Braveheart Sake: A new bar where sake tastes like banana, & speciality sake cocktails taste like beer
Sake is probably not the drink of choice for most Singaporeans — it might have a cult following, but to the majority, it’s the easy-to-drink, slightly sweet spirit associated with izakayas and Japanese restaurants.
There’s actually a lot of depth to sake, which is something new sake-cocktail bar Braveheart Sake is looking to share with those who are unfamiliar with the drink.
Sake Braveheart is located on the second floor of a shophouse located along Tanjong Pagar Road that quietly opened in February, and will be officially launching on April 18!
The decor is modern and homely, making it a cosy spot that’s perfect for get-togethers with your friends or colleagues — or maybe even as a date night idea!
Besides that, this is Singapore’s first sake-cocktail bar, which makes this worth a visit!
It’s a unique concept run by two friends, James Li and Ong Jun Quan, focusing on sake and specialty cocktails mostly crafted using sake as the base. While other bars have sake cocktails in their repertoire, none have made it their sole focus — or at least none that we know of!
Braveheart Sake originals
Braveheart Sake is a drinks-first bar where the tipples are the focus, with simple bites on the menu to complement them.
The menu is separated into two parts for drinks: Sake by itself, and original sake cocktails.
Each of the co-owners have their own niche, as James runs the sake cocktail programme while Jun Quan (more commonly referred to as “JQ”) minds the sake selection.
A scan through the menu will tell you that Braveheart Sake has put quite a lot of thought into its original cocktails, with concoctions such as the lager (S$22).
As the name suggests, this cocktail is an attempt to replicate the taste of a lager, and is part of Braveheart Sake’s “common ground” section, which aims to present sake cocktails in a familiar way.
Hops — the ingredient that gives beer its distinct aromatic bitterness — are added, while the concoction is made effervescent through soda, and topped with a hops sake kasu (a byproduct of sake brewing) foam to really nail that beer texture.
It’s not exactly a craft lager, and tastes a bit lighter, but we can definitely get echoes of beer from the slightly floral and lightly hoppy profile — and the texture is pretty good!
However, if you want an actual “cocktail” cocktail, you can also consider one of Braveheart Sake’s best sellers, the Elizabethan Blush (S$22).
This extremely approachable cocktail was inspired by a Penhaligon fragrance and is piquant with a good dose of florals, making it ideal for those who aren’t too fond of strong drinks.
On the flipside, the Wild and Free (S$24) would be a drink tailor-made for seasoned drinkers who need a bit of oomph in their drinks.
This is a smoky cocktail that features peated whisky, which is immaculately blended with vibrant strawberry sweetness — so balanced, so punchy, and so satisfying.
Sakes and bites
Once you’re acquainted with sake in the form of cocktails, we suggest you also dive into trying the sakes, without any other added ingredients.
Braveheart Sake’s curation comes from JQ, who holds a Level 3 sake certification in the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a globally recognised qualification in wine training and spirits — its highest level!
You’d probably expect some cool sakes, and you’d be right: The menu here is meant to be accessible to non-sake drinkers, and contains a diverse range of styles.
The sakes can be ordered either in cup (60ml), carafe (360ml), and bottle (720ml) forms. But it depends on the sake — only a few select sakes are available in cup form, and others might be available exclusively in bottle form.
One crazy unique one is the Amabuki banana (from S$64 for a carafe), a sweet and silky sake that has the fruit’s aroma nicely present in every mouth, without it being too strong.
If you’re facing decision paralysis, Braveheart Sake also offers tasting series options, each featuring three tasting portions of sakes.
The aforementioned Amabuki banana was available as part of a “familiar but fun” series (S$38), but we’d recommend trying the “wild and curious” series (S$58) for some very unique flavours.
The latter series features one of our favourite pours, the Tsuki wine (from S$94 for a carafe), which tastes enchantingly like a mix between riesling wine and sake!
There’s no fully equipped kitchen here, but knowing many guests prefer to nibble on something while drinking, the owners have also included a few simple bar snacks on Braveheart Sake’s menu.
It’s nothing fancy — you’ll find bites such as the smoked duck (S$14) a good savoury accompaniment to the sake, especially with brie and comte on the side.
Since we’re drinking sake, karaage chicken (S$16) is also a solid shout. The one here comes with a tangy yakisoba (Japanese stir-fried noodles) dip that can be rather addictive.
Then there’s the tater tots (S$12), which are served with a mentaiko dip — a classic combo, really.
Admittedly, these are quite basic and no-frills, but these aren’t the bar’s focus. Ultimately, you visit Braveheart Sake if you want a good time, and a chance to try something new.
Always thought of jumping into sake? Or looking to try a new style of cocktails? This is your spot.
This was a hosted tasting.
For more ideas on what to eat, read our stories on the 44 year-old claypot rice brand selling bone marrow claypot rice and where to find the heartiest Taiwanese food in Singapore!
Wed 3pm - 12am
Thu 3pm - 12am
Fri 3pm - 12am
Sat 3pm - 12am
Sun 3pm - 12am
- Tanjong Pagar
Evan started off writing about food on Instagram, before joining outlets such as Buro and Confirm Good to pursue his passion. His best work usually comes after his first whisky shot in the morning.
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