Event recap: “Sake: Unfiltered”

On September 22, Sidney Frank Importing Company held “Sake: Unfiltered,” an interactive event designed to educate the media and hospitality industry influencers on the history and versatility of sake, while increasing awareness of Gekkeikan’s portfolio.

The multi-sensory, educational experience, held at the newly-opened KOA Restaurant in Manhattan’s Flatiron District, featured stations where guests were able to SEE footage of Gekkeikan in production, SMELL fragrances and notes of five different sake expressions, HEAR Sidney Frank VP and sake expert Yoshi Yumoto discuss sake’s history and how to differentiate types of sake from one another, TASTE a sake cocktail mixed and served by acclaimed bartender Kenta Goto and TOUCH Gekkeikan sake in hands-on cocktail making session with restaurateur and sake enthusiast Toranosuke Matsuoka.

KOA Restaurant’s Toranosuke Matsuoka (left) offers advice on using sake in a cocktail to an event attendee

KOA bartenders served up Zipang sparkling sake as the welcome drink for Sake: Unfiltered

Sidney Frank Importing Vice President of Sales Yoshi Yumoto educates attendees on the differences between different types of polished rice used in the sake brewing process

Bartender Kenta Goto serves up the Far East Side, a take on a mojito featuring Gekkeikan Nigori

KOA Restaurant’s Toranosuke Matsuoka, acclaimed bartender Kenta Goto and Sidney Frank Importing Vice President of Sales Yoshi Yumoto showcase Gekkeikan Nigori at Sake:Unfiltered