With today’s sake drinkers increasingly informed and adventurous, now is the time for a truly expert guide to take you deeper into appreciation of this complex but delightful Japanese beverage, brewed from rice and enjoyed both warm or chilled.
And what better mentor than John Gauntner, the “Sake Guy” and the world’s leading non-Japanese sake educator and evangelist? Here in over two dozen no-holds-barred essays, John reveals “the truth about sake” from a connected insider’s perspective. No other book or website presents such a knowledgeable, practical, and concise yet complete guide to sake idiosyncrasies, misperceptions, and controversies.
Sake Confidential is the perfect FAQ for beginners, experts, and sommeliers. Indexed for easy reference with suggested brands and label photos. Includes:
- Sake Secrets: junmai vs. non-junmai, namazake, aging, dry vs. sweet, ginjo, warm vs. chilled, nigori, water, yeast, rice, regionality
- How the Industry Really Works: pricing, contests, distribution, glassware, milling, food pairing
- The Brewer’s Art Revealed: koji-making, brewers’ guilds, grading
John Gauntner John Gauntner is the only non-Japanese certified Master of Sake Tasting. A resident of Japan since 1988, he has worked in the sake industry promoting and educating since 1994. Each year he conducts Sake Professional Courses for sake professionals and aficionados, and several of his students have gone on to open thriving sake shops, breweries, and izakaya in the United States.
Industry Reviews
"A superb, easy-to-swallow overview of this fascinating, complex and subtle beverage, offered with pith and clarity."—The New York Times
"This book is not just for sake lovers; it’s a must read for anyone interested in Japanese culture."— The Japan Times
"Written in a style that Gauntner's readers have come to know and enjoy: conversational, straightforward, earnest, unpretentious, and passionate."—The Sake Press
"Sake Confidential is essential reading for anyone curious or passionate about Japan’s national spirit."—Metropolis
"It fills a needed niche for a Sake book that goes beyond the basics, but still is approachable by even the casual reader or newbie to Sake."—The Passionate Foodie
"It's an easy book to flip through to find something of interest at your level of knowledge."—The Gray Report
