Press
Makers & Shakers #5: Adrian Goh, Director of Inter Rice Asia
Spirited Singapore | February 2024
In our fifth-ever edition of Makers & Shakers, we chat with Adrian Goh of Inter Rice Asia, one of the most influential personalities in Singapore’s sake scene.
Compared to wine, the sake business in Singapore is much smaller. But that is rapidly changing, with a growing number of passionate people in the sake value chain helping to move the needle.
And one name that invariably pops up whenever the local sake scene is discussed? Adrian Goh of sake importer and distribution company Inter Rice Asia. Aside from representing some of the more notable names in Japanese sake, the inexhaustible powerhouse can often be found hosting sake pairing dinners in restaurants across town, as well as teaching Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) cohorts about his beloved Japanese alcoholic beverage.
All these reason are probably why Adrian’s name also came up as one of the local drinks media’s favourite F&B personalities last year.
We grab Adrian for a chat about the current state of Singapore’s sake scene.
https://www.spiritedsingapore.com/2023/12/spirited-picks-2023/
Spirited & Friends: Our picks for the best of drinks, dining and travel in 2023
Spirited Singapore | December 2023
Favourite F&B or Hospitality Personality
“I’ve always been big on alcohol education, and no one does it as fervently as Adrian Goh, director of sake distributor Inter Rice Asia. His commitment to the cause since the early days sets him apart.” – Dannon Har, editor at Spill Mag
https://www.spiritedsingapore.com/2023/12/spirited-picks-2023/
When you gotta gift, you gotta gift
Parched Asia | December 2023
First, the unusual name for this sake from the northern Yamagata Prefecture (Shonai Region). 36 Guardians is named after the 36 vassals who protected the princess of the Fujiwara clan in the eastern provinces when it was destroyed in Minamoto no Yoritomo’s conquest of Oshu. (Talk about legacy: Sato Takahiro, the CEO of the Kikuisami Brewery, is a descendant of these 36 namesake guardians.)
Kikuisami uses the Futa-koji method, in which koji rice is made in small wooden containers with less than 2 kg of rice. For the koji mould to propagate well, the rice must be rotated constantly to keep both temperature and humidity control constant. This is a labour-intensive method, but it produces the highest quality koji rice. This is usually reserved for the most expensive sakes, but Kikuisami uses this method for all their award-winning sakes. A highlight is the Daiginjo Hi-Ten (considered the brewery’s masterpiece), whose coffee aroma indicates quality ageing, and its silkiness pairs with uni dishes or flavourful pasta.
36 Guardians is winning awards and fans through age-old techniques and contemporary aesthetics, and you should get your mitts on a few bottles before the world catches on. The full 36 Guardians range is available at theartofsake.com.
https://parched.asia/these-are-the-latest-and-mostest-spirits-on-our-radar/
An idiot-proof guide to the different types of sake, as explained by an expert
/ January 2023
According to sake sommelier Adrian Goh, who has sake sommelier certifications from three different sake institutions, sake contains compounds that suppress fishy odours and enhance umami flavours, making it a perfect fit for seafood.
This makes it perfectly suited for Japan, an island which, quite naturally, has a culinary culture immutably linked with seafood.
“It is also a very neutral alcohol, with little astringency and no tannin, so it is very unlikely to clash with any flavours, especially seafood,” Goh added.
(BTW: Tannin is a substance commonly found in red wine that adds a dry, bitter flavour. And now you know.)
https://mothership.sg/2023/01/idiot-proof-guide-to-sake/
Sake On The Rise: A Fresh New Wave In F&B
ProWine Singapore | September 2022
Honoured to speak with F&B entrepreneurs about the rise of sake and providing insights that will help them in their venture into sake.
Pair that ocean bounty with some sake
CNA | JFOODO | FEB 2022 
In reality, sake plays a supportive role in delivering flavours with its low bitterness and acidity and is even better when paired with seafood. “Sake is full of umami derived from Koji and the proteins found in rice,” Mr Goh shared. “This combines well with various umami components in seafood, creating synergy and new flavours. In addition, sake contains few elements that clash with seafood. In fact, it reduces fishy flavours, creating a more wholesome pairing.”
https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/advertorial/pair-ocean-bounty-some-sake-300871
From lala bee hoon to shrimp gambas and pizzas: How to pair sake with your favourite seafood dishes
THE STRAITS TIMES | JFOODO | FEB 2022
The aromatic and fruity notes of Keigetsu Junmai Daiginjo Cel24 from the Kochi prefecture pairs well with Spanish seafood dishes like soupy saffron rice with seafoods, Venus clams cooked in dry sherry wine, and prawns cooked in garlic chilli and extra virgin olive oil.
