Kanpai London Sake
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
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.
Kanpai London Sake firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Kanpai London Sake industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Kanpai London Sake is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Kanpai London Sake business model
Business model- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Merchandise: Branded merchandise including t-shirts, tote bags, snapback caps, and gift cards.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Core Sake Range (375ml bottles) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Premium Limited Editions |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Session Sake (Cans) |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Saturday Brewery Tasting |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | DIY Brew Your Own Experience |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Group Brew Days |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Gift Cards |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Shipping |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Kanpai London Sake product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Kanpai London Sake
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Kanpai London Sake technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature4 records
Kanpai London Sake partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- 58 and COflagshipMulti 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 BrandscoreMain 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 PyrenecoreMain UK distributor for Kanpai products alongside Speciality Brands. Part of the wholesale distribution network serving on and off-trade customers nationwide.
- Choryo ShuzoflagshipWorld-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 KomecoreKitchen 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 LondoncoreEducational 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 BreweryminorBeer collaboration producing SHIRO, a Japanese White Ale (Witbier) with addition of rice alongside traditional wheat. Collaboration beer available at Kanpai taproom.
- Noriko NagaokaminorOsaka-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-upminorChef Chris Tsiantar hosted a two-week pop-up at Kanpai kitchen serving Japanese-inspired late summer small plates.
- Yonetsuru BreweryminorKuramoto 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)minorOkayama brewery famous for Gozenshu and reviving ancient Bodaimoto brewing technique. Tasting events featuring exclusive bottles not available elsewhere in the UK.
- Aumont ShuzominorMulti award-winning sake brewery from Niigata, Japan. Tasting events guided by Aumont Global Head of Sales Richard Priest.
- Kinoshita Brewing Company (Tamagawa)minorFive-generation Kyoto brewery famous for Tamagawa sake. Toji Philip Harper hosted meet the brewer events at Kanpai taproom.
- Samuel BoultonminorAuthor 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
Kanpai London Sake competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging 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
Kanpai London Sake social profiles
Digital presenceKanpai London Sake financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kanpai London Sake leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Kanpai London Sake funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kanpai London Sake M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kanpai London Sake
What does Kanpai London Sake do?
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.
Is Kanpai London Sake a public or private company?
Kanpai London Sake is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Kanpai London Sake founded?
Kanpai London Sake was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Kanpai London Sake based?
Kanpai London Sake is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Kanpai London Sake make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Direct Bottle Sales are the primary driver. The others are taproom Sales, wholesale Distribution, experiences & Events, sake Byproducts and merchandise.
Who are Kanpai London Sake's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are The Oxford Artisan Distillery, Tap Social Movement and East London Liquor Company. Broad incumbents are Sipsmith, Gekkeikan Sake, BrewDog, Dassai, Adnams Southwold, Chapel Down and Hakkaisan Sake.
Does Kanpai London Sake have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kanpai London Sake.
What industry is Kanpai London Sake in?
Kanpai London Sake's product category is Craft Sake Brewing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFAAAG, Sake & Traditional Rice Wine Production, with a secondary code of CRADAIAF, Sake, Soju & Other Asian Alcoholic Beverages Producers & Brands. Its NAICS code is 3121 and its SIC code is 2080.