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Sake Handbook (Yenbooks) Paperback – March 15, 1998

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John Gauntner (Author)
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Paperback, March 15, 1998
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There is a newer edition of this item:

The Sake Handbook: All the information you need to become a Sake Expert!
The Sake Handbook: All the information you need to become a Sake Expert!
$12.46
(21)
In Stock.
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Frequently Bought Together

Sake Handbook (Yenbooks) + Sake Confidential: A Beyond-the-Basics Guide to Understanding, Tasting, Selection, and Enjoyment + Brewing Sake: Release the Toji Within
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Product Details

  • Series: Yenbooks
  • Paperback: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Tuttle Publishing; 1st edition (March 15, 1998)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0804821135
  • ISBN-13: 978-0804821131
  • Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 4.5 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #863,268 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"The best currently available sake guidebook in English is The Sake Handbook by John Gauntner, an American living in Japan."—San Francisco Chronicle --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

John Gauntner is recognized as the world's leading non-Japanese sake expert. A longtime Japan resident, he is well known among sake brewers and others within the sake industry. He wrote the Nihonshu Column in the Japan Times for many years before writing a weekly column on sake in Japanese for the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan's and the world's most widely distributed Japanese newspaper. In 2006, John received the Sake Samurai award, the first year it was awarded. He has published five books on sake. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Customer Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
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See all 21 customer reviews
An interesting and informative read.
Annanearl
John Gauntner's "Sake Handbook" is the perfect guide to those who want to explore the art and science of sake.
M. Andrew Sessions
There even is a section towards the back listing the best sake restaurants in Japan.
Lisa Shea

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 40 people found the following review helpful
A must-buy for any sake enthusiast
By Lisa Shea HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWERVINE VOICE on October 26, 2000
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Ah, sake. This rice wine has been around for thousands of years, and is part of many traditions in Japan. As Japanese food styles have become popular across the globe, so has this fine drink, which can be served both warm and cold. To learn more about the history of sake, and to learn how to choose a good brand, this book is invaluable.
To start with, The Sake Handbook goes over each step involved in making sake. Reading through the intricate processes involved helps you understand why there are so many varieties of sake, and why each one has a different flavor. One key step, for example, is the polishing step. The inner part of the rice generally is of higher quality than the outer portion, so the more 'extra' that is polished away, the finer the sake.
Next, Gauntner goes over the various types of sake, and how each is unique. Some of these terms are:
* Junmai-shu is pure rice sake. Only rice, water, and the koji mold are used to produce this top level sake. It ends up tasting heavier and fuller than other types of sake. It uses less than 70% polished rice - this means they have `ground away' the other 30% of impurities.
* Honjozo-shu has a small amount of distilled ethyl alcohol added during the final stages. They then add water later so the alcohol content stays the same. This sake is lighter and dryer than other types. It can be served warm.
* Ginjo-shu uses 60% polished rice. It is also fermented for longer periods of time, giving a complex and delicate flavor.
* Daiginjo-shu is just like Ginjo-shu, but polished to 50% of the original size. It takes even longer to brew and complete. Futsuu-shu - any sake which does not fall into one of the above four categories.Read more ›
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21 of 25 people found the following review helpful
What you need to know about sake is in this book.
By A Customer on May 24, 1999
Format: Paperback
John really knows his stuff. I live in Tokyo and I run a Liquor shop here. I have studied for years about sake and I go once a year to make sake at a friends family brewery. I got so much insight and new information from John's wonderful book that I only wish he'd written it five years ago! If you already have several books on sake, this is a must to add to your collection, if this is the first book on sake that your going to buy, consider your self lucky that such an informitive and well written book is around to buy. Thanks to John Gauntner for sharing this informaion with all of us.
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11 of 14 people found the following review helpful
oishii, ne
By Jim Richards on March 20, 2004
Format: Paperback
This book is excellent. It's main sections on How Sake is Made, Drinking and Where to Buy are very detailed. Most of the terminology will be new to those unfamiliar with sake, the author takes the time to explain them in detail. There is the history, the people and some of the ritual of sake as well.
With each of the sake detailed, the author provides tasting notes and information about other sakes from the same brewer.
As a side note of the detail of the book, one of my Japanese friend's found her favourite sake in the book. I went to my local bottle shop with the book, pointed to the picture of the label and found we found it, leading to a night of entertaining drinking.
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5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Interesting... to a point.
By mrvco on September 24, 2009
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
The first 1/3 of this book is rather interesting and does a decent job describing the history of and labor/love required to make Sake, but 2/3'rds of this book is a rather dry description of specific types of Sake and recommended Sushi bars in Japan.

