Another sake, please!: Yosaku

Correct me if I'm wrong, but there is no bar I know of that serves sake. Only the Japanese restaurants do. And when I say sake, I'm not talking about the hot cheap sake everyone serves. I'm talking about the good stuff: the unfiltered sake, the Plum wine, the Shochu, the saketinis. That's what I want.

It's surprising how many people have never tried sake or don't know what it is. Sake is a rice wine made in Japan. The process of fermenting rice starch is more akin to that used to produce beer, but the alcohol content is much higher and varies between 14-25%. Sake has been warming bellies for centuries, however the origins of sake are unclear.

The three types of sake are Janmai-shu (pure white sake make only from rice, water and koji), Ginjo-shu (made with rice polished to 60% or less of its original weight) and Honjozo-shu (made with a slight amount of brewer's alcohol). Yosaku offers all three types in various brands. Most people drink Ozeki - it's the Coors Light of sake that is served hot or cold. Sake snobs drink higher quality brands that cost money. Here's a run-down of Yosaku's sake menu.

Ozeki (16% alcohol content), $4-9
Ozeki Dry (14.5%), $6-18
Ozeki Ginjo Premier Sake (16%), 720ml $34
Moonstone Asian Pear (13.5%), $7-27
Masu Sake, served hot or cold in a cedar box, 150ml $5
Nigori (14.5%), unfiltered and delicious with a draft Kirin, 375ml $8
Hyorei Jyunmai Genshu (17.5%), 300ml $13
Karatamba Honjozo (15%), 300ml $13
Yamadanishiki Junmai (14.8%), 300 ml $13
Osakaya-Chobei DaiGinjo (15.8%), 300ml $20
Echigo Hanabonbori Ginjo (15.5%), 500ml $33
Kasumi Tsuru Kimoto Extra Dry (17.5%), 720 ml $37
Kasumi Tsuru Yamahai Gingo (15.5%), 300ml $22, 720ml $40
Yuki No Bosha Jumai Ginjo (16.5%), 750ml $45
Yuki No Bosha Akita Komodachi Daiginjo (18.5%), 720ml $65
Geikkeikan Zipang (7%), sparkling sake, 250ml $9
Geikkeikan Haiku (15%), 750ml $17
Geikkekan Horin (15.5%), 300ml $22, 720ml $46
Jyunmai Reisyu (16%), 300ml $9

Learn more about sakes at www.sakeexpert.com.

Yosaku offers wine and beer. The wine selection is by the glass or bottle ($16-72) and includes two kinds of Plum Wine, a cloying beverage many people love ($4 a glass). You can also order draft or bottled beer. Draft beers include Kirin Ichiban, Stella Artois, Geary's and Allagash White. Bottled beers include Kirin, Kirin Light, Sapporo and Buckler.

While the saketini menu isn't yet available (I was told it's currently being printed and will be available soon), you can order the following drinks anytime:

Grey Goose Saketini (Ozeki Dry sake, Grey Goose, garnished with cucumbers), $9
Hendrix Gin Saketini $9
Rising Sun Martini (Absolut Ruby Red, Cointreau, grapefruit and cranberry juice) $8
Lemon Drop Martini $8
Ginger Martini (Yazi Ginger Vodka, ginger-infused simple syrup, dash of sake, garnished with pickled ginger) $8
Mai Tai $7.50

At this point, you're thinking the drink selection can't possible get better or more expensive. But it does, my friends. Ever heard of Shochu? It's a distilled potato wine with alcohol content ranging form 25-50%. It doesn't have that fruity taste you get with sake, but rather a more earthy or nutty flavor. Yosaku offers Ginza No Susume Schochu (750ml $60) and Yufuin Schochu (750ml $80). If you can't finish the bottle, it can be corked and taken home.

And after a little shochu, several Kirins, a couple carafes of sake and so many saketinins you lost count, you'll need to call a jitney to take your drunk ass home.

Prices may have changed since this entry was posted.