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15 reviews for Ontario Spring Water Sake Company
Review Highlights
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"In Korean, Nama Nama loosely translates to NOM NOM NOM NOM." In 3 reviews -
"...enjoyable and I suggest the Tasting Flight ($10) if you are..." In 4 reviews -
"The staffs are all really nice and patient and explained..." In 3 reviews
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15 reviews in English
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Review from Andie J.
Toronto, ON
4/19/2012
I've had the occasional sake at the more than occasional sushi dinner, and I like it. I really do, especially when it's warm and served in cute sake ceramic-ware (presentation my darlings!). It's usually mild-flavoured, warm and slightly sweet with a faint aroma. But I had no idea that I was being cheated all this time.
Visiting the Ontario Spring Water Sake Company (OSWSC) has changed me and I'll never have just the regular old sake again! Ok ... maybe I will, but I promise you I'll be thinking "I wish this were sake from the OSWSC!" whilst consuming.
First off it's a nice intimate spot, with a little bar area for tastings. Before tasting you can look at the area where they actually make the sake and read about the sake making process. (If for some reason you're not in the mood for a tasting you can just grab a bottle of sake to go). The staff is also very knowledgeable, helpful and pleasant.
The most important thing though is that their sake is DELICIOUS! It's like nectar! I never knew sake could be so sweet and fragrant and delicious. I tried 3 different types (Nama-Nama, Genshu Nama-Nama & Nama-Cho) and I'd recommend them all but my favourite was the Genshu Nama-Nama: it was sweet, fragrant, smooth and delicious - like dessert.
The sake at OSWSC is freshly pressed, unpasteurized and unfiltered and apparently that makes the world of difference. Trust me when I say you really haven't tried sake until you've visited OSWSC!
Also, for a little extra we got to take our sake glasses home with us. -
Review from Gary S.
2/1/2012
I'm no Sake connoisseur as I'm mainly a draft beer guy but I maybe wrong but the way I tell if it's good Sake or not is if the rubbing alcohol taste is there but not overly strong.
Ontario springs makes some silky smooth sake let me tell'yah, you can even do some tasting, I think $15 for 3.
You can also purchase larger bottles which reminds me I've run out of.
Great place to visit if you're in the Distillery District, it's kind of tucked into the corner along the inner streets so it's easily missed if you're not aware.Listed in: Great places to get a buzz!
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Review from Elvis A.
It was nice day in January! (yeah it happens) so I decided to take a walk to Distillery District and try out this place.
Its a nice cozy place and they have only 4 spot at the tasting area. I went for the flight and had the the Nama Nama, Crazy Horse and Teion Sakura.
I am by no means a connoisseur of sake but do enjoy it when I get a chance.
The thing that sets this place apart from the sakes sold at LCBO is that they have some unpasteurized stuff. Kind of hard to find in North America let alone Canada. At 10$ for the flight one can;t complain though the serving is minuscule.
Nama Nama is their signature and deserves high praise in fact I was so impressed I ended up buying a small bottle for myself. Crazy horse had more nuanced taste with citrus finish. Sakura was a bit stronger but my palate was unable to identify the subtle taste notes. Ah well I hope I can develop my taste in future to appreciate it.
They also sell some ceramic stuff and unique sake byproducts. Interesting stuff like wasabi salad dressing is also sold here.
High praise to the staff on service as the server was very knowledgeable and maintained service at a good level in Japanese tradition.
Now to find a good sushi place that serves nama nama. Ah well there is always take out :) -
Review from Samir N.
4/14/2012
The tasting flight is a pretty good bet, but the nama nama is a pretty solid bet. This place may aid my transition to becoming a huge fan of sake. The place is really cool. They sell sake straight up and Japanese barware and such. I think there may be fancy-pants mixed cocktails, but why would you do that at a place that focuses on sake? I was having such a great time that I did not realize that it was past their closing hours and they were kind enough to continue serving me. Pure awesomeness!
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Review from Chad M.
