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Andrew Russell

Mar 15, 20237 min read

The Story of Ikeda: The rise and fall of a sake brewing powerhouse.

Historical background Nothing embodies the ebb and flow of the sake industry like the history of its prominent regions. Nowadays, Nada...

Andrew Russell

Jan 25, 20239 min read

The Origin of Sake

There is much we still don’t know about sake. One example is the question of its birthplace. Three regions – Shimane, Nara and Hyogo -...

Andrew Russell

Sep 24, 20225 min read

Stories from the Crane of the Swamp

What is it about sake that captures the imagination so thoroughly? Although lacking in number compared to those of other alcoholic...

Andrew Russell

Aug 17, 20214 min read

Noguchi Naohiko: Seven decades in the making.

On a recent trip to the beautiful region of Kaga in Ishikawa prefecture I had but one souvenir on my wish list: sake brewed by the...

Andrew Russell

Oct 18, 20206 min read

The School of Kimoto

Orthodox sake brewing requires the preparation of a yeast starter, a small batch of steamed rice, koji, water and yeast, interchangeably...

Andrew Russell

Jun 28, 20209 min read

One Cup Sake: More than just a single serving friend

The now iconic blue and white label that adorns Ozeki's One Cup sake first burst onto the scene back in 1964. The release, of what was at...

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Andrew Russell

Feb 8, 20208 min read

Standing on the shoulders of giants: Defining the position of Master Brewer.

Towards the end of last year I noticed a few interesting discussions simmering away on social media regarding the "true" definition of a...

Andrew Russell

Nov 10, 201911 min read

A New Hope: Rejecting terroir and the wider gentrification of sake.

The sake industry has been undergoing radical change over the last few decades. Few would argue that this was necessary to stimulate an...

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