A SPECIAL surprise <
AND JUST LIKE THAT, IT’S 2021.
Happy January! We had such a fun New Year’s celebration at the brewery that we wanted to share a little peek into the festivities.
First thing in the morning, we drank our Otoso 屠蘇 to rid ourselves of last year’s demons and welcome in good fortune ahead (yes- that means we started off the day with a little bit of sake… seemed fitting for a sake brewery). Then, we spent the afternoon brewing and deep cleaning for a fresh and productive start to the year. After all the work was finished- we feasted! A very special thanks to Chef Chikara Sono for the incredible Osechi that was truly a work of art (see below).
It was the first of what we hope to make a tradition here at the brewery. A time to come together and celebrate all of our hard work and dedication, to share anecdotes from the previous months and hopes for the future. Perhaps, in the coming years, we can open our doors to celebrate with all of you as well.
TOKUBETSU 特別
We have a very special surprise for you. Please welcome to the line-up, our newest style of Sake, Tokubetsu.
You may have seen the word “特別 (Tokubetsu)” written on some sake labels, without really knowing what to expect. The word literally translates to special/exceptional, but it is used in a variety of ways to mark any distinction determined by the brewery (and quite liberally used at that). We're playing off of that idea by making our own "special sake" limited series. Each batch in the series will have its own unique flavor characteristics and style. Our first release, Tokubetsu #1, has a delightfully bright flavor with tasting notes of baked custard and starfruit... we can’t wait to share it with you! When, you ask? This Friday! See you then :)
SAKE = LOVE
Can you believe it’s almost Valentine’s Day already? Luckily, it just so happens that sake pairs perfectly with a few of our favorite romantic desserts. As you’re preparing for your celebration of love, here are 3 small local businesses to keep in mind that make for a wonderful match.
1. BAKE SHOP - A local gem just across the street from our brewery. While their sign out front reads “Best Chocolate Cake in the USA” (and yes, by the way, it’s incredible), for Valentine’s day, we are pairing our creamy Nigori with their deliciously rich and fresh layered strawberry cake. The two are simply meant to be together. (located: 995 Flushing Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11206)
2. MIKA BUSHWICK - If you’re looking for a beautiful setting to leave your home and celebrate love while keeping a safe social-distance, we highly recommend Mika’s new heated deck. They carry our sake and even offer it as a tasting flight, which happens to go perfectly with Chef Mitsunobu Nagae’s delicate and smooth Sake Kasu Crumble Ice-cream. On Valentine’s day, they will have a special menu including a mirin cheesecake (YUM!) made with our Kato Sake Works Mirin. (located: 25 Thames St, Brooklyn, NY 11206).
3. FINE & RAW - A local artisan chocolate shop, with the mission to “save the world through silliness and chocolate.” We’ve chosen a box of assorted velvety truffles to pair with the toasted caramel notes in our Mirin. They have an incredible Valentine’s day collection and we will definitely be back to try more. (located: 70 Scott Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237)
No matter how you plan on spending your Valentine’s Day, we hope you give some of these combinations a try sometime and let us know what you think. If you have any other local businesses that you like to pair our sake with, we would love to try your recommendations too!
< KSW
PS- We have some new KSW beanies for sale and will have some more new merch coming soon… stay tuned!
