Sake Gumi (Umami Mart)

What's in the box: Each shipment typically includes a curated selection of Japanese sake bottles, chosen by the Umami Mart team and paired with notes on the brewery and how to serve it.

Sake Gumi is the sake club run by Umami Mart, a Japanese goods shop and sake bar on Broadway in Oakland, California. The people picking the bottles have real credentials. Co-owners Yoko Kumano and Kayoko Akabori wrote Everyday Sake: The Go-To Guide for Choosing, Pairing + Serving, and the shop has been selling sake, spirits and Japanese kitchen and home goods for years. That shows in the selection. The club leans toward small breweries and bottles that most liquor stores do not stock, so it suits people who want to explore rather than reorder a familiar label. Membership starts at $55. The site's blog adds to the experience with brewer interviews and themed pairing posts, and there is a sister club, Shochu Gumi, for anyone curious about Japanese spirits. Local members can visit the bar and shop in person, which is a nice extra. The weaknesses are mostly about clarity. The pages shown here do not explain shipping coverage, billing frequency, or how skipping and cancelling work, so check the club page and FAQ before you sign up. Alcohol delivery also usually needs an adult signature, and some states may be off limits. Overall, it is one of the more credible sake clubs available in the US.