Kanpai London Sake

What Kanpai London Sake does

Kanpai London Sake operates the United Kingdom's first sake brewery, founded in 2016 by Tom Wilson and Lucy Holmes Wilson at 48 Druid Street, London Bridge. The company produces small-batch British craft sake using traditional Japanese techniques — including the ancient Bodaimoto method, Henpei flat polishing, low-temperature extended fermentation, white koji sparkling styles, and a sherry-cask barrel ageing programme — adapted to local UK water and using premium Japanese sake rice (Yamada Nishiki, Omachi, Gohyakumangoku, Akebono, Kitashizuku) sourced from designated paddy fields in Hyogo, Okayama, Toyama and Hokkaido. The product portfolio spans a core junmai range (SUMI, KUMO, KAZE, SORA, HANA Yuzu, White Koji Sparkling/Cloudy, Sparkling Plum & Hops session cans), ultra-premium limited editions (TORI Junmai Daiginjo, KURA Sherry Barrel Aged, the REBIRTH Bodaimoto series MIRU/KIKU/NOMU), a shochu co-product with 58 and CO, and culinary ingredients (koji and kasu).

The business operates a multi-channel revenue model across six streams: direct-to-consumer online sales with UK mainland shipping, on-site consumption at Europe's first sake taproom (10 taps, izakaya-inspired kitchen by partner Onigiri Kome), wholesale distribution through Speciality Brands and Les Caves de Pyrene plus direct on/off-trade accounts, ticketed brewery tastings and DIY brew experiences (£30-£600), sale of sake byproducts as culinary ingredients, and branded merchandise and gift cards. Customers span sake enthusiasts and foodies, restaurants and bars (80+ accounts including The Fat Duck, Zuma, Sticks'n'Sushi, Mandarin Oriental), specialist retailers (Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason, Master of Malt, 25+ shops), and corporate/private event clients. The company is founder-owned, bootstrapped via two crowdfunding campaigns in 2017 and 2018, has no disclosed external institutional investors, and has progressively relocated and expanded since founding — from a Peckham microbrewery to a larger Peckham space with Europe's first sake taproom in 2018, then to the current London Bridge site in 2023. KURA Sherry Barrel Aged 2024 became the first non-Japanese sake to win Gold at the International Wine Challenge.

Name

Kanpai London Sake

Legal name

Kanpai London Ltd

Website

https://kanpai.london

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kanpai London Sake is the UK's first sake brewery (founded 2016), producing small-batch British craft sake using traditional Japanese techniques and operating Europe's first sake taproom, DTC online shop, wholesale distribution, and brew experiences in London.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Sake Brewing

NAICS

Beverage Manufacturing (3121)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Sake & Traditional Rice Wine Production (AFAFAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sake, Soju & Other Asian Alcoholic Beverages Producers & Brands (CRADAIAF)

Keywords

• Craft sake brewing
• Japanese rice wine
• Premium sake production
• Sake brewery uk
• Brewery taproom experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct Bottle Sales: Online shop selling sake direct to consumers across mainland UK with shipping. Products include core range sakes (375ml-750ml), limited editions, and premium releases. Flat £6.50 shipping or free over £100.
2. Taproom Sales: On-site consumption at London Bridge taproom with 10 taps serving sakes by the glass, plus bottle sales and Japanese izakaya-inspired food from kitchen partner Onigiri Kome.
3. Wholesale Distribution: Supply through distributors Speciality Brands and Les Caves de Pyrene, plus direct wholesale accounts to on and off-trade customers in case quantities with minimum order £250 ex VAT.
4. Experiences & Events: Brewery tastings (£30/person, Saturdays), DIY brew experiences (£250/person), group brew days (£600 for 5 people), and special tasting events with ticketed entry.
5. Sake Byproducts: Sale of sake kasu (fermented rice solids) and koji as culinary ingredients. Kasu priced at £10 for 500g, Koji at £10 for 250g.
6. Merchandise: Branded merchandise including t-shirts, tote bags, snapback caps, and gift cards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kanpai London Sake is the UK's first sake brewery, producing small-batch British-made premium sake using traditional Japanese techniques (Bodaimoto method, Henpei rice polishing, white koji fermentation, sherry-cask ageing) combined with UK water and locally adapted processes. The portfolio includes junmai, junmai ginjo, junmai daiginjo, honjozo, nigori, sparkling, fruit, and barrel-aged sakes, plus koji and sake kasu food ingredients, a canned session sake, and a co-developed British shochu. Revenue is generated through direct-to-consumer online sales, a 10-tap London Bridge taproom and kitchen, B2B wholesale distribution, ticketed brewery tours and brew-your-own experiences, branded merchandise, and gift cards.

Product overview

Kanpai London Sake is the UK's first sake brewery, founded in 2016, crafting modern British sake using traditional Japanese techniques. The core product portfolio comprises premium and limited edition sake offerings including the flagship TORI Junmai Daiginjo (ultra-premium limited edition), the award-winning SUMI and KUMO junmai sakes, and the KAZE Junmai Ginjo. The REBIRTH Bodaimoto series features ultra-premium experimental sakes (NOMU, KIKU, MIRU) using ancient Japanese brewing methods. Supporting products include session sakes (Sparkling Plum & Hops in cans), barrel-aged KURA, fruit sake (HANA Yuzu), and the 58 and CO Shōchū. The 'Fermented From Sake' food range includes KOJI and KASU for cooking. The business operates a taproom and kitchen experience venue in London Bridge and offers paid tasting experiences and brew-your-own courses. The portfolio also includes gift cards and branded merchandise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TORI Junmai Daiginjo 2026 Ultra-premium limited edition junmai daiginjo sake made entirely by hand using Yamada Nishiki rice from Hyogo, polished to 45%, with notes of ripe tropical fruits and freshly cut herbs. Silver Medal IWSC 2024 and Bronze Medal IWSC 2021.
• KUMO Nigori