I was really wanting more of the first 1/3 of the book since I'm have no plans of traveling to Japan on a Sushi-tasting junket anytime soon.
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Very useful and helpful
By P. Mulloy on April 22, 2014
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Sake is one of those scary unknown things that is almost as intimidating as downing your first Uni nigiri. This book lays it all out and opens the door. I am more of a beer enthusiast than a sake drinker but I have a sake brewpub about 6 blocks from my house. This book gives me enough information to figure out the sake brewpub, ask intelligent questions and find and drink some interesting Sake. It also gives me enough information to go out and buy a bottle if I am so inspired. It is interesting and well written.
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Gift
By anonymous on June 11, 2013
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
My coworker is moving to Japan and this item was purchased as a going away gift to compliment a beautiful sake set. She loved them! Thanks :)
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Very Informative
By Steve M on June 8, 2013
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
I lived in Japan for 12 years and have tasted both good, and bad sake. Of course, good and bad is purely one person's opinion, and often the subject of bitter arguments - except in Japan. I have sat down with good friends and tasted $100 a glass sake and said to them (they were buying of course), "I don't like it". And they would not be offended. That's how sake is, like art. Some get it, and some don't.

This book provides an objective description of many types of sake, without treading on that hallowed ground of 'taste'. The description of how different types of sake are made sets up the novice well to make their own judgement on which brands meet their satisfaction. Good book.
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Highly recommended!
By Kim-Anh Nguyen on May 8, 2013
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Got it for my husband as a gift as he is obsessed with sake. He loves it :) Very well made...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

Great book, probably the one of the best around.

Great book, probably the one of the best around. John Gauntner is one of the foremost sake expert in the world so you can't go wrong buying this handbook.

Published 11 months ago by Owain G.
great guide to start and study more

bought this book because lots of friends and those in industry recommended me to. It is easy to read (I read part by part when feels like or necessary) and use it as dictionary.

Published 11 months ago by Giorgio Zukkini
Gift for my boyfriend

This book is a gift for my boyfriend who is very much into the Japanese culture. I also bought a sake set to go along with it.

Published 14 months ago by Michelle Mercado
Good info

Very helpful for the novice! I like the label guides to help identify which bottles are which. Perfect as the "get familiar with saki" guide

Published 20 months ago by Kira
Very interesting and informative

Very informative.Very interesting (the history and brewing of saki) and informative (different types of saki and when each are served).

Published 21 months ago by Runswithsissors
Describes a lot about the products but not as much about sake-making.

My purpose in buying the book was to investigate the details of sake-making. The details were lacking, but it is still an enjoyable book.

Published 21 months ago by John O'Rourke
REVIEWING ALEX GOLUB:

Every time I read online reviews...whether on Amazon.com or elsewhere...I always end up shaking my head and rolling my eyes heavenward. Why? Read more

Published on August 17, 2012 by IAN BRUCE-DOUGLAS
Sake Sensei.

An interesting and informative read. I purchased for the information regarding 'brewing' Sake, so it remains to be seen if I can interpret the information given successfully. Read more

Published on January 18, 2012 by Annanearl
Good -- but not as good as the web

When I recently decided to bite the bullet and get to the bottom of sake tasting and nomenclature I purchased a copy of The Sake Handbook by John Gauntner. Read more

Published on August 8, 2011 by Amazon Customer

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