bills’ First Ever! Introducing “bills House Sake” in Collaboration with Sumikawa Brewery, Makers of Toyo Bijin, Now Available at bills Locations in Japan and Worldwide!

Hello! I’m Hikawa, in charge of PR for bills!

The end is finally in sight for the humid days characteristic of the rainy season, and the weather is becoming perfect for enjoying sake.

Today, bills PR brings you information perfect for those who love alcoholic beverages, especially sake.

bills, the all-day dining restaurant from Sydney, Australia, operated by SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP, began offering “bills house sake” in April of this year, starting with all eight domestic locations. This original sake was specially developed for bills by Sumikawa Brewery, makers of “Toyo Bijin,” using sake rice called “Sake Mirai.”

The introduction of house sake at bills is a first in the restaurant’s history. Moving forward, as a global project, house sake will be gradually introduced at bills locations in Australia, Korea, and at the UK version of bills, “Granger & Co.”

・bills’ First Ever! The Collaboration Story Behind the Introduction of House Sake
・Yoshifumi Sumikawa, Master Brewer at Sumikawa Brewery, Makers of Toyo Bijin,
and bills Restaurateur Bill Granger’s Vision for the House Sake Project
・Features of “bills house sake by Sumikawa Brewery Toyo Bijin Sake Mirai Junmai Ginjo 2023 Yamaguchi”

bills’ First Ever! The Collaboration Story Behind the Introduction of House Sake

This collaboration is a project between bills, operated by SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP, and Sumikawa Brewery, makers of “Toyo Bijin,” for whom SUNNY SIDE UP provides PR support.

Yoshifumi Sumikawa, master brewer at Sumikawa Brewery, andour bills Japan teamtraveled to Sydney, Australia, where bills’ global bar manager resides. We arranged an opportunity for tasting various labels of “Toyo Bijin,” with final decision-maker Bill Granger and the global development chef also participating in the tasting.

Tasting session held in Australia

Group photo together🍶

Among the options, the sake rice “Sake Mirai” was selected as meeting bills’ quality standards because its soft umami balanced well with astringency and acidity, creating a clean finish that pairs excellently with bills’ cuisine. This officially launched the development of the house sake.

Various labels of “Toyo Bijin”

🥞Note the Carefully Designed Label
Bill Granger, bills’ restaurateur, originally studied architecture at university. His commitment to design extends from restaurant interiors to the tableware, glassware, and menu design used, with meticulous attention to branding in every detail.For this house sake label, bills’ official designer was commissioned to create a new design that honors both the “Toyo Bijin” and bills brand aesthetics.

Yoshifumi Sumikawa, Master Brewer at Sumikawa Brewery, Makers of Toyo Bijin, and bills Restaurateur Bill Granger’s Vision for the House Sake Project

Yoshifumi Sumikawa, Master Brewer at Sumikawa Brewery

“While the ‘Toyo Bijin’ brand has received offers in the past, we had not actively pursued overseas market expansion or promotion. However, witnessing the impact of COVID-19 through last year, including the decline in inbound tourism, I began to think that to share the appeal of sake and Toyo Bijin with more people, we should create environments where Toyo Bijin can be enjoyed not only in Japan but overseas as well. At that time, I learned that Japanese restaurants and izakayas were opening one after another in Australia, increasing demand for sake, and that the Australia-based restaurant ‘bills Ginza’ was already using Toyo Bijin in cocktails. Considering these factors, we decided to make Australia our first overseas destination and proceeded with the cooperation of ‘bills.’ I look forward to people enjoying sake in Japan, Australia, and various other countries as a result of this initiative.”

bills Restaurateur Bill Granger (C)Anson Smart

“From the first time I tasted Toyo Bijin Sake Mirai, I was convinced that its traditional, gentle mouthfeel would match bills’ cuisine perfectly. When we decided to introduce a house sake, ‘Sake Mirai’ was the first thing that came to mind.―――In the upcoming warmer season, I recommend casually enjoying crisp, chilled house sake with small plates. It’s also great to share a bottle with family and friends and pair it with bills’ signature mains like schnitzel.”

Features of “bills house sake by Sumikawa Brewery Toyo Bijin Sake Mirai Junmai Ginjo 2023 Yamaguchi”

The house sake introduced this time features a gentle mouthfeel with volume, powerful umami, and because it is unpasteurized, even morejuicinessandexceptional richnessto enjoy.

🥞Note the Commitment to“Freshly Pressed“Quality
Because “bills house sake” is nama-zake (unpasteurized sake), Sumikawa Brewery maintains thorough quality control, pressing from the barrel each time an order is received from a location and shipping under refrigeration. This ensures that guests can always enjoy sake in a condition as close to freshly pressed as possible.

At “bills,” we want even sake beginners to enjoy sake casually! With this in mind, we offer it in easy-to-order glasses and easy-to-finish 500ml bottles.

sake Gimlet – bills house sake, gin, lime juice (C)Koji Hanabuch

We also offer an original cocktail called “sake Gimlet,” made by adding bills’ house gin “The Botanist” to the house sake. This fresh cocktail uses lime generously, soeven those who are not fond of sake can enjoy this drink!

Spring & Summer 2023 New Menu Media Tasting Event

Not only sake lovers, but also those who have not had the opportunity to try sake, please enjoy “bills house sake” more casually by pairing it with various dishes!