Australia’s fourth Sake Samurai, Simone Maynard

Melburnian Simone Maynard, aka the Sake Mistress, is the fourth Australian to be awarded the prestigious title of Sake Samurai. Just 70 Sake Samurais worldwide have been inducted by the Japan Sake Brewers Association since the program was introduced in 2005. There are no classes or exams. The award is given to people who champion the culture and identity of sake in Japan and global markets. Simone’s passion for Japanese culture grew from an early love of art and anime, but it was another Australian sake samurai, restaurateur Andre Bishop, who ignited her sake journey at his Melbourne venue Nihonshu in the mid-2000s. Before COVID hit, Simone had made sake a full-time job running events and training sessions for consumers and hospitality staff. In a pandemic pivot, she launched Taste With The Toji, a hugely successful series of online events that connected folks in lockdown with brewers overseas. Soon, drinkers were logging in from Australia, Europe, the United States and other parts of Asia to bond with brewers and learn more about sake. She joins us now to share some unique insights on the Japanese sake industry. You’ll also hear about Simone’s own sake preferences, and get a run down on the Australian sake scene, including some of the top quality examples available locally, and where to find them.