Although sake has a long and storied history in its native Japan, and is widely available here in the Boston area, there isn’t a dedicated spot where both aficionados and beginners can gather and comfortably taste a wide range of this surprisingly complex fermented rice libation. Set to debut this fall at the newly christened Charles River Speedway—site of the support buildings for a former harness racing track constructed along the Charles River in the late 19th century that has been transformed into a multi-functional dining, shopping and event destination—in Brighton, The Koji Club (pictured) sake bar is set to break this precedent by offering a large variety of authentic brands for the curious to discover. In the meantime, The Koji Club and partner the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) are set to help introduce Bostonians to the joy of sake a bit early with Sake Day East on October 1 from 5:30–8:30 p.m. at the Speedway’s Garage B indoor/outdoor event venue. Not coincidentally, this celebration coincides with Nihonshu No Hi, or World Sake Day, which marks the beginning of brewing season in Japan. For $65 per person, visitors who are 21-plus can sample more than 50 sakes from the Land of the Rising Sun while enjoying sushi, oysters and pizza from on-site vendors. Here’s to putting the Hub on the sake map.
