Good Sake in a Good Glass--Japanese Sake Glasses & Recommendations

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🤗 01 Common Japanese Sake Cups

Generally, when drinking sake, we use either a goblet (お猪口), a deep goblet (ぐい呑み) or a sake marigold (盃). What are the differences and characteristics of these three types of sake cups?

Sake cups (お猪口)

People often confuse goblets with deep goblets because both are commonly found in the shape of wine glasses, and the biggest difference between them is the size. A goblet is about the same size as our white wine glass, a size that can be completely wrapped in the palm of your hand. Naturally, the amount of sake that can be held inside is small, and can be consumed in one or two sips.

The Japanese name for this cup, “Inokuchi” (ちょく), is derived from the Japanese word “ちょくちょく”, which means “frequently” or “often”. It's very graphic, because every time we fill it up, we finish it very quickly, so we need to pour more and more often during the drinking process. This kind of goblet is usually used in combination with a dashi (とっくり) sake pot, so if you're giving a gift, it's recommended that you get a set that combines a dashi pot and a goblet!

Deep Sake Cups (Whati Tumi)

There are many different opinions on the origin of the Japanese name for this type of glass, “ぐい呑み”, but the mainstream view is that it comes from the Japanese word “ぐいっと飲む”, which means “to drink in a big gulp”. It means “gulp it down”. So you can feel the difference between a goblet and a deep goblet from the name. Generally speaking, the latter is slightly larger in size, and you can drink it in one gulp for a more enjoyable experience.

Wine Jiao (Cup)

A special shape, usually a plate with a small base underneath. The special shape is also a special way to hold it. In a slightly more formal setting, we hold it with the thumb and forefinger while holding the bottom of the sake jar with the middle and ring fingers. Lacquerware sake janitorials are rarely seen in everyday life and are only used on special, sacred occasions such as the Japanese New Year and weddings.

🤗 02 How to choose a sake glass?

After learning about the basic styles of sake glasses, let's take a look at how to pick the one that's right for you.

Material

Drinking from a glass enhances the coolness of cold sake and allows you to savor the spicy, delicate flavor of the sake itself. For sweeter sake, a ceramic mug with thicker walls may be a better choice, as most Japanese sake lovers use these mugs to drink hot sake (sake heated to around 50°C).

In addition to the most common glass and ceramic cups, there are also cups made of tin and metal. These cups are ideal for drinking warm sake (sake heated to about 40°C). It makes the taste of the sake in the cup more rounded and smooth.

Shape

If you want to categorize sake according to its aroma, there are four types: “Mature”, “Mellow”, “Aromatic” and “Refreshing”. “There are four types of sake. Each type has a cup shape that is more suitable for tasting it.

◆ Matured sake

Matured sake is a typical type of matured sake. The term “old sake” refers to sake that has been brewed for more than three years and has matured. The best way to drink this type of wine is to use a heavy, colorful glass. You can choose lacquerware that has been cut or lacquered with gold. Choose a glass with a large mouth so that it can hold the rich aroma of the matured wine well!

◆ Alcohol

Rice wine is one of the most popular types of alcoholic beverages, and it is the best choice for those who like to enjoy the aroma of alcoholic beverages. This type of sake is best served in earthenware, and it is best to choose a cup with the purest Japanese design. When choosing a cup, pay more attention to the shape of the lower part of the cup, and try to choose a cup with a fuller lower part, as this shape locks in the aroma of the rice better.

◆ Kaiseki

We recommend drinking Kaoru in a wide-mouthed glass. Kaumono is categorized as ginjyosu, daiginjyosu, etc., and comes in a variety of flavors from sweet to spicy. Regardless of the flavor, the aroma is rich and opulent, but the taste is quite soft. Therefore, it is best to use a wide-mouth wine glass to maximize the aroma of this type of sake.

◆ Shochu

Spicy but mildly flavored tonic wines are like our highly concentrated white wines and are best suited for one sip. It is recommended to use a flared glass with a narrow bottom half to lock in the aroma of the wine.

In addition to this, there is also the categorization by temperature mentioned above. Cold wines are served in flared glasses that lock in the aroma of the wine. Hot wines are better suited to narrow-mouthed glasses, as this allows the heat to not dissipate as quickly and keep the temperature high for longer.

🤗 03 Recommendations for the most popular Japanese wine glasses

◆ Minoru Pottery|Snake's Eye Sake Cup (Cup・Guy Tumi Snake's Eye)

This is traditional Japanese Mino-yaki porcelain. The white color is very much in keeping with the original tone of the ceramic, and the blue snake-eye pattern painted on the bottom of the cup allows you to easily see how cloudy the sake is after it is filled. In addition, the mug can be heated directly in the microwave oven, so you can also use it directly to scald your wine, which is very convenient.

Material: Porcelain Size: diameter 5cm x height 4.8cm Capacity: 60ml Reference price: 1678 yen (3 pieces)

◆ Aderia | Tsugaru Glass Sake Cup (津軽びいどろ盃おちょこ)

Tsugaru glass is produced in Aomori, a region rich in natural resources on the northern tip of Honshu Island, Japan. It is one of the traditional crafts of the region. The glassware produced by the craftsmen using a special technique is as colorful as the summer night sky. Because each one is individually handmade, each one is unique, and this is the great charm of the Tsugaru Glass Sake Cup.

Material: Glass Size: Diameter 6.5cm x Height 3.8cm Capacity: 50ml Reference price: 1100 yen

◆ Tanaka Art Shop|Sake Jar

This is the best three-inch cup for drinking sake. It is made of extremely lightweight ABS resin. The gold-colored rim and the glossy red wall in the center of the cup contrast beautifully, giving it a high-class texture like lacquerware. But it's cheaper than lacquerware, and it's easy to use because it can be washed like regular tableware. Whether it's for treating yourself and your family, sipping a glass of wine at a small ceremonial dinner, or a formal dinner party, this mug will come in handy.

Material: ABS resin Size: Diameter 9.1cm × H 2.1cm Price: 530 yen

◆ Toyo Sasaki Glass|Japanese Sake Glasses (Nihonshu Glasses クリア)

Yachiyo Kiln's sake glass is made using the traditional Edo Nitori method of craftsmanship. It is a perfect size to hold in your hand, and its delicate design and elegant gold leaf give it a sophisticated, high-class feel. The wide-mouth sake cup allows the unique aroma of sake to spread better, so it's perfect for drinking ginjyosu, a cold sake with a gorgeous aroma. Sake glasses are so beautiful in their own right that they add color to a home, even as a decorative object!

Material: Glass Size: Diameter 9.5cm × H 5.3cm Capacity: 120ml Reference price: 3,925 yen

◆ Nitsuko Tajima|Edo Kiriko Hoshikiri Deep Small Sake Cups Pair (Edo Kiriko Hoshikiri ぐい呑ペア)

This pair of cups features a delicate Edo Kiriko cut. The pattern is an authentic Hoshikiri pattern, and the way the light reflects off of it is pleasing to the eye. The material used is lead-free glass, making it more durable. It has a height of six centimeters, so you can drink not only sake but also whisky or shochu from it. It is packaged in a high-grade wooden box, so it's perfect for gift-giving.

Material: lead-free glass Size: 6cm in diameter x 6cm in height Capacity: 75ml Reference price: 9,600 yen

🤗 01 Common Japanese Sake Cups

🤗 02 How to choose a sake glass?

🤗 03 Recommendations for the most popular Japanese wine glasses

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