A hexagonal, dark wood-paneled counter at Sake Studio Tokyo is lined with bottles — and anticipation.

Miniature jars are laid out before me as I’m about to (re)familiarize myself with the aromas they contain. I take a whiff of a grapefruit candy and then curiously find it tickling my nose as I sip sake from elegant wine glasses. Questions and proclamations from those at the counter grow bolder (“How can the rice be the same but the flavor so different?”) as I gulp down the free refills on offer.