Make Me Smart about the business of sake

Mar 27, 2026

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It’s peak bloom in Washington, D.C.! Cherry blossom viewing is deeply rooted in Japanese culture, and it goes hand-in-hand with enjoying Japan’s national beverage: sake. On today’s show, Kimberly is joined by Reiko Hirai, founder of D.C. Sake Co., to talk about the ins and outs of the sake industry and why more breweries are popping up in the United States. Oh, and we’ll taste some sake too!

Here’s everything we talked about:

"Hanami - Cherry Blossom Festival" from the U.S. National Park Service
"Sake brewers toast big rise in global sales" from BBC News
"American Sake Is Having a Major Moment" from Bloomberg
"How to Drink Sake, According to Pros" from Wine Enthusiast

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