Here’s why sake is getting popular with consumers these days
/ February 2022
Covid-19 created an opportune moment, with the last two years giving rise to many new touch points for Goh to spread his love for sake. The pandemic “actually created a lot of opportunities for consumers to get closer to the producers.”
Goh says, “Previously, if you wanted to learn more about a sake brewery, you would have to visit the brewery in Japan. We often hold talks with brewery owners and brew masters using technology like Zoom. As a result, more people have sought official certification with education providers of Japanese sake, resulting in a more discerning local consumer base.”
Best Alcohol Delivery Services in Singapore
Expat Choice | Shivang | July 2021
Oh for God's sake, please call for some sake! This one is all about your favourite fermented rice drink. Take a trip to Japan with Inter Rice Asia's menu focused around tantalizing versions of the all time favourite sake. They have everything from junmai to honjozo to daiginjo which originates in different regions in Japan. Moreover, you can go through the menu to look for your preferred flavours. The list is pretty diverse...
https://www.expatchoice.asia/eat-drink/best-alcohol-delivery-services-singapore
Daishichi, the sake brewery defying the mainstream in pursuit of their craft
Spill Magazine | Dannon Har | June 2021
Flat rice polishing, anoxic bottling, and the kimoto method. If these terms used in sake making sound somewhat alien to you, fret not, it’s also unfamiliar to many of Japan’s sake brewers today.
Yet, these are just some of the ways Daishichi – a sake brewery in Nihonmatsu, Fukushima – has employed to make sake the way they deem fit.
We recently had a vertical tasting of seven of the award-winning brewery’s sakes as it took on new distributorship in Singapore, and found their range of brews to be wonderfully complex, though perhaps hard to grasp at first...
Still, it’s in their ideals where we found the most reason to love a Daishichi brew. Edited for clarity, a sentence on their website reads: “When talking about sake, it’s meaningless to say what rice polished down to what ratio was used in the brewing.”
In a world where sake is immediately given attention or dismissed simply based on the amount of polishing that went into each grain of rice, we like how a brewer (in a highly conforming culture, no less) is making a stand to point out how pointless that mentality actually is.
They’re just doing what they do best, staying away from vanity projects, while putting in the hard and smart work needed to ensure improvement upon their craft one step at a time. That’s something we can definitely kanpai to.
https://www.spillmag.com/features/daishichi-sake-brewery-kimoto-method-flat-rice-polishing
Inter Rice Asia lands Singapore distribution rights for coveted Daishichi sake
Spirited Singapore | Daniel Goh | June 2021
Distinguished Fukushima-based sake brewery Daishichi sake has appointed Inter Rice Asia as Singapore distributor for its lauded kimoto sakes.
Leading Fukushima Prefecture-based Daishichi has officially appointed Inter Rice Asia as its Singapore distributor to represent its range of sakes.
Daishichi, which was founded in 1752, like many other progressive sake breweries combine traditional sake making methods with the use of modern technology to produce its quality brews. The brewery, based in the castle town of Nihonmatsu, is best known for being one of the bare handful of breweries in Japan still using the old-school kimoto method to produce sake.
https://www.spiritedsingapore.com/2021/06/inter-rice-asia-daishichi-sake/
Singapore online alcohol delivery services: Your ultimate 2021 Edition
Spirited Singapore | Daniel Goh | May 2021
Drinking at home has been on the rise, but as a trend it has particularly accelerated over the past year. Lockdowns and other coronavirus measures have made drinking at our favourite watering holes pretty much impossible, limiting any form of imbibing to the home.
One of the earliest sake distributors in Singapore, Inter Rice Asia has an extensive portfolio of premium Japanese sake covering almost all sake-producing prefectures, as well as other alcoholic beverages. Brands to look out for include Keigetsu from Kochi, Yamagata’s Dewazakura, Manotsuru from Niigata, and the recently-released Sakari from Nada’s Nihonsakari in Hyogo. Also fun are their On Nomi sake tasting kits and discovery boxes.
