Turning Japanese

Seven sake secrets

orget Oktoberfest. October 1 is the day when brew masters in Japan begin the process of producing their sake for the following year. In honor of this, it’s also been declared International Sake Day. But Boston restaurants have inventive sake drinks on offer all year round. Take the Cherry Blossom—Svedka Cherry, nigori sake, cranberry juice and peach purée—and Ultimat Saketini, with Ultimat vodka, sake and plum wine served up (both above), at Haru, which has 15 types of sake by the bottle and eight types of chilled sake by the glass or bamboo. Or Basho, with 18 selections of traditional sake available either by the bottle, carafe or glass. Here are some other places that will sake to you:

Lessons—and ingredients—for making sushi (and serving sake) at home
 

The hole in the wall where Japanese expats go for sushi and sake
 

A secret drink at a busy hotspot
 

Late-night sushi in a place you’d least expect to find it
 

A Japanese bistro with cheap (and sometimes free) apps
 

Sake by the glass and bottle, with great Japanese—in the burbs—with a house special cocktail: lemongrass syrup and sake
 

A hip spot in Chinatown for food and sake