One Cup Ozeki, while not Japan’s most luxurious sake, remains one of the country’s top sellers. Known for its affordability and distinctive glass jar-like packaging, the beverage has become a staple in convenience stores across Japan. This October marks a significant milestone for One Cup Ozeki, as it celebrates its 60th year on the market.
In celebration of its anniversary, the beloved sake is taking on a new form: ice cream. This unique product is the result of a collaboration between Ozeki, based in Hyogo Prefecture, and Tokyo-based Sakeice, a dessert shop specializing in sake-infused treats.
The idea for the ice cream stemmed from social media buzz. Fans who had paired One Cup Ozeki with ice cream from convenience stores praised the combination, inspiring Sakeice to pursue the creation of this special dessert. In fact, the fusion of sake and ice cream was the driving force behind the shop’s establishment.
Sake-flavored desserts are not unheard of in Japan. The natural sweetness of the rice used in sake production often leads to pleasant flavors when combined with other treats, as seen in sake milkshakes and sake-flavored KitKats. However, the new One Cup Ozeki ice cream stands out because it contains a significant amount of sake, resulting in a product that is actually alcoholic. With an alcohol content of 4 percent, the ice cream is restricted to customers aged 20 and over, Japan’s legal drinking age.
The One Cup Ozeki ice cream will officially launch on October 10, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the sake’s original release. It will be priced at 550 yen per serving. To further commemorate the occasion, Sakeice will offer free servings to the first 60 customers between October 12 and 14, providing a chance for early visitors to enjoy both ice cream and sake for free—a pairing that’s hard to resist.