Are more expensive sakes really better? How to pair sake with your food
CNA Luxury | Lin Wei Wen | May 2021
Expensive or high-grade sakes taste elegant and complex but they don’t make the best combination for food pairing. Here's what you need to know about sake pairing.
Adrian Goh, director of sake distributor Inter Rice Asia, said: “In wine pairing, we make it work by complementing or contrasting the flavours of the food and the wine. For sake pairing, we go for a marriage between the sake and the dish. The goal is to have balance, where neither the food nor sake overwhelm each other.
“More expensive or higher-grade sakes are more difficult to pair with food. They are usually more delicate and have less umami. I’d usually drink Ginjo and Daiginjo on their own or with white fish or food with lighter, elegant flavours.”
Goh added that pairing a cold sake with a warm stew or a seafood hotpot may be “jarring”. “I would pair it with a warm or room temperature Junmai with lactic characteristics. This will give the pairing a more harmonious element.
https://cnaluxury.channelnewsasia.com/experiences/how-to-pair-expensive-sake-with-food-14747466
Sake exclusives and where to find them
Epicure | June Lee | May 2021
Japan is the top travel destination for Singaporeans, based on numerous polls. In 2019, Singaporean travellers spent more than S$1 billion in Japan, according to the Japanese Tourism Agency. Now that travel is restricted, Singaporeans have turned to the next best thing – eating and drinking their way through local Japanese restaurants. No wonder that we’ve seen a slew of new sake launches and restaurants lately.
Modern sake for modern taste
In line with Sakari sake’s global outlook, the brand’s new range of five sakes were launched in Singapore by importer Inter Rice Asia. The five bottlings are Yuzu ($47), Junmai Daiginjo (price not available), Daiginjo ($50), Junmai Ginjo ($45) and Junmai ($38), each branded in a different colour and with product description in English.
Interestingly, Sakari is the brainwave of Nihonsakari, one of the larger brewers in Japan and one of the few that started as a collective of five founders rather than as a family brewery. That’s why the new brand logo for Sakari features what looks like a five petalled sakura flower but is actually made out of five modern sake glasses, poised as a toast. The luxe, contemporary look helps drive the message that these sakes are at home with any cuisine around the world, rather than a strictly Japanese product.
https://www.epicureasia.com/drinks/17518/sake-exclusives-and-where-to-find-them/
Sake Enjoyment at a new high
The Straits Times | Anjalil Raguraman | April 2021
Sake, the Japanese fermented rice beverage, is making a comeback here.
From a series of sake bars opening over the last six months to e-commerce platforms offering sake home deliveries, there has never been more interest in imbibing and learning about the brewed alcohol here.
Industry players The Sunday Times spoke to agree that Singapore is a fast-growing market for sake consumption.
"There was plenty of hype around sake four to five years ago, but now there's a second wave," notes Mr Adrian Goh, 39, director of sake distributor Inter Rice Asia.
He believes it is driven by the rise in popularity of craft alcohol, among other factors.
"People worldwide are drinking less but spending money to drink better alcohol, with the belief that small-batch producers are better. And who are better craftsmen than the Japanese? Many sake brewers date at least six generations back, with the same family brewing the same product."
Sommeliers, says Mr Goh, who is also a sake educator, have also been instrumental in influencing consumer preferences and driving demand for sake at quality dining establishments.
"As sommeliers become educated in sake, they become ambassadors for it and make it more approachable," he says. "Now sake consumption is gaining critical mass."
Sake brewer Nihonsakari unveils modern look, vegetarian certification in major revamp
Spill Magazine | Dannon Har | March 2021
https://www.spillmag.com/news/sake-brewer-nihonsakari-unveils-modern-look-vegetarian-certification-in-major-revamp/
Sakari Sake: Designing for a new world of sake
Spirited Singapore | March 2021
Prestigious Nada sake producer Nihonsakari reinvents itself by launching Sakari, a new sake line targeted at a more contemporary, international audience.
