Sakeist Box

What's in the box: The site does not say what goes in a box, but its range covers sake, shochu and liqueurs with sommelier ratings and tasting notes.

Sakeist is a sake retailer founded by Anna Akizuki, a Japan Sommelier Association certified sommelier with an MBA from Reims Management School and several years in the French wine trade. Its pitch is simple: help wine drinkers find sake they will enjoy. It offers more than 100 bottles of sake, shochu and liqueurs, each with ratings and tasting notes from leading French and European sommeliers. The brand ambassador is David Biraud, a Meilleur Ouvrier de France and twice a vice champion in major sommelier competitions, and the site also names sommelier Xavier Thuizat as a partner. That expert backing is the main draw, especially if you already think about drinks in wine terms. The weak point for subscription shoppers is that Sakeist presents itself mostly as an online shop and links to a French storefront. It does not clearly explain how a recurring box works. The site does not say what a delivery contains, how often it ships, what it costs or which countries it serves. Some of the English copy is also a little rough. If you want curated sake with credible tasting guidance, Sakeist is worth a look, but check the box details with the company before you sign up for a plan.