The Book of Sake: A Connoisseur's Guide

Philip Harper

Kodansha International, 2006 - Cooking - 96 pages

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.

What people are saying

Review: The Book of Sake: A Connoisseurs Guide

User Review  - Maria - Goodreads

I've read a bit on 日本酒in the past, but I think this is a good introduction. In particular I enjoyed the recommendations for pairing sake with food other than Japanese food. After reading this you ...

Review: The Book of Sake: A Connoisseurs Guide

User Review  - Zhifei Ge - Goodreads

A very concise and well-organized guide for sake connoisseurs. Topics cover brewing methods, sake countries, and taste notes. I will keep the book at hand for references.

About the author

Now in his fourteenth brewing season, PHILIP HARPER works as a master brewer in Osaka, Japan. Harper, the first non-Japanese to achieve the rank, is the author of The Insider's Guide to Sake, published by Kodansha International in 1988. HARUO MATSUZAKI is a one of the most respected authorities and critics of Japanese sake. He has written numerous books on the subject, and lectures throughout Japan.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Book of Sake: A Connoisseur's Guide; Cookery, Food and Drink Series
• Author: Philip Harper
• Photographs by: Mizuho Kuwata
• Contributors: Haruo Matsuzaki, Chris Pearce
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Kodansha International, 2006
• ISBN: 4770029985, 9784770029980
• Length: 96 pages
• Subjects: Cooking / Beverages / Wine & Spirits; Cooking / Regional & Ethnic / Asian