Sake lovers, ready your ochokos (お猪口)! The Orihara Shoten-organised event is back for its 9th edition on 15 June 2 to 7pm at Suntec Convention and Exhibition Centre in a space twice the size of last year’s jamboree. Festival goers will be spoilt for choice with over 300 labels from 30 sake breweries to sample. 

The sakes will be presented by the breweries’ toji (brewer) or kurabito (brewery representative), so you’ll be able to find out more about your favourite nihonshu from the horse’s mouth. Highlights include the soft, mellow sakes of Minenohakubai Brewery (below) from Niigata Prefecture. With around 400 years of history, the brewery makes sake unique from the light and dry style of the region, with traditional methods and new techniques. 

Also don’t miss the Macho Omachi from the Makino Brewery. The brewery from Gunma Prefecture, known for Macho and Osakazuki sake, boasts a history of over 330 years. Their pride, Osakazuki, has consistently won over 20 Gold Medals at national sake and National Tax Authority contests in Japan.

Satiate your sake-fuelled munchies at the inaugural Japanese Izakaya “Yokocho” Food Alley. Seven chefs from Tanjong Pagar, who’ve nicknamed themselves the “Tanpaga” chefs, have created a joint menu specially for the day. The team includes head chefs Yoshikawa Daisuke (Pulsii Wood Fire Restaurant & Bar), Keita Ogata (Teppan Works), Hiroko Ono (Access Tohoku), Koki Miyoshi (Hearth Irori & Oden Izakaya), Sho Naganuma (Torasho Ramen & Charcoal Bar), Kenichi Ikehata (Ramen Matsuri), and Tetsuo Komine (WanoNiku).

Not sure which sake goes best with the food you’re eating? For the first time, Sake Festival Singapore will feature a team of eight certified sake sommeliers to recommend sake and food pairings. Guests unfamiliar with sake or unsure about pairings can easily seek their expert advice.

Details at a glance:

Date: 15 June 2024, Saturday

Time: 2pm to 7pm – Last Admission at 5:30pm

Venue: Suntec City Convention Hall, Level 4, Hall 404, 1 Raffles Boulevard, Suntec City, Singapore 039593

Ticketing at $60 per ticket. Available online via SISTIC at (ticketing charges apply): Promotion: 5+1 bundle for $300 (while stocks last) https://www.sistic.com.sg/events/sake0624 and in person from Orihara Shoten Robertson Walk (11 Unity Street, #01-02, Robertson Walk, Singapore 237995)

Website: https://www.sakefestival.sg/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SakeFestivalSG

Instagram: www.instagram.com/sakefestivalsg Hashtags – #SakeFestivalsg2024 #SakeFestSg #oriharasg

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