Speciality Brands branches out into sake with Kanpai

Award-winning, UK premium drinks distributor Speciality Brands has announced the addition of KANPAI, the London Craft Sake Brewery, to its portfolio from 12th May 2025.

This is a significant move for the business as it takes on its first-ever sake brand and further strengthens its Japanese drinks offering.

Founded in 2016 by husband-and-wife duo Tom and Lucy Wilson, KANPAI London Craft Sake Brewery holds the distinction of being the UK's first-ever sake brewery, making them a pioneer of British sake.

Inspired by their experiences initially in Kyoto, and across Japan, Tom and Lucy began home-brewing sake before formalising their skills at the Gekkeikan brewery school in Japan. Their commitment led to the creation of a microbrewery in Peckham, London, where they produced award-winning, artisanal and modern sakes using traditional Japanese brewing techniques. In 2023, the brewery relocated to Bermondsey to increase production and introduce an enhanced visitors' experience.

KANPAI – meaning "cheers" in Japanese – handcrafts each expression using low-intervention brewing methods, allowing the natural characteristics of each ingredient to stand out.

Five expressions will join the distributor's portfolio:

KANPAI SUMI Junmai Sake (14.5% ABV, RRP £17)
KANPAI SORA Honjozo Sake (14.5% ABV, RRP £17)
KANPAI TORI Junmai Daiginjo (14.5% ABV, RRP £60)
KANPAI KUMO Nigori Sake (14.5% ABV, RRP £17)
KANPAI HANA Yuzu Fruit Sake (14.5% ABV, RRP £21).

The Speciality Brands team will aim to increase KANPAI's footprint in the UK using its leading British Sake status as a key point of difference. Mikey Pendergast, Speciality Brands ambassador and Japanese drinks expert, will lead trainings, tastings, and visits at the brewery.

Tom Wilson, Co-Founder of KANPAI London Sake, says: "Partnering with Speciality Brands is a perfect match, as we enter our tenth year crafting premium sakes in the capital. Now, with Speciality Brands' distribution network and experienced team, we are excited to get our award-winning sakes into more hands across the country. The UK's sake scene has been evolving rapidly, and we're determined to continue with our endeavour to make this centuries-old Japanese drink accessible everywhere. Working with Speciality Brands means more people can experience domestically produced sake without compromising on quality or authenticity. Their team understands our vision of bridging Japanese heritage with London innovation. We're raising a glass to bringing our British-made sake to curious drinkers all over the UK."

Chris Seale, Managing Director of Speciality Brands, says: "We've long been fans of Japanese food and drink culture, and it has been really encouraging to see a huge increase in Japanese-led cuisine across our cities as well as British bartenders fully embracing Japanese techniques, flavours and products. During this journey we have been asked many times about sake and I'm really pleased to say that, in KANPAI, we will be representing a real gem. As the UK's first sake brewery, KANPAI pushes the category's boundaries and like many of our brands shares the same quality and family values. We can't wait to introduce the brand to our customers and spread the word about British-made sake."

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