Canberra Kanpai & Canapés: Pairing Highlights and Sake Collection
The Canberra Kanpai & Canapés event brought together beautifully crafted canapés and a curated selection of Japanese sake, offering guests a unique tasting experience that highlighted balance, texture, and flavour harmony.
Visitors enjoyed a refined atmosphere, sampling a variety of bites paired with sake styles chosen to complement each dish. To help capture the highlights, we’ve put together a recap of the featured pairings presented on the day.
The pairing comments below were prepared by Simone Maynard, Melbourne-based Sake Educator and recognised Sake Samurai.
Featured Canapé Pairings
Smoked Salmon & Cucumber with Lemon Cream Canape
Recommended sake: Gangi Junmai Ginjo Mizunowa or Amabuki Junmai Ginjo Ichigo Kobo
Junmai Ginjo or Ginjo sake is a great choice to pair with this canape.The fruity and floral notes of a Ginjo-style sake complement the flavour of the smoked salmon, and work well with the citrus and lactic notes in the lemon cream. A sparkling sake is also a good match, as its effervescence pairs well with the crispness of the cucumber, providing an elegant and refreshing pairing.
Caramelised Onion & Parmesan Tart
Recommended sake: Takesuzume Kimoto Junmai or Kamotsuru Junmai Hiroshima Nishiki
A full-bodied Junmai or an earthy Yamahai or Kimoto sake would pair well with a Caramelised Onion & Parmesan Tart. The savoury characters in these sake complement the nutty flavours of the Parmesan and the sweetness of the caramelised onions.
Seared Wagyu with Beetroot Purée (Yukhoe Style)
Recommended sake: Sohomare Kamon or Koshi no hakucho Tokubetsu Honjozo
A rich Junmai or a full-flavoured Honjozo Genshu sake are great choices for pairing with Wagyu. The robust flavour profile and high umami, harmonise well with the stronger flavours of the beef, and can stand up to the richness of the dish.
Yuzu Gel with Amazake Cream
Recommended sake: Mio Sparkling or Keigetsu Yuzushu
Sparkling sake is a great and refreshing choice for this pairing. Its refreshing acidity and gentle effervescence will cut through the richness of the amazake cream and balance the tartness of the citrus gel. Alternatively, if you wish to boost the yuzu element and love a liqueur style sake, then pair it with your favourite Yuzushu for maximum Yuzu impact!
If you’d like to see all the sake served at Canberra Kanpai &Canapés, we’ve gathered the full lineup in one collection. It’s everything that was offered at the event, so you can revisit your favourites or check out anything you missed.
Shop Canberra Kanpai & Canapés Collection
