A beginner's guide to sake

Contact us

If you have any queries about this event, please call our Student Services team on 020 7089 3841 or email studentservicesteam@wsetglobal.com

Come along to this introductory tasting for anyone curious about sake, a fascinating and diverse beverage made from fermented rice. Hosted by sake specialist and educator Honami Matsumoto.

Event details

There’s no better time to start learning about sake. Steeped in over a thousand years of history, this complex and diverse beverage is soaring in popularity across the globe.

Premium examples have earned their place on many of the world’s top restaurant lists and influential bartenders are extolling the virtues of sake as a versatile and elegant cocktail ingredient.

But what exactly is sake? Not a spirit, not a wine, not a beer – sake is a beverage category all to itself.

Hosted by expert educator Honami Matsumoto, this beginner-level tasting will introduce you to the fascinating drink. Explore the history and production process of sake, and taste six varied examples alongside food samples to discover what a delicious and versatile drink it can be!


Example sakes

  • Shirayuki “Clear Sky” Itami Morohaku Honjozo
  • KEIGETSU CEL24 Junmai Daiginjo 50
  • Gozenshu Junmai Bodaimoto Usu-Nigori
  • KEIGETSU Yuzu Sake
  • Genroku no Sake

About Honami Matsumoto

Honami Matsumoto WSET School London sake educator

Honami has been working with sake and wine for nearly 15 years and is a Kikisakeshi-qualified sake sommelier, WSET Certified Sake Educator and an International Wine Challenge (IWC) Panel Judge in the sake category.

Having trained at Leith’s School of Food & Wine and Le Cordon Bleu, Honami worked as a sommelier for seven years before becoming a sake, wine and spirit specialist in fine wine retail. She is the official sake selection and sake events consultant at luxury wine and spirits merchant Hedonism Wines and is also UK representative for Keigetsu by Tosa Brewery.

Honami founded her own company, House of Sake, to provide carefully selected accessories, events, promotion and sake education to the UK and beyond.


Booking terms and conditions

Payment in full must be made at the time of booking and places are not confirmed until payment has been received. Unfortunately we cannot take provisional bookings.

Cancellations and transfers

  • Cancellations and transfers can be made up to two weeks before the event.
  • Cancellations within 10 working days are non-refundable and cannot be transferred to another event.
  • If you need to change a name on the booking, please give us as much notice as possible.
  • WSET School London reserves the right to cancel an event. If necessary, a full refund or transfer will be offered.

Please note: The sample list and speaker/s may be subject to change.


Tasting level

Beginner: No prior knowledge required, only enthusiasm! Perfect if you want to try something new, brush up on the basics, or taste some delicious drinks.

Contact us

If you have any queries about this event, please call our Student Services team on 020 7089 3841 or email studentservicesteam@wsetglobal.com