What Is Fruit Sake?

When people hear the word “sake” in English, they often think of Japanese rice wine. In Japanese, however, the word sake can be used more broadly to refer to alcoholic drinks in general.
 

Because of this, Fruit Sake does not always mean a fruit drink made with rice-based sake. Some styles may use sake, while others may be made with shochu, neutral alcohol, or another alcohol base.
 

The easiest way to think of Fruit Sake is as a Japanese fruit-based alcoholic drink — one that captures the flavour, aroma and natural sweetness of fruit in an easy-to-enjoy style.
 

In Japan, drinks like these are commonly enjoyed at izakaya, restaurants and at home. They are often served simply with ice, soda or tonic, making them refreshing, casual and very approachable.
 

For English-speaking visitors to Japan, however, this category can be a little hard to recognise on a menu. You may see names such as umeshu, yuzu-shu, momo-shu, fruit liqueur, or seasonal fruit drinks, rather than one single category called “Fruit Sake.”
 

At Somm Cellars, we use the name Fruit Sake to describe these fruit-forward Japanese drinks in a simple and welcoming way.