Tippsy, Inc

Tippsy, Inc., which operates the sake e-commerce site tippsysake.com under the Palate Project banner, sells Japanese sake to consumers in the United States. The storefront presents itself as the largest online Japanese sake store in the U.S. and carries bottles across style categories such as fruity and elegant, sweet and juicy, smooth and dry, balanced, classic, umami, cloudy/nigori and flavored sake, with tasting-note descriptors (for example strawberry, melon, mineral or caramel) attached to each product. Listed products span widely known brands including Dassai, Dassai Blue, Kubota, Born, Shirakabegura Mio, Kikumasamune, Nanbu Bijin and Suigei, alongside smaller-brewery labels such as Torai, Mizen, Joppari, Honshuichi, Takashimizu, Tsushimaya, Iwamiginzan, Yamazaru, Izumiryu Yahiko, Kitanosho, Senkin, Harushika and Temahima. Retail prices on the site range from roughly $17 for a discounted flavored nigori to about $120 for a premium junmai daiginjo.

Beyond single bottles, the company assembles curated sets and gifting formats: The Sake Flight, a $89 tasting set of three 300 ml bottles with three ochoko cups, a tasting mat and free shipping (excluding Hawaii and Alaska); mini-bottle variety sets; and cocktail sets such as an Umeshu Spritz and a Strawberry Matcha Latte set. The site also runs several programs framed as an experiment in changing how sake reaches the world: Direct Imports, sourced from independent Japanese breweries with fewer intermediaries; the Palate Discovery Project, a seasonal curated shipment program for enthusiasts; and Fresh From Brewery, small-batch unpasteurized nama-style sake described as being brought to the U.S. for the first time. According to a company profile page, Tippsy is an e-commerce platform promoting a modern lifestyle of drinking Japanese sake, headquartered in Long Beach, United States, with 1-10 employees.

Business model

The company operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce business, purchasing sake from Japanese breweries — including direct imports made with fewer intermediaries — and reselling individual bottles, curated multi-bottle sets and seasonal subscription-style shipments to U.S. customers through its own online store.

Revenue comes from online retail sales of sake bottles and gift/tasting sets at listed prices, from roughly $17 to $120 per bottle and $36-$89 for sets, with a recurring seasonal shipment program (Palate Discovery Project) for its enthusiast community. Free shipping is offered on orders containing two or more Direct Import bottles and on The Sake Flight.

Traction

The website states more than 68,700 customers have been served, and it lists a catalog of dozens of bestselling, new-arrival, direct-import and on-sale products.

Latest developments

The store is operating under the Palate Project brand and lists recent additions including Senkin Kakumei releases, a Harushika Tokimeki sparkling set, Yuki no Tenshi Snow Angel nigori, Kitanosho Funaki Junmai Koshu, Tsushimaya Junmai Ginjo Hattannishiki, Dassai Blue Yuzu and Nanbu Bijin Yuzu Lemon, plus cocktail sets.