Why We Craft Sparkling Sake in the UK

The Sparkling Sake Brewery in Cambridgeshire, UK, is the only brewery in the world solely dedicated to producing sparkling sake.

Each bottle we create engages all five senses—appearance, aroma, taste, and the sound and texture of the bubbles. These delicate bubbles are naturally produced through a second fermentation in each bottle, ensuring they are bottled at their freshest. The continuous fermentation within the sealed bottle allows you to savour the fleeting beauty of nature, much like the ephemeral cherry blossom season.

Every step of our process, from rice washing to koji-making, initial fermentation, secondary fermentation, and hand-degorgement, is meticulously carried out using traditional skills and knowledge honed in Japan. You can experience our sparkling sake creations via direct shipping from the brewery or through exclusive partnerships with select establishments, including Michelin-starred restaurants.

Before raising a glass of sparkling sake, let’s begin with the story of how The Sparkling Sake Brewery came to be.

Meet ‘awa’

The story of The Sparkling Sake Brewery began in 2018 when Naoki, born in Kyoto, was living in the UK. It all started with a humble yet life-changing experiment: crafting sparkling sake at home.

One sip of that “cloudy, naturally sparkling sake,” which later became one of our signature products, Nigori awa, and Naoki was left speechless.

“What is this incredible ‘awa’ (meaning bubbles in Japanese)?”

The bubbles, fresh and delicate, were created through natural fermentation inside the bottle—unpasteurised and alive with vibrant flavours. As the fermentation process continued in the bottle, Naoki could savour the fleeting moments of nature through all his senses. For him, sparkling sake became more than just an alcoholic drink; it felt like a collaborative work of art, bridging nature and craftsmanship, and capturing the beauty of impermanence. Keen to share this discovery, Naoki invited friends to try it, and their overwhelmingly positive response sparked a vision: to produce this fresh, unpasteurised sparkling sake in Japan and bring it to the UK.

However, a logistical challenge soon emerged. Transporting this delicate sake from Japan required either pasteurisation or altering the production method by artificially injecting carbon dioxide—both of which would compromise the purity and essence of the bubbles Naoki had envisioned for the UK market.

Determined to preserve the freshness and delicate quality of the bubbles—which, like the cherry blossom season in Japan, captured the beauty of fleeting moments in nature—Naoki set out to find a solution. His breakthrough came one evening while dining at a renowned Japanese sushi restaurant in London. He was inspired by how the master sushi chef seamlessly blended carefully selected Japanese rice with the finest fresh fish from the UK and Europe, merging tradition and innovation to delight guests.

“Can I, as a sparkling sake brewer, bring the same surprise and delight by combining Japanese rice with the beauty of British nature, just like the sushi chef?”

The answer was clear: “Let’s do it.”Naoki made the decision to dedicate his life to crafting the finest sparkling sake.

Training at the Birthplace of Sake

Naoki's next step was to return to Japan, where he immersed himself in the traditional art of sake brewing. His path led him to Nara Prefecture, often known as the birthplace of sake. There, he had the fortune to meet Mr. Kurose (the person on the left in the centre photo above), one of the legendary brewers of Japan. Mr. Kurose, known also for crafting the renowned premium shochu “Hyakunen no Kodoku,” had over 30 years of experience in sake brewing. Under his tutelage, Naoki honed his craft in a one-on-one mentorship.

During his training, Naoki was particularly drawn to a recipe using a high ratio of koji rice, the heart of sake fermentation. This method laid the foundation for what would become our sparkling sake.

After completing his apprenticeship, Naoki returned to the UK in January 2020, ready to turn his dream into reality.

A Reunion with Tracey

Upon returning to the UK, Naoki met with his friend Tracey to share his vision:

"I’m going to start a sparkling sake brewery with the goal of bringing the delight of sparkling sake to the UK, Europe, and beyond. But I need your help to make this dream a reality."

Without hesitation, Tracey, who was thriving in her career as a global marketer with a distinct passion for Japan and a trained sake sommelier responded:

"Absolutely!"

She joined as a branding and marketing advisor, and together they set out to begin their journey.

However, just then, the world was hit by an unexpected event: the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the future seemed uncertain, their passion never wavered. They focused on what could be done—setting up the company, finding a suitable location for the brewery, renovating the space from the ground up to accommodate brewing, securing licences, developing products, conducting surveys and interviews with potential customers, and gathering feedback from samples. Every day brought new challenges, but with each obstacle, Naoki and Tracey refined their vision, their product, and their approach.

Finally, in October 2021, after countless discussions and adjustments, The Sparkling Sake Brewery officially launched with Classic awa, created by adding the hand-degorgement process to Nigori awa.

Sharing the Love of Sparkling Sake Beyond Boundaries

In our first year, the brewery’s direct-to-consumer model flourished, with every batch selling out. By the second year, we had secured partnerships with some of the finest dining establishments in the UK, including Michelin-starred restaurants.

In our third year, we expanded production and began offering sparkling sake by the glass at various partner venues. And we’re thrilled to share that Tracey officially joined The Sparkling Sake Brewery as Chief Brand and Marketing Officer.

None of this would have been possible without you, our loyal supporters. Your enthusiasm and continued support have helped us grow and thrive, and we’re incredibly grateful for that.

Our journey is just beginning. We will continue to push boundaries and explore new horizons, one thing remains constant: their mission to share the love of sparkling sake beyond borders.

Thank you so much for your ongoing support, now and in the future.

With love, and raising a glass of awa,

Naoki and Tracey