We are the pioneers.
We were the first to introduce a truly premium Japanese saké here over 25 years ago. It was a slow, lonely road at first, but we can now celebrate the growing legions of fans who have joined along the journey, continuing to spread the love of saké.
We are the educators.
We know the more you learn about saké, the more you will see how friendly it is and how incredibly versatile it can be to pair with almost any familiar food, from pizza to poutine. Our saké education programs are built to be easily understood, and are tailored to fit every unique audience.
Across the country, we help educate those in the industry through in-depth training and tasting programs; and saké fans through saké festivals, saké master dinners, and tasting seminars.
We are the leaders.
As leaders of the industry, we take the responsibility seriously. We work hard to ensure our fine products are handled with the utmost care. The popularity of our products means we can frequently order from Japan, allowing for regular fresh stock rotation. This minimal storage time ensures you can enjoy the freshest possible saké. Most of our saké is kept in cold storage to avoid heat stress and extend the freshness of our sakés.
We are the innovators.
After breaking into the Canadian scene with premium Junmai saké, we continued to push the boundaries with other premium Japanese selections. Expand your horizons and discover some of these special innovations including sparkling sakés, Umé Plums, refreshing Japanese fruit beverages, high quality shochus, and Japanese Whiskies.
We are Blue Note Saké
President/Founder : Patrick Ellis
It all started with a passion…
“My insatiable thirst for Japanese culture was sparked decades ago when I studied at Keio University in Tokyo. Many return visits followed, as I fell in love with the irresistible food and saké culture of Japan.
Sadly, at that time Canada had yet to discover the beauty of Japanese saké. Unable to find better quality sakés on this side of the water, I decided to import Premium Saké myself in the mid 1990’s. And so it began.
My passion for sharing Japanese saké culture has led Blue Note Saké to become the leading importer of premium Japanese sakés and spirits. As we continue to grow, expanding into every province and territory across Canada, the increasing popularity of saké only pushes us to work harder. While we have introduced over 2 million bottles to Canadians since our modest beginnings 25 years ago, it still feels like we have only just begun.”
Patrick was recently bestowed with the Title of ‘Saké Samurai’ by the Junior Brewers Association of Japan. This rare honour has been granted to only a few dozen non-Japanese, recognizing their significant contribution to increasing saké awareness around the world. Patrick is also proud to represent Canada as a Saké Judge at the prestigious Concours Mondials Saké Selection Competition in Japan.
He continues to push the boundaries of the industry. His high-energy, educational and entertaining presentation style continues to build a popular following among saké lovers across Canada.
Saké Sales Team
Our team of professionals are all Saké Certified Specialists.
Their ever expanding knowledge fueled by their passion for saké makes them the leaders and drivers of the industry. Through visits to our brewery partners in Japan, our team has gained a deep understanding of their craft and their expertise has made them the go-to experts in the saké world. They are ready to help curate the ideal saké list for each individual client, in either English or Japanese.
We are Blue Note Saké
President/Founder : Patrick Ellis
It all started with a passion…
“My insatiable thirst for Japanese culture was sparked decades ago when I studied at Keio University in Tokyo. Many return visits followed, as I fell in love with the irresistible food and saké culture of Japan.
Sadly, at that time Canada had yet to discover the beauty of Japanese saké. Unable to find better quality sakés on this side of the water, I decided to import Premium Saké myself in the mid 1990’s. And so it began.
My passion for sharing Japanese saké culture has led Blue Note Saké to become the leading importer of premium Japanese sakés and spirits. As we continue to grow, expanding into every province and territory across Canada, the increasing popularity of saké only pushes us to work harder. While we have introduced over 2 million bottles to Canadians since our modest beginnings 25 years ago, it still feels like we have only just begun.”
Patrick was recently bestowed with the Title of ‘Saké Samurai’ by the Junior Brewers Association of Japan. This rare honour has been granted to only a few dozen non-Japanese, recognizing their significant contribution to increasing saké awareness around the world. Patrick is also proud to represent Canada as a Saké Judge at the prestigious Concours Mondials Saké Selection Competition in Japan.
He continues to push the boundaries of the industry. His high-energy, educational and entertaining presentation style continues to build a popular following among saké lovers across Canada.
Saké Sales Team
Our team of professionals are all Saké Certified Specialists.
Their ever expanding knowledge fueled by their passion for saké makes them the leaders and drivers of the industry. Through visits to our brewery partners in Japan, our team has gained a deep understanding of their craft and their expertise has made them the go-to experts in the saké world. They are ready to help curate the ideal saké list for each individual client, in either English or Japanese.
