Choosing Sake by Awards

“Gold Medal Winner,” “Award at XX Competition”—you may have seen these labels on sake bottles or store displays.

Sake that has been recognized at competitions has guaranteed quality. However, different competitions have different evaluation criteria, and the meaning of “Gold Medal” varies. Here’s what you need to know about understanding and using competition results when choosing award-winning sake.

What Are Sake Competitions?

Purpose of Competitions

Sake competitions evaluate the quality of sake and promote technical improvement.

For Breweries

• Obtain objective evaluation of their sake
• Demonstrate technical expertise
• Identify areas for improvement through comparison with other breweries

For Consumers

• Serve as a quality indicator
• Opportunity to discover new brands
• Reference for choosing gifts

Types of Competitions

There are two main categories: domestic competitions and international competitions.

Domestic Competitions

• Annual Japan Sake Awards (National Research Institute of Brewing)
• National Warm Sake Contest
• SAKE COMPETITION
• Prefectural competitions

International Competitions

• IWC (International Wine Challenge) Sake Category
• Kura Master (France)
• U.S. National Sake Appraisal

Major Competitions

Annual Japan Sake Awards

The most prestigious competition in Japan.

Overview

• Organizers: National Research Institute of Brewing, Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association
• Held: Every spring (judging in April-May)
• Entries: New sake from that year

Evaluation Criteria

• Aroma, taste, balance, and overall assessment
• Point deduction system
• Flawless, highly refined sake is valued

Award Categories

• Gold Medal: Highest evaluation. About 30% of entries
• Award: Second highest. About 50% of entries

Characteristics Most entries are daiginjo specially made for the competition, which may differ from commercially available sake. Winning a Gold Medal proves the brewery’s technical prowess.

IWC (International Wine Challenge) Sake Category

A sake category was added to the world’s largest wine competition in 2007.

Overview

• Organizer: IWC (United Kingdom)
• Held: Annually (judging in spring)
• Entries: Sake from around the world

Evaluation Criteria

• Judged by international wine judges and sake experts
• Blind tasting
• Evaluation from an international perspective

Award Categories

• Trophy: Top award in each category
• Gold: Excellent
• Silver: Good
• Bronze: Recommended

Characteristics Breweries seeking international recognition enter this competition. Used for overseas sales and inbound tourism promotion.

Kura Master

A sake competition held in France.

Overview

• Organizer: Kura Master Committee (France)
• Held: Annually (judging around June, in Paris)
• Entries: Sake from around the world

Evaluation Criteria

• Judged primarily by French sommeliers and chefs
• Pairing with French cuisine is also considered
• Blind tasting

Award Categories

• President’s Award: Top honor
• Platinum: Highest excellence
• Gold: Excellent

Characteristics Judging considers pairing with French cuisine. Evaluated from the perspective of French wine culture.

National Warm Sake Contest

A competition specializing in warm sake.

Overview

• Organizer: National Warm Sake Contest Committee
• Held: Every autumn
• Entries: Sake that tastes good when warmed

Evaluation Criteria

• Judged when warmed (around 45°C/113°F)
• Evaluates sake that shines when heated
• Suitability as a food-pairing sake

Award Categories

• Top Gold: Highest evaluation
• Gold: Excellent

Characteristics Unlike ginjo sake suited for chilled serving, this evaluates sake that tastes good warm. Focuses on junmai and honjozo. Useful reference for finding everyday food-pairing sake.

SAKE COMPETITION

A competition focused on commercially available sake.

Overview

• Organizer: SAKE COMPETITION Committee
• Held: Annually (judging in early summer)
• Entries: Commercially available sake

Evaluation Criteria

• Judges sake that can actually be purchased in the market
• Blind tasting
• Categories divided by price range

Award Categories

• GOLD: Gold Medal
• SILVER: Silver Medal

Characteristics Judges actual purchasable sake rather than competition-only products. Easy for consumers to reference.

Tips for Choosing Award-Winning Sake

Understand Competition Characteristics

Each competition has different evaluation criteria.

Annual Japan Sake Awards Gold Medal → Indicates high brewery technical skill. Competition daiginjo is the evaluation target.

IWC Gold Medal → International recognition. Sake that suits overseas palates.

Kura Master Gold Medal → Pairs well with French cuisine. Good choice for Western food pairings.

National Warm Sake Contest Gold Medal → Delicious when warmed. Suitable as everyday food-pairing sake.

”Gold Medal” Doesn’t Mean “Delicious to You”

Gold medal sake may not necessarily match your personal taste.

Competitions evaluate based on certain standards, but preferences vary from person to person. Some prefer “characterful, unique sake” over “flawless, highly refined sake.”

Awards are a quality indicator, but ultimately it’s important to taste and judge for yourself.

Check the Category

Competitions have multiple categories.

• Daiginjo Category
• Junmai Daiginjo Category
• Junmai Category
• Honjozo Category
• Ginjo Category
• Sparkling Category
• Aged Sake Category

Even with the same “Gold Medal,” a daiginjo gold and a honjozo gold are completely different types of sake. Check the category to ensure it matches the type of sake you’re looking for.

Check the Award Year

Awards apply to sake from a specific year.

Sake still promoting a gold medal from 10 years ago may not reflect current quality as well as recently awarded sake.

Also, breweries that win awards every year demonstrate consistent technical skill.

When to Use Award-Winning Sake

As Gifts

Award-winning sake makes an ideal gift.

Benefits

• Guaranteed quality provides peace of mind
• The prestige of “Gold Medal Winner”
• Easy to explain to the recipient

Selection Tips

• Choose sake from well-known competitions
• Select ones with gift packaging
• Choose bottles with award seals

As a Personal Treat

Toast with award-winning sake on special occasions.

Annual Japan Sake Awards gold medal sake often represents the brewery’s finest work that year. Opening one on anniversaries or birthdays adds a special touch.

Learning About Brewery Excellence

If you’re interested in a brewery, look up their award history.

Breweries that win awards year after year demonstrate consistent technical skill. Conversely, some breweries without awards also make wonderful sake. Use award history as one reference point.

Discovering New Brands

Competition results can lead to discovering unknown brands.

“I’ve never heard of this sake, but it won a gold medal”—such discoveries can lead to finding new favorites.

How to Find Award-Winning Sake

Official Competition Websites

Award lists are published on each competition’s official website.

• Annual Japan Sake Awards: National Research Institute of Brewing website
• IWC: IWC official website
• Kura Master: Kura Master official website

Store Displays

Look for “Gold Medal Winner” signs at sake shops and supermarkets.

Choosing bottles with award seals is a safe bet.

Sake Apps and Media

Sake-specialized apps and web media often compile competition results.

Easy to search and filter by preferred criteria.

Don’t Rely Only on Awards

Competitions are just one indicator for choosing sake.

Many excellent sakes haven’t won awards. Small breweries may not enter competitions, and some unique, delicious sake simply isn’t competition-oriented.

Use award-winning sake as reference while developing your own palate—that’s the key to enjoying sake.

Summary

Key points about competitions and award-winning sake:

Major Competitions

• Annual Japan Sake Awards: Highest domestic authority, proof of technical skill
• IWC: International recognition, overseas perspective
• Kura Master: French cuisine pairing
• National Warm Sake Contest: Warm sake, food pairing

Selection Tips

• Understand competition characteristics
• Check the category
• Check the award year
• “Gold Medal” doesn’t mean “your preference”

Award-winning sake offers the assurance of guaranteed quality. Consider using it for gifts or special occasions.

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For information about hard-to-find sake, see Rare and Hard-to-Find Sake.

Learn more about choosing sake in Getting Started with Sake.