Shimizu Seizaburo Shoten from Suzuka, Mie Prefecture, Japan
A sake brewery steeped in tradition, yet brewing sake that evolves with the times and the people who enjoy it.
Shimizu Seizaburo Shoten, makers of the award-winning 'Zaku' brand of sake, was founded in 1869 and is located in Suzuka, Mie Prefecture, Japan.
Suzuka is fortunate to be blessed with a natural environment ideal for sake brewing. Cool, clear water from the Suzuka Mountains springs forth into the vast Ise Plain, where rice of the highest quality grows. It is with this rice and water that Suzuka’s delicious sake has long been made. It is perhaps no coincidence that Japan’s most sacred shrine, Ise Jingu, lies in Mie Prefecture where sake has been long intertwined with Shinto rituals, both an inseparable part of daily life. Even today, those unchanged rituals are still performed at Ise Jingu, with sake fulfilling its role as a sacred drink of the gods. The brewery believes it is their destiny to brew good sake here.
The name ‘Zaku’ – from the character 作 meaning ‘make’ or ‘create’ – was chosen to convey the notion that the true value of sake does not merely lie in the product that the brewery makes. Rather, it lies also in the actions of all those who transport it, sell it, serve it, and ultimately those who enjoy it. While respecting the traditions of sake brewing — through the use of small fermentation vessels and an emphasis on work done by hand — this is a brewery that hopes that their sake will evolve with the everchanging times and with the diversity of people’s values, thoughts, and tastes. Whatever the present age brings, Shimizu Seizaburo Shoten wishes to brew a sake fitting for it.
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A junmai sake with a smooth sweetness. Well-balanced fresh and ripe fruit on the nose, with a hint of anise. Rice-like umami on the palate is followed by a clean, crisp finish.
Award-Winning Sake – Bronze Medal, International Wine Challenge 2025
Fresh green apple and mirabelle aromas with a mellow rice-like sweetness on the palate, with a crisp acidity that invites you to have another sip. A junmai sake that pairs well with a wide range of cuisines.
TASTE… fruity, bright acidity, minerality
SERVE… chilled, room temperature, or warmed
PERFECT FOR… brunch with friends
Shipping: Free shipping with orders over £100
A gorgeous fragrance with a sleek, silky mouthfeel. Green apple, almond and a vanilla-like sweetness gently spreads across the palate. Rich with a fine, soft acidity that leads to a crisp finish.
TASTE… green apple, citrus, silky
SERVE… chilled in a white wine glass or warm in a ceramic ochoko
PERFECT FOR… wine drinkers
Shipping: Free shipping with orders over £100
Award-Winning Sake - Gold Medal, International Wine Challenge 2025
The character for sunshine is used in this Daiginjo sake’s name, alluding to its soft taste, like being bathed in gentle sunlight. Enjoy notes of pineapple, white peach, nashi pear, yuzu, and blossom with a glossy yet powdery texture.
TASTE… pineapple, textured, dry finish
SERVE… chilled in a white wine glass
PERFECT FOR… a chilled glass in the sun
Shipping: Free shipping with orders over £100
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Award-Winning Sake – Gold Medal, International Wine Challenge 2025
A junmai sake with a smooth sweetness. Well-balanced fresh and ripe fruit on the nose, with a hint of anise. Rice-like umami on the palate is followed by a clean, crisp finish.
TASTE… lychee, citrus peel, inviting
SERVE… chilled in a white wine glass
PERFECT FOR… first-time sake drinkers
Shipping: Free shipping with orders over £100
Zaku’s ‘Impression’ series was born out of a painstaking process of trial and error, to try and find a way to make a pasteurised sake which reproduces the characteristic aromas and flavours of a freshly pressed unpasteurised sake (namazake). Bottled straight after fermentation is complete, a touch of pétillance is captured.
TASTE… fruity, scrumptious, approachable
SERVE… chilled in a white wine glass
PERFECT FOR… a potluck
Shipping: Free shipping with orders over £100
Award-Winning Sake – Gold Medal, International Wine Challenge 2025
Immediately transparent and pure, with fragrant Japanese strawberry and ripe clementine. This sake’s glossy, luxurious texture gently resolves to a long, fine finish, layered throughout with lemon verbena and the mellow sweetness of steamed rice.
TASTE… strawberry, clementine, milk pudding
SERVE… chilled in a white wine glass
PERFECT FOR… special occasions
Shipping: Free shipping with orders over £100
An exquisitely balanced Junmai Ginjo sake, with floral aromas of lily and edelweiss, and ripe European pear. On the palate, mellow sweetness yet slightly savoury, smooth mouthfeel, and full of flavour. A crisp finish with a crescendo of acidity.
TASTE… fruity, smooth, harmonious
SERVE… chilled in a white wine glass or warm in a ceramic ochoko
PERFECT FOR… your go-to sake
Shipping: Free shipping with orders over £100
Award-Winning Sake – Silver Medal, International Wine Challenge 2025
Only the most balanced, middle section of the pressed ‘Miyabi no Tomo’ sake is used here. The nose is full, fruity and rich, with notes of pear, pineapple, and roses. On the palate, its delicate, clear, and elegant taste melds with the aroma, yielding a deeply satisfying experience.
TASTE… mildly sweet, silky, balanced
SERVE… chilled in a white wine glass
PERFECT FOR… a gift for someone special
Shipping: Free shipping with orders over £100
Zaku’s ‘Impression’ series was born out of a painstaking process of trial and error, to try and find a way to make a pasteurised sake which reproduces the characteristic aromas and flavours of a freshly pressed unpasteurised sake (namazake). Bottled straight after fermentation is complete, a touch of pétillance is captured.
TASTE… refreshing, green apple, steamed rice
SERVE… chilled in a white wine glass
PERFECT FOR… aperitif moments
Shipping: Free shipping with orders over £100
Award-Winning Sake - Gold Medal, International Wine Challenge 2025
This Junmai Daiginjo sake’s name contains the character for the long-revered Japanese pagoda tree, alluding to the noble and elegant taste this sake possesses. Enjoy notes of apricot, grapefruit, custard buns, fresh mint, and anise.
TASTE… apricot, custard buns, luxurious
SERVE… chilled in a white wine glass
PERFECT FOR… celebratory occasions
Shipping: Free shipping with orders over £100