Sake, the fermented Japanese rice drink, is often considered a rice wine. While this clear liquor is not technically wine since there is no fruit in the fermentation process, sake is closer to beer since the starch from the rice is converted to sugar that becomes converted to alcohol through yeast. Sake, when translated from Japanese, can mean any alcoholic drink, so really, what we think of sake should be in its own alcoholic category alone. All sakes are either a pure rice style dubbed "junmai" in Japanese or an alcohol-added style called "aruten" in Japanese. Pure rice sakes use rice, water, yeast and koji, with no additive, while alcohol-added sakes use the same ingredients with a small amount of distilled brewers alcohol added to the mash, which changes the body, aroma and viscosity of the sake. As far as premium sakes go, that refers to how much the rice is milled. The more premium the sake, the more expensive. Here, a look at 14 restaurants in Las Vegas that serve up a nice collection of sake.
Note: All restaurants and bars are listed in alphabetical order. See something missing? Drop it in the comments, start a forum post showing your love or hit up the tipline, where tips are always welcome.
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For more information on sake:
• Demystifying Sake, the Perfect Beverage for All Occasions [Eater]
• Sake Isn't a Rice Wine, and Four Other Myths Dispelled [Eater]