10/11/2011
In Korean, Nama Nama loosely translates to NOM NOM NOM NOM.
Their signature sake, sampled fresh and unpasteurized, is quite possibly the best sake I've ever had. That's quite a bold statement coming from me, since I've always thought that unfiltered sake was my favourite.
If I come back to the Distillery, it will probably be due to this establishment.
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Review from Matthew A.
2/11/2012
I took the tasting flight here and really enjoyed the sake. It was very fruity and smooth. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. Definitely recommend a trip here.
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Review from Jiao S.
12/18/2011 3 photos
Okay.. I might be inflating the reviewing score here, since I didn't really drink anything. Just a great place to get an idea how Sake was made and always good to pick one bottle or tow home since they made it right there.
I kinda really wanna learn how they made the sake.. any change they are hiring?? -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
8/29/2011 7 photos
Ontario Spring Water Sake Company is a sake brewery in Toronto brewing using water from Northern Ontario....
Love the concept! Love the location! Love the set up! I just love the whole idea...
The staffs are all really nice and patient and explained each of the sake we tasting and how it was made... It was really enjoyable and I suggest the Tasting Flight ($10) if you are not too familiar with sake.
Even for non drinkers, OSWSC has something for everyone! Sake Kasu was used to make marinade, salad dressing and even desserts! I was all excited when I saw they have Goma ice cream when I saw the sign.. but unfortunately it was all sold out!!!
I need to come back to try the Goma.....Listed in: Memories of Japan in GTA!, A Day in the Distillery…
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Review from Nicole H.
Toronto, ON
This little nook in the distillery district is solid! This little cafe/sake brewery has a counter/bar on your right as you walk in - and then on the left is a glassed off area where the sake brewing happens! They have a few info panels along the wall too, if you're into reading about the process.
They have a few types of sake on offer, but I tried their Nama Nama signature sake in a small cup, and it was really really nice - fresh and delicious. We even got a little bowl of rice snacks on the house to nibble while we sipped, which I thought was great. They have a sake tasting flight available, but I think next time I drop in i'm all over the shandy - sake and ginger ale! Mindblowing.
Other than sake, they offer some miso soup mixes, Sake Kasu (a sake brewing byproduct) and a couple of types of house-made bottled salad dressings. There's also some merch available - bottles and delicate ceramic cups, plus tshirts and other promo merch.
I also wondered about what the word "Izumi" meant, as it's all over their merch and cups and whatnot - it means spinning water, which I suppose is appropriate re: the spring water :)
My only gripe is the small amount of seating, and that's really it! Nice one. This place is just great! -
Review from Jen C.
4/30/2011
Get your first taste of fresh, unpasteurised, locally-brewed sake from this newly opened brewery in the Distillery with an award-winning brewmaster from Japan on board. I made a trip out to the East side of the city on a lovely sunny day to try... well, everything they had on offer.
With 6 stools at their tasting bar, it was a tight squeeze 2-3 people deep when I arrived. The tasting flight was three of their sake's, and all were pretty decent and varied. But the best was a Shiboritate (fresh-pressed sake) that is only currently available by the glass. Full of flavour and packs a punch.
One thing to note is that their bottles go from a smaller 300ml (roughly $15/bottle), then jumps to a whopping 1.8L. -
Review from Rafi N.
Toronto, ON
8/4/2011 2 photos
Ontario Spring Water Sake Company is a very nice spot for a quick drink and maybe a cold dessert. The service is very good and the atmosphere is old but inviting. The pricing is okay, but the overall experience is great.
*** FOOD & DRINK ***
I had a Flight and a Lemon Ice Cream.
* Flight [3 small shots of sake] | $10.00 *
There are 3 types of sake to try: Nama-Nama, Genshu Nama-Nama and Teion Sakura. Each has it's own distinct flavor, though it can be hard to tell. The Nama-Nama is fruity. Genshu is higher in alcohol content and was a little reminiscent of vodka. Teion Sakura was like white wine.
