Prior to opening his brewery in 2016, Sakurai worked in the sake world in Japan for 10 years. After meeting his wife, who is originally from Arizona, he decided to set up shop in a garage in Holbrook, Arizona.

"Arizona is well known as dry," says Sakurai, "and that condition gives the fermentation less contamination. It means Arizona Sake has a very pure flavor." He eventually built a new brewery with his own two hands, on a vacant lot along old Route 66. His joy in life is making sake in the middle of the desert. 

Sakurai recommends trying his sake chilled in the summer and warm in the winter alongside savory foods and cheese.