Fresh & funky is our style
We specialize in championing sakes that are complex, thoughtful, sometimes a little weird, but always downright tasty. Our passion is to form connections between our inspiring brewers and thirsty American consumers by sharing sake and good times together. Fifth Taste is a reference to umami, known as the fifth taste that our tongues perceive. Along with sweet, sour, salty and bitter, umami (savoriness) is vital in forming flavors that please our senses.
Jesse Pugach
Founder
Shortly after arriving in San Francisco in 2004, Jesse began working at the well known “Sake Mecca”, Ozumo Restaurant, where he eventually oversaw the beverage program. With a unique voice for promoting sake, he eventually became the Sake Specialist for Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, the largest wholesaler in the US. In 2019, he created Fifth Taste—the first San Francisco based distributor devoted exclusively to artisanal sake.
Jesse holds numerous sake certifications and is a Certified Sake Educator for WSET. When he is not running around spreading his love for sake, you can find him bowling, cooking, seeing live music, or doing literally nothing at home with his cat Uni, dog Rigby, and his wife, Liza.
Say Hello
Submit a form to our team, or email us at jesse@sipfifthtaste.com!