If any of you have shared one of the large format beers with friends at Saké Nomi, you're familiar with the "Bambi Cup."

Before Bambi was put into service at the bar, the playfully decorative cups held premium sake.  "Cup" sake is pretty ubiquitous in Japan, but it's come a long way in the past couple decades.

It's been said the origin of vending machine dispensed cup sake has to do with the dreaded futsuka yoi (hangover, lit. "two days drunk), and the single serving 180 ml vessels came into existence to administer the ageless hangover remedy, mukaezake (hair of the dog).  So, usually a cheap, lower grade of sake meant not so much to be savored as to be tossed back and tossed away.

These days, however, many breweries are filling the cups with premium brews and putting great care into the collectible packaging.

This Friday and Saturday we're pleased to introduce a variety of premium cup sake from Osaka, Tochigi, Oita, and Yamanashi prefectures.

We hope you'll join us and begin your own personal collection!

     

If, like us, you feel like the "B" in "B-movie" stands for "so Bad, it's good," then this week's Saké Nomi Cinema might be right in your wheelhouse.

Please join us this Saturday, Sept. 26, as we not-so-proudly present the 2013 marvel, Why Don't You Play in Hell? 

The original Japanese title translated as "What's So Bad About Hell?" and the film has wowed crowds all over the world, including the Seattle International Film Festival, as well as the Toronto International Film Festival, where it captured the People's Choice Award in the "Midnight Madness" section.

We hope this doesn't give too much away, but you can preview the trailer here.  This also ensures that you can't say we didn't sufficiently warn you.

We apologize for the short notice of this screening, but we just got our hands on a copy of the film, and we're eager to share it with the sake-drinking cinephiles amongst us.

After careful consideration, this week's hours of operation will look something like this:

Wed.- Thurs. (9/2-3): 2- 10 pm-ish

Fri.- Sat. (9/4-5):  We'd say 2- 10 pm, but recently it's been more like 2- "Late," which as long as guests are behaving and enjoying their sake, we don't mind at all.

Sun.- Mon. (9/6-7): CLOSED in observance of the Labor Day holiday and the Wonder Twins return to high school.

We realize everyone is busy hustling around this weekend, and we appreciate it when you make time to stop by, say "Hi," and have a taste or two.

 

We are excited to announce the arrival of two brand new-to-Washington namazake (unpasteurized sake) that we are currently featuring for purchase by the glass and by the bottle.

Kagatobi Muroka Namazake

Tamagawa Heirloom Yamahai Genshu

(aka "Red Label")