Give spring a warm welcome with a Cherry Blossom Party at The Koji Club

Boston’s only sake bar showcases namazake, a pleasantly refreshing seasonal sip.

The Koji Club hosts its first-ever Cherry Blossom Party featuring special sakes and sushi. Kristin Teig

1 minute to read

One good thing that can be said about winter is that it’s the season when sake is traditionally brewed in Japan. The mountainous island country — whose snowiest towns rival Boston when it comes to the white stuff — specializes in the boozy beverage made from fermented rice, which can take nearly as many forms as American craft-brewed beer.

The Koji Club, which opened earlier this year in Brighton, is Boston’s first bar dedicated to sake, where the curious and sake lovers alike can discover a full range of hard-to-find-here brews and learn more about sake’s rich traditions. The club is led by Advanced Sake Professional and local hospitality pro Alyssa Mikiko DiPasquale.

In Japan, just as the cherry blossoms are blooming, a special sake is served to commemorate the end of the brewing season. It’s called namazake, and it’s unpasteurized, which means it’s young, fresh, and lively.

On Saturday, April 9, The Koji Club hosts its inaugural namazake and Cherry Blossom Party, featuring a line-up of eight sakes by four breweries, including a namazake side-by-side with its pasteurized twin. Tickets include tastes of all eight as well as three handrolls from Portland, Maine’s Mr. Tuna. Additional sushi handrolls, made-to-order with premium ingredients like bluefin toro and plenty of caviar, as well other alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.

Nothing says “hello, spring!” quite like bright, bold, and borderline-effervescent namazake. The Koji Club is properly honoring this seasonal special with a must-wear-pink dress code and a dance floor. Tickets are $149.