A heartfelt thank you from our Spring Sake Festival VIP Session 🍶🌸
With so many moving parts, VIP session wouldn’t have come together without an incredible group of people we want to recognize properly.
To Timothy Sullivan
@urbansake — my sake sensei — thank you for sharing your deep knowledge that could easily fly over everyone’s heads, but never does with you. You have a gift for making the complex feel approachable, entertaining, and genuinely fun. Our guests didn’t just learn about sake — they were drawn into your story. Even as sake professionals, we have so much to learn from you. Thank you also for introducing Hakkaisan and Brooklyn Kura — sharing not just the sake, but the stories behind each, and their amazing US-Japan collaboration. (
@hakkaisansake @brooklynkura )
To our amazing VIP guests 🩵— thank you for joining with curiosity, excitement, and open hearts. VIP tickets always sell out before early bird ends, and this time was no different. Your interest is the reason we pour so much into these sessions. 🙏
To Chef Jean Paul Poggi and the culinary team (
@marriott_capitol_hill )— the course was absolutely delicious, and guests could not stop talking about the beef-brisket. The pairings elevated every pour and opened eyes to enjoying sake with non-Japanese cuisine!
To Ferit
@sakinbuyumecocuk — thank you for the special spring-themed cocktail using Ohoro Gin (of Hakkaisan). 🍸 A beautiful, refreshing surprise.
To Louie Anne of
@capitalsake , Scott Moven of
@sakedistrict , and Taisei Suzuki — thank you for keeping the session running smoothly from start to finish. The behind-the-scenes work is what made everything look effortless.
Sessions like these take a village, and this was one heck of a village. 🍶
Thank you!!!!!
