Tippsy x Funky Sake: Sake of the Month April 2025

One Sunday, at Ototo’s sake school, Andrea pulled 3 pink sakes to share and it’s a trio I think about all the time. It’s easy to center a tasting around a brewery, a rice varietal, or a particular fermentation method; which open up some clear avenues for education, but my favorite tastings to experience as a guest are often the ones where I’m not focusing too much on facts. I want to get on a sake rollercoaster ride, just enjoying each sip.

When something is amber, pearly white or blush in the glass, we drink with our eyes first. A rosy cup-full can trick you into believing it might taste like strawberries, cranberries, or hibiscus tea. For me, the pink hue sets the mood. It feels exciting and unexpected, and almost takes my mind away from the sake in front of me, to a world where every drink is pink.

This month I’m highlighting some pink drinks from the Funky Sake Tippsy collection: 1 sake, 1 doburoku, and 1 umeshu. So even if you missed the pink moon ringing in spring this past weekend, you can celebrate the turn of the season with one of these treasures. And use code FUNKYSAKE for 10% your first order.

Amabuki “Gin no Kurenai”

This zippy and fresh sake is made with locally grown Saga no Hana Rice as well as an Ancient Black Rice that imparts color. It also utilizes yeasts isolated from both Strawberry and Queen of the Night flowers. Flower yeasts are relatively new to sake and Amabuki Brewery is focused on understanding and popularizing them. They work closely with professors at the Tokyo University of Agriculture who are on a mission to isolate flower yeasts from every region of Japan.

Niwa no Uguisu “Doburoku” Pink

Doburoku has its own legal designation but you can think of it as a completely unfiltered version of sake. It’s cloudy, verging on chunky and a bit rough around the edges. Most doburoku is white and not pink, but this one is made with a red sake yeast. While I know it might be more of an acquired taste than the previous suggestion, I have been reaching for this bottle quite a bit lately. It’s sweet and acidic, tangy and thick. When it’s ice cold, it’s like drinking a funky-yet-gourmet frose. As weird as it seems, I think it’d be perfect by the pool.

Heiwa “Tsuruume” Ichigo

Umeshu is a Japanese plum liqueur. This one is made with local Wakayama plums and strawberry juice. It tastes exactly like a lush fresh strawberry jam. I’ve never served this to anyone who didn’t like it. I often mix it with soda water, mix it with gin, mix it with mezcal, or just drink it on the rocks. One year for my birthday at Bin Bin, Sophia also poured it over ice cream which was very special. You definitely should have this on hand.