“ WE WILL ONLY IMPORT WHAT WE CAN PROUDLY SELL ”
Less than 1 out of 100 products tasted have been approved for import by Banzai Beverage. We do not simply import what is convenient. We carefully procure a selection that will impress the most skeptical critics and the most seasoned sommeliers.
ARTISTIC EXPRESSION OF TRADITION
One of our brewers is the 15th generation descendent of the original founder of the brewery. Their history and experience are invaluable. Our brewers are craftsmen with centuries of accumulated knowledge and have boundless skill to express their artistry in the form of saké.
HONOR & LOYALTY
Our logo is modeled after the helmet and mask of samurai who fearlessly went into battle and served their lords with honor. It also symbolizes our bold strategy to pioneer new markets for saké and to uphold the great reputation our brewers have cultivated in Japan for centuries.
TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
Today’s saké brewers receive a formal education in brewing and agricultural science to further enhance their traditional craft. The time-honored art of brewing is now orchestrated with the most advanced production methods and state of the art equipment.
CLASSIC APPROACH TO MODERN DESIGN
Our products are designed to be beautiful and evoke emotion. We want our saké to be a source of pride for our customers. An unmistakable modern Japanese style carries a classical motif in all of our products. Our designs look stunning in any setting.
MEASURED TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS
We are the only company that exclusively imports products tested in the most demanding saké market in the world—Japan. Our breweries have won the elusive Gold Award at the National New Sake Awards—the longest running and most prestigious saké competition in the world. Our brands are recognized and respected by the foremost saké experts not only in Japan, but throughout the world.
Our Selection
Bunny Sparkling Saké
Bunny Sparkling Saké
We worked closely with the pioneers of the top secret secondary fermentation process for saké (méthod japonais) to create a line of products that would become the best selling sparkling saké in the world. Handcrafted in extremely small batches using all natural ingredients, our sparkling saké (japagne) is the beverage of choice in many of the top restaurants and bars across the world.
Perennial Selection
Perennial Selection
We collaborated with renowned brewers to create a line of saké that would change the perception of even the most skeptical critic. We took an uncompromising approach to handcrafting the best tasting junmai-style sake, using the best ingredients obtainable. Then we ambitiously made it friendly and approachable. The end result is a product that offers double the quality at the half the price of our competitors. It is a marriage of ultimate craftsmanship and beautiful design.
Seasonal Releases
Seasonal Releases
Created by pushing the boundaries of advanced production techniques and utilizing the latest brewing technology, our Seasonal Releases represents the epitome of modern saké. This line is handcrafted in extremely limited quantities by the world’s top brewmasters. Only a small number of cases are released seasonally and are only available through advanced reservation.
Authentic Shochu
Authentic Shochu
Authentic shōchu is a distilled spirit made from a grain or a potato and kōji. It retains the flavors and aromas of the base ingredient, because it is single distilled in a traditional pot still and not allowed to touch charcoal. Authentic shōchu demands superior craftsmanship and the choicest ingredients since flaws in the final product cannot be masked.
Our Founder
Takahiro “Taka” Tokura
FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
Born in Okayama, he takes great pride in his motherland’s national beverage—saké. His dream is for Americans to appreciate his selection of saké for its superior quality. Taka oversees all operations and maintains strong alliances with our breweries in Japan.
ONE MAN’S PRIDE.
Takahiro Tokura was disheartened at how saké was treated as a novelty beverage in the United States. A lack of legitimately great brands was ruining America’s perception and reduced saké to being taken in shots as a harsh tasting drink. He founded the company in 2003 with a chip on his shoulder to introduce the greatest tasting saké to the world.