On Thursday 27 August, we’re welcoming sake sommelier Willemijn Koppelman to Studio S for a special sake tasting, made possible with the support of Mizuno.

Ahead of the evening, we recently sat down with Willemijn to talk about her journey into the world of sake, what makes it so fascinating, and what you can expect from the tasting at Studio S.

For those meeting you for the first time, could you introduce yourself in a few words?
I am Willemijn and I am Sake Certified. As a sake sommelier I host sake tastings & events, give sake advice to restaurants, and I help out at Fuku Ramen. Next to my sake business I also work full-time for a hospitality tech company in Amsterdam.

I have worked in hospitality for over 15 years now, predominantly in Asian cuisines. If I am not working, you can mostly spot me in bars and restaurants, cooking for friends, listening to music, travelling to Japan, or dancing at a festival.

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How did you first discover the world of sake, and what keeps you fascinated by it?
I have always been fascinated by Japan, ever since I was little, and I worked at an Asian restaurant during my studies. In 2018, I discovered sake more and more when I opened a Japanese ramen place here in Amsterdam.

I managed the sake menu, which led me to start studying sake. Back then, people mostly wanted warm sake instead of the cold ginjo styles that I offered. I continued taking sake courses over the years until I passed WSET Level 3. During that period, I also hosted my first tastings to let other people discover the world of sake.

Nowadays, there is much more public interest in sake, although for many people it is still quite unknown. Teaching people something new and getting them excited about the world of sake is what drives me.

What’s one thing most people don’t know about sake?
That there are so many different styles and flavours of sake, largely due to the choices a sake brewer makes during the brewing process.

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If you could recommend just one style of sake to someone who’s never tried it before, what would it be and why?
The easiest sake to start with would be a (junmai) ginjo style. These tend to be some of the most elegant, fruity and floral styles.

What can our guests expect from the evening at Studio S?
You’ll learn about and taste six different styles of sake, including a modern style and some exclusive ones. It will open up a whole new world of sake.

What do you hope people will take away from the tasting, besides discovering great sake?
I hope everyone learns something new and maybe swaps a bottle of wine for a bottle of sake every once in a while. But mostly, I hope people will feel more confident ordering a style of sake they like the next time they’re at a restaurant or bar, or know what kind of sake to look for when buying a bottle in a shop.

Spots for the evening are very limited. Send us a Instagram DM for more information.