Celebrate The Joy of Sake - July 20

What:  The 12th Annual Joy of Sake, featuring more than 300 premium sakes with appetizers from top Honolulu restaurantsWhen:  Friday, July 20th, from 6:30 - 9 p.m. Where:  Pier 2 Cruise Terminal Tickets:  $80 in advance, $90 at the door, available at www.joyofsake.com or call the Sake Hotline at 808-222-0195. Also available at The Sake Shop, Marukai Markets, Fujioka’s Wine Times and The Wine Stop Info:   www.joyofsake.com

This year The Joy of Sake will be the inaugural event unveiling Honolulu’s newest venue, the Pier 2 Cruise Terminal in Honolulu’s Foreign Trade Zone. This signature event is the largest sake tasting held outside of Japan, providing Hawaii with a rare opportunity to experience the world’s finest sakes in peak condition, along with sake appetizers prepared by some of Honolulu’s top chefs.

The Joy of Sake is the public tasting event that follows the U.S. National Sake Appraisal. This blind tasting, held at the Hawaii Convention Center and sponsored by the Hawaii-based International Sake Association, is conducted by a team of 10 judges from Japan and the U.S.  Philip Harper, the only western toji (sake brewer) in Japan, will be among  the judges this year. Judges evaluate aroma, taste, balance and overall harmony in each entry. Sakes with the highest scores receive gold and silver awards, and all 300+ entries will be available for tasting at this year’s Joy of Sake.

Sake enthusiasts will also be able to sample a tantalizing array of sake appetizers prepared by 15 of Hawaii’s top chefs. The interplay between exquisite sakes and delicious appetizers continues to draw guests each year and has established The Joy of Sake as one of Honolulu’s most anticipated events.

With sake enthusiasts from Japan and the Mainland planning to attend, the event is expected to sell out, as it has for the last three years. Local sake fans are encouraged to buy their tickets early. Both self-parking and valet parking are available.