12 Top-Rated Sake Brands, Ranked

Sake is a delicious alcoholic beverage from Japan, boasting an umami-forward quality that has earned a place among the world's most famous fermented refreshments, especially in recent decades. Traditionally, sake is made using only four ingredients: water, rice, yeast, and a rice mold called koji. Although sake is commonly called rice wine in English-speaking demographics, sake is not actually a wine so much as its own alcoholic category.

In a similar sentiment shared with all alcoholic beverages, including wine, craft beer, and whisky, sake requires its admirers to take on a bit of a learning curve before casual interest can bloom into connoisseur-level sake appreciation. And when it comes to choosing the right type, taste, and, of course, beverage brand, sake is as intimidating as it is tasty. 

For those who are new to the world of sake sipping, confidently selecting one bottle of sake off a shelf stocked with numerous options ... well, it'd be better to read up on this Japanese drink and its brands before the stress of buying an unfamiliar beverage sets in. Instead of letting panic kick in, take the time to study the difference between clear and cloudy sake, chilled and hot, and all the fascinating whatnot in between. Take those first steps toward becoming an aficionado of all things sake starting here, with this breakdown of popular sake brands, ranked by combining principles of popularity, personal preference, and an objective cost-to-quality ratio as well. For more on our methodology, read 'till the end.

Joto, meaning "highest quality" in English, is a true-to-its-name sake brand. Uniquely, it was founded in 2005 by Henry Sidel, an American man who studied Japanese in a Minnesota college before living in Japan as a homestay student. He then went on to work his way up in the food and beverage industry and was introduced to sake in 1999. Sidel's love for sake drove him to start his own sake company with three breweries, all of which were distributed only to New York. Now, Joto brand sake can be found on almost any shelf alongside the other big-name sake brands.

The quality and quick surge in popularity of Joto sake is because of the company's careful selection and curation of Japan-based sake breweries. Currently, Joto imports from 10 family-owned Japanese breweries with a collective of 71 generations of sake-brewing expertise between them: Eiko Fuji Brewery, Hakuto Brewery, Huchu Homare Brewery, Izumo Fuji Brewery, Kameizumi Brewery, Marumoto Brewery, Nakao Brewery, Saiya Brewery, Tajima Brewery, and Tomita Brewery.

Sōtō sake, launched in 2015 by two North Americans and brewed in Niigata, Japan, is recognizable for its signature modern, minimalistic black and white bottling and labeling, which accurately reflects the simple, elegant, and impactful nature of this award-winning sake. Though Sōtō has a modern appearance, its sake-making practices are every bit a traditional celebration of a culturally significant Japanese craft. For instance, it makes its beverages using only four ingredients: rice, koji, water, and yeast. Though, there is a "secret fifth ingredient" listed on Sōtō's website: snowmelt.

The product is advertised as being all-natural: gluten-free and vegan with no added sugars, preservatives, or sulfites. In English, Sōtō translates to "outside," which suits the brand's nature-driven approach toward the art of sake sourcing, crafting, and sipping.

Sōtō products include the Junmai Daiginjo, Junmai, and other limited edition sakes as well. Sōtō sakes are sold both individually and in bundles.

Nanbu Bijin, based in Ninohe city, is a sake company with 120 years' worth of experience in crafting delicious drinks. Before the founder of Nanbu Bijin turned his attention to alcoholic beverage production, the family's business was actually in the soy sauce industry. And though the shift from soy sauce to sake may seem significant, considering that they are very different types of fermented food products, after all, Nanbu Bijin's sake-making methodology was originally based on the founder's family knowledge of soy sauce brewing. This origin story makes Nanbu Bijin's sake truly special and wholly unique.

After surviving significant historical shifts and cultural circumstances that challenged the company to change and adapt rapidly, those behind Nanbu Bijin and its beverages never lost sight of the high standard of quality expected from each batch of sake. This dedication and perseverance not only got the company through over a century of business but also won Nanbu Bijin and its beverages multiple awards as well.

Yamatogawa is a celebrated sake-brewing company located in Kitakata, a city famous for its fantastic ramen as well as its sake, a beverage that goes well with savory noodles. This historical sake brewery was established in Japan's Edo Era over 230 years ago, placing the grand opening of Yamatogawa in the year 1790. In other words, Yamatogawa serves up some seriously tradition-steeped styles of sake and does so without falling behind in terms of the technological advancements that the past two-plus centuries have made available.

According to Yamatogawa, the rich agricultural and cultural environment of Kitakata is largely responsible for shaping the sake the company produces. Apart from the region's inherent qualities, the brand's dedication to sourcing the best rice — grown in-house on the Yamatogawa Farm — from the best soil and treating it with the best, most traditional methods is also a big part of what makes Yamatogawa brand sake so delicious.

Kubota is a 193-year-old sake company located in one of Japan's most notable cities for growing high-quality rice, Niigata. The Kubota philosophy of sake production is intrinsically tied to the seasonality of the surrounding natural landscape and its vital resources. The company also cites its people involved in the sake production pipeline play a huge role in the quality of the brand's beverages. Notably, Kubota takes pride in its products pairing perfectly with a wide range of plates, even including chocolate desserts, which is quite unique for pairing suggestions between food and sake.

Kubota offers over 10 types of regular sake as well as a rotation of seasonal bottles. The least expensive of these can cost just under $30, while the higher end ranges between $40 and $70. Kubota's most expensive sakes tend to come from the limited stock of seasonal sakes, which can easily sell for over $160. 

Dassai is a famous brand of sake made by Asahi Shuzo based in Japan's Yamaguchi Prefecture. In English, Dassai translates to "otter festival," a nod to the regional river otters that once populated the surrounding landscape. Dassai brand sake is intended to toe the line between small-batch quality and wide-reach accessibility, and, though not meant for mass consumption, Asahi Shuzo continues to find creative ways to keep Dassai on the market with startling reliability.

Though the roots of Dassai and Asahi Shuzo are as traditional as can be, the company values keeping up with contemporary practices and advancements more than staying true to the constraints of traditional sake-making. As a result, Dassai is confident it will continue to pave the way in revolutionizing the authentic taste of sake. Alongside the usual sakes you expect from a sake brewery, Dassai also sells seasonal sakes, sparkling sakes, and what the website describes as avant-garde sakes.

This brand of sake sells on the less expensive end of the spectrum for as low as $20 per bottle, with many more of its beverages hovering between $40 to $80. Bottles of the most expensive Dassai sakes, however, can cost up to and over $500 each.