Ben Bell, a proud Arkansan, has dedicated 15 years to perfecting the expertise of sake & sake brewing, culminating in the establishment of Origami Sake - Arkansas's first sake brewery.
According to Ben, it all started when he was working as a wine specialist in Little Rock. One day, a unique-looking sake caught his eye, and he took it home to try. That experience left him intrigued, but also sparked a thought - since Arkansas is the "rice state," why not bring sake production here? That idea stuck with him and has been his driving force ever since.
After his first sake experience, Ben's passion for the Japanese drink led him to travel to Hanamaki, Japan, where he spent two years working as a sake brewer - a rare accomplishment for an American. Upon returning to his home state of Arkansas, Ben was determined to use his newfound skills to open a sake brewery. He soon met Matt Bell, who shared his enthusiasm and saw potential in Arkansas as a hub for sake production.
Ben had a vision for Arkansas to become the Napa Valley of sake, and Matt was on board. While traditional sake rice is different from the long-grain rice grown in Arkansas, the state's farmers had proven their knack for producing quality crops. In fact, Arkansas produces more rice than any other state in the nation, with 48% of the total rice supply coming from Arkansas.
The key to making their vision a reality was finding a grower willing to specialize in sake rice. Luckily, they didn't have to look far - Isbell Farms, located near England, Arkansas, had been growing Japanese rice varieties for decades. They started with koshihikari rice, which drew attention from Japanese media and opened up new opportunities. Later, they also successfully grew Yamada Nishiki, the "king of sake rice," which caught the attention of a sake brewery in San Francisco.
Through a chance Google search, Ben met Chris Isbell of Isbell Farms in 2008. They kept in touch, and when Ben had a plan to start Origami Sake, he knew exactly where to turn for his rice supply. Origami Sake's first test batch was made in October 2022, and sales began in mid 2023.
The founders of Origami Sake are proud to be brewing a 100% Arkansas-made product and are determined to lead the rediscovery of sake in America. They believe that being based in a small state is no hindrance and that their passion and commitment to quality will make Origami Sake a compelling choice for customers.