If there’s one thing Japan is known for, it’s that it is a nation steeped in culture and tradition. The island nation spent thousands of years in isolation – some of it self-enforced during its Tokugawa era – and over time developed a traditional culture that is truly uniquely its own. By the Meiji period, Japan welcomed modernity; the country embraced technology and new things like no other country before, nor any other country since.
“What we are doing with Sakari is simply translating our sake to be easier understood by people from different cultures,” explained Arito Mori, Manager of International Division at Nihonsakari, who manages the company’s Sakari brand.
https://www.spiritedsingapore.com/2021/03/sakari-sake-designing-for-a-new-world-of-sake/
Sakari Singapore
Elizabethheartz | March 2021
https://elizabethheartz.blogspot.com/2021/03/sakari-singapore.html
Inter Rice Asia – Virtual Sake Event from Sake Pairings with Chocolate and Aged Ham to exclusive Sake Brewery Tour
Foodielicious | October 2020
Inter Rice Asia is rolling out a virtual Sake On-nomi event fortnightly. Combining the words “Online” and “nomimasu (to drink)”, the Sake On-nomi seeks to bring fans of this popular Japanese alcohol together via a Zoom drinking session.
I happened to join their 15th session – Toko’s Virtual Brewery Tour – where we get an exclusive virtual sake brewery tour of Kojima Sohonten (which makes the Toko and Kojimaya Sake brands) in Yamagata.
http://www.oo-foodielicious.com/inter-rice-asia-sake-event/
Sake Guide: An Introduction to Ginjo, The Delicate & Fruity Sake Style Layered with Complex Flavours
City Nomads | September 2020
Many of us start on our sake journey at Japanese restaurants where “warm” and “cold” sake are the only options. But this fermented rice brew is available in different grades and styles, where factors like how much the rice is milled and whether distilled alcohol is added during the brewing process come into play. In continuation of our series of boozy beverage guides and ahead of World Sake Day on 1 October, we’re delving into Ginjo-shu today – the middle grade sake that’s fragrant, tasty and (usually) friendly on the wallet.
Current Situation of Sake Market in Singapore in light of COVID-19
Vivid Creation | May 2020
The F&B industry in particular is heavily affected by COVID-19. The Japanese Sake market has been steadily growing, with the amount of imports increasing yearly.
Sake Sommelier Adrian Goh from Inter Rice Asia, shared with us some of the efforts and market forecasts in light of this situation.
新型コロナウイルスの影響が特に大きい飲食業界。
その中で、年々日本からの輸入金額が増え、シンガポールで着実に人気が高まっている日本酒市場に関して、日本酒輸入代理店Inter Rice Asia の Adrian Goh氏に、コロナ禍のシンガポールの日本酒市場の現状、現在の取り組み、市場予測について、お話を伺いました。
https://www.vivid-creations.biz/blog/covid19-impact-singapore-market-japanese-sake-2020/
Journeying into the F&B and Sake Industry
One&Co | April 2020
After a recent panel discussion for Japanese Companies looking to expand into Singapore. I was invited for a casual interview with Leia Teo of One&Co Singapore.
While most beers are casual and meant for easy drinking, craft beers carry a certain sort of artisan appeal. On the other hand, when Japanese whisky started to get the spotlight, people started taking note of the quality of the Japanese alcohol. The Japanese seem to represent the epitome of Craft. Japanese Sake also seems to rest right in the middle of the craft alcohol and Japanese alcohol boom.
https://www.oneandco.sg/voice/journeying-into-the-fb-and-sake-industry-with-adrian-goh
Ultimate Guide to Online Alcohol Delivery Services in Singapore
Spirited Singapore | April 2020
One of the earliest sake distributors in Singapore, Inter Rice Asia has an extensive portfolio of premium Japanese sake covering almost all sake-producing prefectures, as well as other alcoholic beverages.
https://www.spiritedsingapore.com/2020/04/guide-to-online-alcohol-delivery-services-singapore/#Sake
5 sake delivery services in Singapore we love
SG Magazine | April 2020
The stalwart of Singapore's sake scene, Inter Rice is easily the place to go to for serious sake buyers. Their stock is vast, they've got everything from aged sake to nama (unpasteurised) sake, unfiltered ones to treasured 1.8L bottlings. Whatever your preference is, they've probably got it. Free next-day delivery for orders above $250.
