How Strong Is Sake?
Understanding alcohol content, from fermentation to the label.
Sake is commonly bottled at around 14 to 16% alcohol by volume, according to Japan's National Research Institute of Brewing. Individual bottles can sit below or above that range. The percentage, usually written as ABV, tells you the proportion of the drink that is alcohol.
how does sake compare with wine and beer?
Sake generally has a higher alcohol concentration than beer. Its strength can overlap with wine, depending on the style and bottle. Compare the ABV on the individual labels rather than assuming every drink in a category has the same strength.
Pour size matters as much as the percentage. A 3 fl oz pour of sake at 15% ABV contains 0.45 fl oz of pure alcohol. A 5 fl oz glass of wine at 12% and a 12 fl oz beer at 5% each contain 0.60 fl oz. A 4 fl oz pour of that same sake also contains 0.60 fl oz. These are examples, not fixed serving sizes: multiply the volume poured by the ABV expressed as a decimal to compare the alcohol in the glass.
why does sake's strength vary?
Fermentation produces the alcohol. The strength reached during brewing and the addition of water before bottling both influence the final percentage. The National Research Institute of Brewing notes that undiluted sake can contain around 20% alcohol and is commonly adjusted with water before bottling.
Genshu identifies sake that has not been diluted with water to adjust its alcohol content. It does not specify one fixed percentage: the strength still depends on the sake produced during fermentation.
Our introduction to how sake is made explains the work of koji and yeast behind that fermentation.
what is the alcohol content of these five heavensake US expressions?
| Bottle | Brewery partner | Alcohol by volume |
|---|---|---|
 LABEL 12 |
Konishi | 12% |
 LABEL AZUR |
Dewazakura | 15% |
 LABEL NOIR |
Niizawa | 15% |
 LABEL ORANGE |
Urakasumi | 16.3% |
 PRESTIGE I |
Noguchi Naohiko Sake Institute | 18.5% |
These figures describe the releases in our US shop. Check the particular bottle when buying in another market or choosing a different release.
does the grade tell you the strength?
A sake's grade does not set its ABV. LABEL NOIR and LABEL ORANGE are both Junmai Daiginjo, yet their percentages differ. For the meaning of the grade, read What Junmai Daiginjo Means. For strength, look for the percentage on the bottle.