* Lemon Ice Cream *
This is not ice cream, although they've billed it that way. This is a lemon sorbet, with lemon rind in it to add a bit of bitterness. It's a good sorbet and you can't really taste any sake in it.
*** SERVICE ***
Service was great. The young woman serving us was a Japanese native who's been living in Canada for 10 months. She is very knowledgeable about sake and explained everything in fluent English. She was very sociable and happy.
*** ATMOSPHERE ***
Quite small, there's seating for 4 people at the bar, then there's just standing room. The look is rustic, with some Japanese flare. They actually brew sake here, and you can have a look at the tanks. They have a little open fridge with sake and other dressing/dip for those who want to buy.
*** PRICE ***
Pricing is moderate considering that they only do sake products.
* Flight [3 small shots of sake] | $10.00 *
* Lemon Ice Cream | $3.00 *
** Total (AT&T) | $32.00 **
*** IZUMI ***
Ontario Spring Water Sake Company is a great place for anyone who is a fan of sake and Japanese culture in general. If you're thirsty, want dessert or even just curious, check this place out.Listed in: Noise 'n Poison, Sphenopalatine…
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Review from Ken S.
Mississauga, ON
7/19/2011 11 photos
Start A Love Affair With Sake in Toronto - Part 1
Who will entice you into this romance? The Ontario Spring Water Sake Company will and they will do this by offering a unique experience, at a unique location to try an amazing drink.
The Ontario Spring Water Sake Company is making a 1000 year old Japanese drink right here in Toronto. By doing this it has done something historic in Toronto, in Ontario, in Canada and really in North America. What have they done? They have opened a high quality sake brewery. This may seem like a simple thing but let me explain. If you didn't know already, 99% of sake is made in Japan. Sake is an ancient drink, where the manufacturing process has been handed down for generations, 1000's of years to be exact. You do not just learn to make sake. That is why in North America there are only 10 major sake producers, 7 in the US and now 3 in Canada. You may think, well sushi is so popular in North America, why not sake...
Well that's where the LCBO comes in. There has been little to no priority for importing new sake despite Torontonians insatiable appetite for fast-food sushi. So what happens is experimental Toronto folk try one of the limited selection, limited quality and in my personal experience many times older then proper sake, do not like it and type cast the beautiful drink. What's worse is that what most people know about sake is the Hakutsuru Warm Draft sake. You know that white plastic square bin on top of a table at most sushi spots with a little tap to dispense it? Not to knock Hakutsuru, but that drink is not indicative of the breadth of selection, taste, flavor and compatibility sake has to offer.
Enter Ontario Spring Water Sake Company. Despite a 1000 year head start by Japan and a poorly supported sake market in Ontario, they boldly decide to make sake in Toronto. In my mind risky, but as a lover of sake in Toronto, equally exciting. A few good things first are they picked the historic Distillery District to set up shop. This will add some actual brewing to one of my favorite districts that really doesn't brew or distill much. Ontario Spring Water Sake Company also has brought something else unique to North America, Namazke sake or unpasteurized sake. Pasteurization is preservation method but it changes the flavor profile of the sake. Namazake in my mind is the pinnacle of sake as it is the best representation of what the Brewmaster (Toji) intends. The Brewmaster does not have to change components to accommodate for shelf life considerations. This is what you will find at Ontario Spring Water Sake Company, the freshest and in turn, one of the most unique sake in North America.
So who would dare take on this challenge? Ken Valvur would. Ken was the CEO of Bento Nouveau and a self admitted sake lover. When talking with him, though a seasoned business person, he had a child like aura, excited to know what people thought about his work. He was glad to share his experiences bringing this sake to market.
