Stuart Morris
Sake Master
Stuart Morris is a rare quantity in the world of Japanese Sakes. This unassuming, hard-working Bostonian achieved his Master of Sake and today makes premium Sakes at one of Japan’s foremost Sake breweries—one of the few non-Japanese natives to do so. His journey is one of passion and belief in overcoming the impossible…
For 25 years, Stuart has made Japanese Sake his life’s pursuit—insatiably learning its culture, tradition, and styles. Stuart’s path to Sake began behind the bar of a sushi restaurant in the U.S. Virgin Islands. From there he headed west to San Francisco and Napa Valley where he immersed himself in Sake and fine dining while making numerous trips to Japan and deepening his appreciation for the world’s best Sakes. In 2010, Stuart successfully completed the prestigious Kikisake-Shi Sake sommelier exam in Tokyo—despite the test being in all Japanese and seemingly impossible for an outsider to pass.
When they told me it was impossible for an American to be a Master of Japanese Sake, I almost believed them.
—Stuart Morris, Sake Master
Next, Stuart decided to pursue apprenticeships to craft Sake in Japan. Knocking on brewery doors, sleeping on floors, and cleaning breweries for three years finally earned him a place inside the Sake brewing sanctum under the tutelage of Master Sake Brewer, Masanobu Shindo at the renowned Shindo Brewery in Yamagata, Japan. Here Stuart honed the art of traditional Sake making over several years earning the respect to craft Sake alongside his mentor and friend.
As a Sake Master and Sake maker, Stuart has established Sake menus and tasting experiences at fine dining establishments across the U.S. A chance connection with John Anthony Truchard in 2023 has set Stuart on a new course to create his own portfolio of premium Sakes for the U.S. market with John Anthony Wine & Spirits. Hachidori Sakes are the first of these bottlings in a Junmai, Junmai Ginjo, and Daiginjo.
Hachidori is the Japanese name for hummingbird and has great cultural significance—if a bird can hover still in mid-air, anything is possible. Stuart’s journey and Hachidori Sakes are the art of the impossible. We invite you to enjoy these impossibly delicious Sakes.