Insights: Sake's new image

Not long ago sake was the preserve of Japanese restaurants, often low quality, cheap and served hot. But standards and times have changed with the rise in popularity of superior premium sakes.

Kyoto Distillery granted production licence to produce Japan's first gin

Japan's first artisan gin producer, The Kyoto Distillery, has been granted a production licence, to begin producing its inaugural release KI NO BI Dry Gin.

Premium yuzu liqueur from Isake International goes on sale in Selfridges

Isake International has announced the launch of a new premium yuzu liqueur, which will be available through Selfridges from next month.

Hallgarten marks International Women's Day with Women With Bottle promotion

Leading UK distributor Hallgarten Druitt & Novum has launched a three-month promotion celebrating women winemakers to coincide with International Women's Day on March 8.

Renewed investment in Japanese wine as beer sales contract

Japan's drinks manufacturers are exploring the potential for winemaking in the country as the nation's drinkers turn away from beer, according to a report in the Nikkei Asian Review.

Q&A: Footballer Hidetoshi Nakata talks sake

Anna Greenhous, talks to one of the greatest Japanese footballers of all time, Hidetoshi Nakata, about retiring and becoming an international sake ambassador.

London welcomes seventh annual Japanese Koshu wine tasting

The seventh annual Koshu of Japan tasting will take place in London next month.

Insights: The state of the sake market today

Looking at the recent history of the sake trade - the boom in sake, and sudden falling out of fashion in Japan which has resulted in the closure of 100s of sake breweries. Which types of sake Brewery survived? How have sake producers changed to meet different market conditions? Anna Greenhaus reports

Q&A: Philip Harper, the only non-Japanese Toji in Japan talks about what it takes to become a sake master brewer

Philip Harper grew up in Cornwall and upon graduating from Oxford University moved to Japan to teach English and in 2001, he passed the Nanbu Brewer's Guild exams to become the first and only foreign Toji, or master sake brewer. 

Analysis: Anna Greenhous asks why competitions are boosting sake's image

Sake's popularity is growing apace. Anna Greenhous take a look at how understanding of the category is changing with the help of international competitions

Beam Suntory marks launch of new Hibiki whisky with world first event in London

A London gallery is to be the first venue in the world to host an interactive tasting experience for a new Japanese whisky.

International demand for Japanese craft beer prompts Kiuchi Brewery expansion

Japanese family-owned brewery Kiuchi Brewery is expanding its facilities to meet increased demand from the overseas and domestic market for their range of Hatachino Nest beers.

Anna Greenhous: Do different rice varieties effect different styles and flavours of sake?

Different grape varieties create distinctively different styles and flavours of wine, but can the same be said for different rice varieties with sake? Anna Greenhous investigates.

Prowein 2015: Roger Jones' day two from de Prowein Haus

Roger Jones takes us around the wine world on his Prowien 2015 journey of discovery, where he explores some new and interesting wines.

Japanese sake producers reflect on four years of recovery to mark earthquake anniversary

Four years since the earthquake and tsunami wreaked havoc across Japan, Anna Greenhous looks at how sake producers, some of whom were wiped out at the time, have rebuilt their industry and how sake has become a symbol for regeneration and hope in the country.

Sake set to finally make its mark in the UK in 2015

Zuma's Noel Pusch is named Sake Sommelier of the Year

Noel Pusch of premium Japanese restaurant chain Zuma's Abu Dhabi branch has been named Sake Sommelier of the Year at an awards ceremony at London's Westbury Hotel this week.

Sake Sommelier of the Year competition open for entries

The search to find this year's Sake Sommelier of the Year is now on with entries open to win not only a £5,000 prize but a trip to Japan to delve even deeper in to the world of sake.

Christine Parkinson on driving sake with customers and sommeliers at Hakkasan

Helen Arnold talks sake with Christine Parkinson, chief wine buyer at the 12-strong Hakkasan restaurant chain, the first company to put some of its sommeliers through a new WSET sake course.

Rie Yoshitake on promoting sake around the world with the IWC

Anna Greenhous talks to Rie Yoshitake, UK representative of the Sake Samurai Association, about how the IWC sake category came about, its impact and success in promoting sake across the world.