).