Premium sake is called “tokutei meishoshu.” This classification means that the only ingredients allowed are water, rice, koji, yeast and sometimes brewer’s alcohol. All other sake is called “futsushu,” or table sake. This type of sake can include a higher amount of distilled alcohol, sweeteners or other additives. It’s the everyday sake people enjoy after work because it’s both food-friendly and budget-friendly. About 70% of sake in Japan is futsushu.

While the vast majority of sake at Palate Project is premium, we do carry some popular futsushu. Sho Chiku Bai “Nigori” Silky Mild is a cloudy sake that is also a futsushu. It’s under $20 and gets great reviews! Choryo “Yoshinosugi no Taru Sake” is another longstanding favorite, which gets its cedar-forward taste from being stored in wooden vats. At Palate Project, we make sure that the futsushu we procure genuinely tastes good, despite the fact that it doesn’t qualify as premium.