Welcome to Deep Dive Sake School
Hi, I’m Russ King. I’m a sake educator, writer, and the founder of Deep Dive Sake School. I started this publication to create a space for thoughtful writing about sake and other Japanese beverages—writing that’s grounded in curiosity, context, and care.
I’ve taken classes and done stagiaires in Japan, and most of my teaching happens here in the U.S.—through tastings, classes, and conversations with people in hospitality, retail, and distribution. Deep Dive Sake School grew out of that work: a way to support people who want to go deeper without getting overwhelmed or gatekept.
This newsletter is part of that same goal.
What you’ll find here
I’ll be writing about sake and other Japanese beverages from a few different angles—technical, cultural, and personal. You can expect posts on:
- Fermentation, production methods, and brewing approaches
- Cultural context and historical background
- Language, hospitality, and service
- Questions I’m asking around teaching, learning, and access in the beverage world
Some posts will be pretty structured and reference-heavy. Others might be more reflective. Either way, I’ll try to keep it honest, grounded, and generous.
Who this is for
This is for beverage professionals, educators, hospitality folks, and curious drinkers—anyone who wants to understand sake and its context more fully.
It’s also for people who care about building a more inclusive industry. As a proud gay man, I care about making space for queer professionals and diverse learners in the beverage world. That work shows up in how I teach—and it’ll show up here too.
Let’s talk
If something sparks a thought, question, or challenge—jump into the comments. You don’t need to be an expert to be part of the conversation.
Thanks for being here. I’m excited to see where this goes.
—Russ
