Sake is witnessing a real surge in popularity and interest. With this in mind we held an event focusing on the drink.

Our venue was the recently opened 99 Sushi Bar and Restaurant, located in the Four Seasons Hotel on Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi. 99 Sushi Bar presents haute Japanese cuisine with Abu Dhabi its first location outside of Spain.

After the welcome drinks of sake cocktails, we were treated to some amazing dishes, in the sharing plate style.

With these we sampled Junmai Nigori Sake, Junmai Ginjo Sake, and Junmai Sake. Of particular interest was how much the character of sake changed with different temperatures, and shapes of sake cups and glasses.

Assistant Manager Venkadesh, who is also a Sake Sommelier, gave explanations and answered questions on all things sake. Venkadesh won the 2016 Sake Sommelier of the Year awarded by the Sake Sommelier Association in London so we were in good hands.

We finished off the evening with an excellent sake digestif cocktail.

James McIsaac
Conseiller Gastronomique