Not just for pairing with sushi, sake is a Japanese rice wine made by fermenting rice that has been polished to remove the outer bran, where the flavorful starch is concentrated. The further it is polished, the higher quality the resulting sake will be. It can be filtered or unfiltered, sweet or dry, and simple or complex, and may be served hot or cold. Sake can take on many flavors similar to wine, including apple, banana, and other fruits as well as floral, herbal, and spice notes.