What’s the best thing about awards nights? The after party, of course. Especially when it’s the after party of the annual Sake Competition (the world’s only awards dedicated to sake). While the price tag is higher than what you’re used to paying for a night out in Tokyo, you do get an all-you-can-drink buffet featuring 100 varieties of award-winning sake in the luxe, five-star Peninsula Hotel in Yurakucho. Plus, there’ll also be a five-star all-you-can-eat hors d'oeuvres to match, prepared by the hotel’s top chefs. The brewers will also be in attendance, so it’s a unique opportunity to learn about sake from the source, and kampai to their victory.
This year’s Sake Competition is the biggest yet, with 1,919 contenders in the running – everything from the more traditional sake varieties like junmai ginjo, to contemporary ones like sparkling sake. The competition was launched in 2012 and has been growing each year since; it now includes an overseas sake category in recognition of the growing sake-brewing trend worldwide.