https://sgmagazine.com/home-nightlife/news/online-sake-delivery-singapore
Where to buy Sake in Singapore: Online Retailers & Physical Stores for some of Japan's best Nihonshu
City Nomads | April 2020
In Singapore, many of us are intimately acquainted with beers, wines, and cocktails. But what about Japanese sake? Made from fermented rice that’s been polished to remove the bran, it’s often referred to as nihonshu in Japan to distinguish it from other categories of alcohol. The oldest sake brewery dates all the way back to the 15th century, and the drink continuing to be Japan’s national beverage till today. Here’s where to get a bottle for your next sushi party!
https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/where-buy-sake-singapore-online-retailers-and-physical-stores-some-japans-best-nihonshu
What You Need to Know before Becoming a Successful Japanese F&B Distributor
One & Co | March 2020
Supporting JETRO's program to support Japanese SMEs looking to expand to Singapore. Adrian Goh was there as a panelist to discuss introducing Japanese products to Singapore
https://www.oneandco.sg/tips/japanese-fb/
Future 50 Award
WSET & IWSC | November 2019
Adrian Goh given the Future 50 award from WSET and IWSC.
The Future 50 have been identified as the wine, spirit and sake industry’s up-and-coming young professionals from all areas of the trade who have made a significant contribution in the last three years in a range of areas including, career, academia, social responsibility and innovation.
There were more than 600 nominations for the first round, a longlist of professionals working as winemakers and distillers, in product development, design and distribution, marketing, journalism, hospitality and everything in between. Choosing the winners was an exhaustive two stage vetting process using the knowledge and authority of an illustrious panel of expert judges from around the world.
https://future50.wsetglobal.com/
https://www.wsetglobal.com/news-events/the-future-50-awards/adrian-goh-de-jun-sake/
Raising Chinese Spirits - Made-in-China wine, baijiu and sake aim at the Singapore market
Business Times | October 2019
Quoted on an article in Business Times regarding Sake from China.
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/lifestyle/feature/raising-chinese-spirits
When to Enjoy Hot or Cold Sake
Keyyes | August 2019
Sharing about drinking sake at different temperatures
https://keyyes.com/when-to-enjoy-hot-or-cold-sake/
Pairing Imayotsukasa Junmai Daiginjo with Soft Cheese
Epicure Magazine | March 2019
https://www.pressreader.com/similar/281517932414457
Japanese Sake Market in Singapore and Sake Matsuri Spring 2019
938Now | March 2019
Radio Interview with Charlotte Mei on 938now talking about Japanese Sake Market in Singapore and Sake Matsuri Spring 2019.
Great Buys at ST Wine Fair
Straits Times | July 2018
Senkin Modern Omachi and Hideyoshi Daiginjo advertised as great buys at the ST Wine Fair.
https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/food/great-buys-at-st-wine-fair
An Indian man from Singapore has been crowned the sake sommelier of the year
Coconuts.co | June 2018
Quote on Sake Growth in Singapore on Coconuts Singapore
https://coconuts.co/singapore/news/indian-man-singapore-crowned-sake-sommelier-year/
Savvy Way to Drink Sake
Straits Times | May 2018
Feature on Kamoizumi Shusen, Keigetsu John Sparkling, Senkin Modern Muku, Kiminoi Junmai Daiginjo Yamahai and Imayotsukasa Koi Nishikigoi on Straits Times.
https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/savvy-way-to-drink-sake
The Art of Saké
Doyenne.sg | May 2018
Write on Sharing the joys of sake on doyenne.sg
http://doyenne.sg/the-art-of-sake/
The Rice Is Right
Parched.asia | January 2018
Drinking with the Parched team at Kimoto Gastrobar
http://parched.asia/everything-to-know-about-art-of-sake/
How to Drink Sake like the Japanese
SG Magazine | April 2017
Teaching SG Magazine about why to use wine glasses to drink sake
https://sgmagazine.com/restaurants-bars/article/how-drink-sake-japanese-bite-japan
Adrian Goh, Marketing Director of Inter Rice Asia | Asian Entrepreneur
The Asian Entrepreneur | July 2016
An interview with Adrian Goh on asiaentrepreneur.org.https://www.asianentrepreneur.org/adrian-goh-inter-rice-asia/