Since it is manufactured on site and available for tasting at their location it is the freshest available in Ontario. I know the word fresh and alcohol does not sound like it goes together but for sake it does. When I was trying to explain it to a friend, I was reminded of an article I read about the owner of the famous Cheese Boutique, Fatos Pristine. He said, in summary, that even 6 day old imported Buffalo Mozzarella, which is ancient to him, still reminds him of tasting the cheese right from its warm water bath in Campania, Italy. This 2006 article is what started my love affair with Buffalo Mozzarella. I imagine that when Fatos was in Italy tasting the just made, hand crafted mozzarella is the same as what Ken Valvur, the owner felt in his own place in Toronto, when he tasted his own sake for the first time.
I asked Ken about restaurants he has tried in the city and he mentioned amongst others, Ematei. Since Ematei is one of the more seasoned Japanese establishments we discussed similar ones like why Zen Restaurant is in a shady strip mall in Scarborough. Don't let that fool you though, Zen Restaurant is top notch. We talked about sake in Canada, specifically Artisian Sake Maker (one of my personal all time favorites) on Granville Island, British Columbia and Nipro Brewery in Richmond, British Columbia and the sort of microcosm that is Ontario Sake. He asked me what I thought of the sake, but he didn't have 3 hours to spare so I gave him the short and sweet version. I love unpasteurized sake and his sake is so refreshing and perfect for all seasons. I advised I really enjoyed the Teion version which surprisingly reminded me more of a white wine. Their Teion is the most unique tasting sake I have had besides aged sake which is much sweeter and stronger. Thanks to Daisuke Izutsu at Kaiseki-Sakura for the aged sake. -
Review from Huntting B.
6/1/2011
So, here is the thing here. I figured this would be a place where I could learn a bit about how Sake is made, it is a distillery isn't it?
Well, unfortunately there was no real "tour" or education. I asked the...owner...I suppose that is what he was about it and he told us a bit about the different types of sake that they make, they are new to the area and the only real distillery left in the distillery district, which was pretty disappointing.
The drink itself was pretty decent. Nothing knocked my socks off or made me thing...damn I need to buy this. That said for 20 bucks we got to try a variety of drinks and had a nice time. If you are in the distillery district, you like trying new things, you like some forms of Sake, this'll probably be worth the money for ya. -
Review from Vik K.
Toronto, ON
9/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Had a Sake sampling, way sweeter than traditional Japanese Saki, was hoping they would have Nigori, unfortunately not. Still a great place though.
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Review from Steven H.
Toronto, ON
It is too exciting to (finally) have a sake distillery here in Toronto - granted though we missed the opening weekend, but still the awesomeness continues.
The decor is what it is - Distillery Industrial, but with the sake brewing room separated behind a glass half wall, so while the cooking/cooling/brewing/bottling process is going on you can watch all the work that goes into making handcrafted small-batch sake. Having been to a large sake distillery in Japan, there really is something in seeing how it used to be done before the days of industrial automation. Think of getting to watch furniture being hand-made in a craftsman's workshop after seeing the IKEA production facility. The tasting bar is a little cramped to say the least (right on Jen C.), but we got there fairly early on Sunday, so it wasn't too bad (yet) - when we left it was pretty packed (about 4-deep at the time)
We managed to get two stools, and each tried the tasting flight for $10 which gave samples of the Nama (unpasturized), Genshu nama (undiluted unpasturized), and Teion Sakura (low temperature, unpasturized) all of which were quite good - although I prefer the Teion Sakura myself (a little bit drier than the others). We also tried the Shiboritate - it was really nice, but not my personal favorite. What is interesting to note with Shiboritate is that it is like wine, in that it goes from a very "green" flavour to more complex flavours but over a period of days rather than months/years.
We also tried the Demodori Musume which is their first production sake, and to my mind, is probably the best of the current batch, although it will not be around for too long.
They also have sakekasu, which is the leftover (lees) after the alcohol has been extracted. It is a wonderful white paste, with a great sweet sake aroma that can be used in traditional Japanese cooking.
One piece of advice - even though there is marginal TTC service, I strongly recommend either (a) take the TTC, (b) take a taxi or (c) plan to make a full day at the Distillery - sake packs a real whallop that can sneak up on you. No matter how good the sake is, there is no good reason to drink and drive.
Cheers
