Where to buy sake in Washington DC

I often get asked where to buy good sake in DC. Please, do not buy that bottle of unassuming sake sitting on your random liquor store’s shelf for the past 10 years! Sake freshness and storage is incredibly important. Buy from the following stores that have a good selection of quality products:

• DC Sake Co

  The original and best sake store in DC! They are online-only, but have the largest selection of sake in the city and cycle through their stock quickly, resulting in the freshest and most up-to-date sake available. I definitely recommend them for any of your sake needs.

  However, due to licensing, they only deliver within DC! If you’re outside of DC or prefer a brick-and-mortar store, then….

• Rice Market

  The go-to shop for quality Asian ingredients in DC, they also have a great sake selection. You can get a wide variety from the elegant and fresh Kuheiji Daiginjos to the extremely funky Terada Honke and everything in between.

  They will also periodically host sake tastings and events in their shop and their upstairs event space, so make sure to stay tuned for those.

• Nido Wine Shop

  This wine shop and Market in Mt. Pleasant is generally a treat. They have tons of ready-to-eat products for sale, including high quality tinned fish, spreads, dips, and more.

  Despite being primarily a wine shop, they also have a small but well-curated selection of sake! Usually they’ll have a couple of nama (unpasteurized) bottles in the refrigerator, and maybe some funkier ones on the shelves.