Quantifiable outcome

• First non-Japanese sake to win Gold Medal at International Wine Challenge 2024 (KURA)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• 58 and COflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Multi award-winning independent distillery in East London producing ethical spirits. Partnership began in 2021 to produce UK's first shochu using repurposed sake kasu from Kanpai's ultra-premium TORI Junmai Daiginjo production. The 58 and CO Shochu TORI 2023 is a limited-edition British Shochu.
• Speciality BrandscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMain UK distributor for Kanpai products alongside Les Caves de Pyrene. Part of the wholesale distribution network serving on and off-trade customers nationwide.
• Les Caves de PyrenecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMain UK distributor for Kanpai products alongside Speciality Brands. Part of the wholesale distribution network serving on and off-trade customers nationwide.
• Choryo ShuzoflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld-first Japanese x UK sake brewery collaboration. KANPAI and Choryo Shuzo in Japan jointly developed and brewed the KAKEHASHI Omachi Junmai using Choryo's signature yeast and Omachi rice. Represents shared craftsmanship bridging Japan and the UK.
• Onigiri KomecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKitchen partner operating within Kanpai's London Bridge taproom. Provides Japanese izakaya-inspired comfort food including onigiri, yaki-onigiri, karaage, and seasonal small plates. Menu designed to complement sake with some dishes made using sake or sake by-products.
• WSET School LondoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational partnership for sake tasting events. Kanpai hosts Nama Nouveau sake tasting events at WSET School London. Located nearby in Bermondsey, convenient for WSET students.
• By The Horns BreweryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeer collaboration producing SHIRO, a Japanese White Ale (Witbier) with addition of rice alongside traditional wheat. Collaboration beer available at Kanpai taproom.
• Noriko NagaokaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOsaka-born potter creating unique hand-crafted stoneware sake cups. Regular workshops held at Kanpai taproom where participants create pinch pot sake cups or bowls, with items fired and collected later.
• Koharu Pop-upminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChef Chris Tsiantar hosted a two-week pop-up at Kanpai kitchen serving Japanese-inspired late summer small plates.
• Yonetsuru BreweryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKuramoto Yoichiro Umetsu from Yonetsuru Brewery in Yamagata, Japan visited for taproom takeover event in June 2025, pouring exclusive sake flights including UK-first offerings.
• Tsuji Honten (Gozenshu)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerOkayama brewery famous for Gozenshu and reviving ancient Bodaimoto brewing technique. Tasting events featuring exclusive bottles not available elsewhere in the UK.
• Aumont ShuzominorGTM or Marketing PartnerMulti award-winning sake brewery from Niigata, Japan. Tasting events guided by Aumont Global Head of Sales Richard Priest.
• Kinoshita Brewing Company (Tamagawa)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFive-generation Kyoto brewery famous for Tamagawa sake. Toji Philip Harper hosted meet the brewer events at Kanpai taproom.
• Samuel BoultonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAuthor of 'The Art of Mixing Koji Cocktails.' Hosted sake cocktail parties and cocktail takeover events showcasing koji-inspired cocktails featuring various shochu selections.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• The Oxford Artisan Distillery: Oxfordshire-based craft distillery producing gin, whiskey, and vermouth with sustainability-led branding and an on-site visitor experience. Comparable as a craft UK producer marrying traditional techniques, experiential venue, and premium on-trade positioning.
• Tap Social Movement: Oxfordshire craft brewery combining production, taproom venue, and social-enterprise mission with strong UK craft credentials. Comparable as a small UK craft brewer using an experience-led venue to build a premium regional brand.
• East London Liquor Company: Boutique London craft distillery producing gin, vodka, and rum with a Bow Wharf visitor venue. Comparable as a London-based small craft beverage producer combining production, brand-led hospitality venue, and on-trade distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Sipsmith: London's first copper-distilled gin distillery and a UK craft spirits category creator. Directly comparable to Kanpai as a London-based craft distillery/brewery that pioneered a category, built premium hospitality accounts, and operates visitor experiences.
• Gekkeikan Sake: Japan's oldest sake brewery (founded 1637), globally distributed including UK retail. Highly relevant as the brewing school where Kanpai's Tom Wilson trained and a benchmark for sake category scale and distribution.
• BrewDog: Scotland-based craft brewery with extensive UK on-trade and own-venue (taproom) model. Comparable as a UK craft beverage brand that built a national distribution footprint and venue-led brand experience at small-team scale.
• Dassai: Premium sake brand from Asahi Shuzo in Yamaguchi, Japan, distributed globally including the UK. Comparable as a high-end sake producer targeting fine-dining accounts; sets the price benchmark Kanpai competes against in UK on-trade.
• Adnams Southwold: Long-established East Anglian brewery and distiller with own retail and on-trade presence across the UK. Comparable as a heritage-adjacent UK craft brewer/distiller with portfolio expansion into spirits and premium hospitality.
• Chapel Down: England's leading premium wine producer, listed on AIM, with broad UK retail and on-trade presence. Comparable as a British craft beverage brand that scaled from craft origins into mainstream UK premium hospitality distribution.
• Hakkaisan Sake: Premium Niigata sake brewery with strong UK and international on-trade distribution. Comparable as a Japanese premium sake producer competing for the same UK fine-dining and sake-specialist accounts that Kanpai supplies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/kanpailondon
• Facebookfacebook.com/kanpailondon
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kanpai-london

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kanpai London Sake