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The Book of Sake: A Connoisseurs Guide
 
 
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The Book of Sake: A Connoisseurs Guide [Hardcover]

Philip Harper (Author), Haruo Matsuzaki (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

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Book Description

August 18, 2006
Once found only in sushi bars and Japanese restaurants in the U.S., sake now lines the shelves of our gourmet food shops, liquor stores, supermarkets, and restaurants of all types. And as sake increasingly becomes a part of the way we dine and entertain, Americans everywhere are looking for guidance in sorting out the confusing and intimidating array of choices available. In The Book of Sake, brewmaster Philip Harper provides all the information anyone needs to discover the many true pleasures of Japan's national tipple. Harper, the only non-Japanese to rise to the official rank of "master brewer," shows readers how to select a good sake and match a selection with food. He describes each type of sake, how it is produced and acquires its distinctive flavor and bouquet, and how it is best appreciated.
Next, Harper introduces a collection of sake lore, a guide to reading sake labels, a groundbreaking new tasting chart, and a selection of sakes for all palates and pocketbooks by the esteemed sake critic Haruo Matsuzaki. To round out the volume Harper offers highlights of Japan's sake regions, then presents perhaps the most intriguing tour of the sake brewmaster's art ever to be published in English.

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Editorial Reviews

Review


They call him the sake savant, but that doesn't bother Philip HarperIn sake-drinking circles across Japan and abroad, Harper is considered a cross-cultural pioneer: the only non-Japanese sake-maker to rise to the rank of toji, or master brewer. The Los Angeles Times


The essential resource for sake novices and hard-core sake-philes who want to enjoy their drink to the fullest. A timely overview that every fine liquor enthusiast will appreciate. --Bartender Magazine


"A beautiful presentation and very informative. The book is done in a style that is functional for both those new to the sak� world and those who are fairly knowledgeable. The combination of art/photos, basic information such as pronunciation guides, and the reviews of the sakes that are both comprehensive and brief, makes this one of the best sak� books on the market today. "--LARRY MECHANIC, Sake Consultant, Sam's Wines & Spirits, Chicago, IL


Everything you ever wanted to know about rice wine, by the only Westerner to become a practicing sake brewer in Japan. --Boston Herald


Included in Miami Herald wine columnist Fred Taskers annual roundup of the years most fascinating wine books.


A good resource for the novice and the expert alike. --The Austin American-Statesman


A resource for sake novices and hardcore sake-philes who want to enjoy this drink to the fullest. --Nichi Bei Times


From the Inside Flap

"A beautiful presentation and very informative. The book is done in a style that is functional for both those new to the saké world and those who are fairly knowledgeable. The combination of art/photos, basic information such as pronunciation guides, and the reviews of the sakes that are both comprehensive and brief, makes this one of the best saké books on the market today." --LARRY MECHANIC, Sake Consultant, Sam's Wines & Spirits, Chicago, IL

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 96 pages
  • Publisher: Kodansha International (August 18, 2006)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 4770029985
  • ISBN-13: 978-4770029980
  • Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.8 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #412,682 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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Average Customer Review
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't put the book down, December 5, 2010
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Book of Sake: A Connoisseurs Guide (Hardcover)
For a sake enthusiast this book is a must have. Especially helpful is this book's sake review section, which I refer to constantly when making up my mind on which Sake to buy. The book is full of useful information on tasting and regional differences in production as well.
Makes a great "table book". Guests seem to enjoy it as well.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Superlative introduction to sake, February 27, 2010
By 
Philip Philipsen (Copenhagen, Denmark) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Book of Sake: A Connoisseurs Guide (Hardcover)
This is a superlative introduction to the world of sake from one of the great Western capacities on the topic.

A designated sake brewmaster (a so-called toji), apparently the only non-Japanese to enjoy this status, Mr Harper is an excellent guide to all those new to sake. Even if you know something about the tipple already, like me, this slight volume is packed with information.

The book covers the production, history and classification of sake, interspersed with translated reviews from one of Japan's premier sake connoisseurs, Haruo Matsuzaki. In addition to being written with much wit and humor, Mr Harper's inspiring writing had me want to meet with the author -- I'm certain he's excellent company and a fabulous live guide to this hallowed drink.

It's also a very beautiful book, excellently layouted, well-presented and visually appealing.
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4 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Not a lot of new info for the connoisser, December 15, 2008
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Book of Sake: A Connoisseurs Guide (Hardcover)
Fairly expensive as it is a hardcover book, but is very thin. Nice color photos. As a connoisser, a found this book not very helpful,as there was not much new information. The title of the book should be the handbook for the Sake novice.
I could see how this book would help someone new to the world of Sake.
I found way too much info on the production of Sake.
Overall the book was good, but I recommend for one just getting into Sake, not one who is a connoisser, thus the lower rating.
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Inside This Book (learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
junmai dai ginjó, sake meter value, honjózó sake, junmai ginjó, unpasteurized sake, aged sake, fragrant sake, resulting sake, ginjó sake, flavor chart, brew sake, sake brands, sake fans, new sake, umami flavor, sake yeast, dry sake, yeast starter, sake brewing, rice polished, this brewery, sake breweries, sake brewery, rice flavor, master brewer
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Yamada Nishiki, Premium Sake, Niigata Prefecture, Fukushima Prefecture, Hyógo Prefecture, Naruto Tai, United States, Kamoshibito Kuheiji, Okayama Prefecture, Chilled Cold, World War
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