What is the best sake? Out of all the sake in all the lands? I can’t help you. I simply have not imbibed enough sake to tell you. (Don’t worry, I’m working on it). But if you’re wondering about the best budget sake, the best sake you can probably find at a grocery store or a liquor store, rather than a specialty sake store, then I’m your gal. Because I tried 14 popular, widely available sakes—all $25 or less—and found the best sakes among them to recommend to you, my dear friends.
I tasted all of these sakes cold. Warming up sake dulls the flavor. I’m not saying hot sake doesn’t have its place, but it’s not in a sake taste test. I evaluated each sake on flavor and mouthfeel, and considered how best each might be enjoyed.
If you only drink sake when you go out to sushi, I hope surfacing the best affordable sake will help you break out of the habit. Sake belongs in your fridge. Of course, it’s the ideal pairing for an at-home meal of grocery store sushi. But it’s also good with cheese, salads, grilled meats, and desserts! Here are the best sake brands to buy. Welcome to your sake era.
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- SummerFall
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Canned sake is becoming more and more prevalent, and this is the best sake in a can to toss into a cooler at your next BBQ. It’s spritzy (yes, it’s a sparkling sake) and tart and citrusy. It’s super zesty and tangy. It almost tastes like there’s an actual squeeze of meyer lemon in the mix. This is some of the best sake to drink on its own while basking in the hot, hot sun (or, if you’re pale like me, while cowering in the cool, cool shade).
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- We Sake Junmai Ginjo
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If you’re looking to stock your fridge with single-serve sakes, this is the best canned sake to buy. Sold in four-packs and packaged in pleasingly designed minimalist cans, this sake is soft and gentle. There’s a touch of a crisp, grassy flavor along with some lovely floral notes. It’s dry and food-friendly—a good sushi sake that would really complement some soy sauce.
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- Sho Chiku Bai Junmai
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Hey, oenophiles. Do you like Pinot Blanc? Then this is the best cheap sake for you. If you’re not wine-savvy, allow me to explain more. Like a classic Pinot Blanc, this sake smells sweet and floral, but then it has a crisp, slatey, earthy flavor and a sharp finish. While you could serve it with a wide range of foods, its complexity makes this the best sake brand to pair with cheese. Try it with an umami-rich gouda or a funky camembert.
Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine
- Sho Chiku Bai Premium Ginjo Sake
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If you’re lost in the sake aisle, Sho Chiku Bai has proven to be one of the best sake brands to pick up. Because here’s another entry from the brand. This easy drinking sake is the best sake for beginners. It’s a touch on the sweet side, but it’s certainly not sweet. It’s light and bright and tangerine-y. You don’t have to pair this sake with anything. It’s so good for sipping on its own.
Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine
- Soto Premium Junmai
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I love the packaging. This is the best sake brand to buy if you really only care about the bottle. Luckily, the stuff in it is pretty darn good, as well. It’s very limey and slatey. It honestly tastes like biting into lime zest. It gets your mouth watering. It’s the best sake to drink as an aperitif or with light dishes like sashimi or a fresh salad or a crudite platter.
Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine
- Sake One Momokawa Junmai Ginjo
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Available in cans or by the bottle, this sake reminds me of a persimmon. It’s fruity, but in an almost savory, mushroomy way. It finishes with some floral sweetness, which keeps you coming back for another sip. It’s crazy complex. And it tastes strong—there’s a real kick. Because of that, I think it’s the best budget sake to pair with powerful flavors. Try it with some fatty grilled steaks or mushrooms or a roast.
Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine
- Tozai Snow Maiden Junmai Nigori
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This unfiltered sake is unlike any of the other sakes on this list. And, if you’ve never had unfiltered sake before, you might be a little unnerved by how thick and opaque it appears in the glass. Don’t worry, though. This doesn’t taste like a protein shake. It’s certainly sweeter than the other sakes on this list, but it’s balanced by lots of zesty, grapefruit flavors. This is the best sake to drink with dessert—especially fruity desserts. Try it with some lemon sorbet or rainbow sherbert and thank me later.
Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine
- Hakushika Junmai Namachozo
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Boy, I love this sake. It has a bit of a briny, seaside flavor that leaves your mouth feeling tingly. It’s like drinking the feeling of standing on a windy beach. And there’s a whisper of smoke that gives it depth. I think it’s one of the best sakes overall, but it’s definitely the best sake to drink with grilled chicken—like, yakitori style chicken cooked over coals. But if frozen orange chicken is for dinner, it’ll work with that, too.
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- Kikusui Junmai Ginjo
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Want to know what I wrote about this sake in my tasting notes as a professional taste tester? “Yummy yummy.” That’s a technical phrase we use in the taste testing community. This stuff is good. It has a zesty bite on the finish that makes it super food-friendly, but overall it’s very mellow and easy drinking so you can sip it solo. If you want it in wine terms, it’s kind of like a Chilean Chardonnay—hefty enough but with a zippy finish. It’s one of the best sakes I’ve had, and it can be yours for under $25. How lucky are you?
Credit: Liv Averett / Total Wine
Best Spritzy Sake
Best Canned Sake
Best with Cheese
Best Sweet-ish
Best Zesty
Best with Meat
Best Unfiltered Sake
Best with Chicken
Best of the Best
Other sakes we tried: Kikusui Funaguchi Nama Genshu, Jojo One Cup Sake, Hakutsuru Draft Sake Junmai, Gekkeikan, Sayuri
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!