Best Sake Sets
Distilled from fermented rice, the history of sake dates back thousands of years to when rice was first harvested in Japan. Likewise, the customs of serving and sipping sake evoke many centuries of tradition that are as rich and varied as the flavors of this surprisingly complex clear spirit. Depending on taste as well as the season, sake can be served warm or chilled in small shot-size cups known as ochoko. We’ve rounded up our favorite sets to help you find the perfect set.
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Best Gift Set
Happy Sales 5-Piece Ceramic Sake Set
Porcelain Pour. Break the ice with a drink best enjoyed in good company.
What We Liked
The porcelain finish on this elegant sake set gives the cups and decanter a bright finish that will always look good on your drinks cabinet or as you’re serving up this distilled Japanese spirit. Comes in a sturdy gift box if you’re looking to give it as a present to that sake lover in your life. Get it here.
Best for Parties
Tosnail 5-Piece Ceramic Japanese Sake Set
Taste of Japan. Say kanpai to the Land of the Rising Sun.
What We Liked
Brighten things up with a five-piece ceramic sake set with distinctive pink cherry blossom and Japanese torii, temple gate, motif. All you’ll need to add is the sake pour, bright blue tarpaulin and portable karaoke machine to make you feel as if you’re part of the cherry-blossom-viewing festivities throughout Japan each spring. Buy it now.
Best Traditional Style
Oenophilia Osaka Five-Piece Sake Set
Savor the Flavor. A subtle, contemporary style for serving your sake.
What We Liked
Evocative of the subtle natural hues of traditional Japanese pottery, this five-piece sake set features a tall tokkuri (decanter) and four ochoko (drinking cups). A highly communal drink, sake is best tasted having been warmed in the tokkuri to a temperature of just over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, although others prefer to sip this ancient rice-based spirit chilled. Buy it here.
Best for Sake Purists
3-Piece Tanuki Raccoon Sake Set
Spirit Animal. Warm the heart with Japan’s signature spirit.
What We Liked
The racoon, or tanuki in Japanese, often represents a mischievous and happy-go-lucky presence in Japanese folklore—so no doubt the perfect emblem for this delightful three-piece sake set. The brown-hued ceramic decanter is slightly smaller than other vessels, so consider this set ideal for a quiet drink alone or with your significant other as you reflect on the centuries of tradition and craftsmanship that lie behind the aromas and flavors of your favorite sake brand. Get it now.