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Kintsugi Sake LLC announced an operational takeover of Origami Sake Brewery in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The company, led by CEO Buzzy Sklar, will oversee management under a new parent company ARB. The integration brings Origami Sake into Kintsugi's multi-category ecosystem, including Oishii Sake Junmai bottles, Kintsugi Sake expression, Oishii Sake Spritz line, and upcoming Oishii Matcha Liqueur. The deal was announced on June 3, 2026.
The latest headline in the U.S. sake scene is that Kintsugi Sake LLC has taken over the Origami Sake Brewery in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The deal positions Kintsugi as the largest domestically owned sake brewery and signals a push toward lower costs through vertical integration. For operators, the real question is what this move means for supply‑chain risk, product positioning, and sustainability credentials.
Kintsugi claims a 500 000‑liter annual capacity—potentially doubling if it expands its existing plant—and operates entirely on solar power, drawing water from Arkansas’ Ouachita Mountain aquifer. In a U.S. market where imports still account for over 80 % of sales, that volume is modest. Even as the largest domestic producer, Kintsugi’s output represents only about one‑eighth of total U.S. volume, underscoring that sheer scale alone won’t erase import dominance. What matters more is its control over quality and packaging, which dovetails with consumers’ growing appetite for convenient options.
Kintsugi’s lineup—Oishii Sake Junmai, an RTD Spritz, and a forthcoming Matcha liqueur—mirrors the 20–30 % YoY growth seen in ready‑to‑drink products. By merging Origami’s established junmai lines with its own RTDs, Kintsugi can ride that wave. The vertical integration cuts out handoffs and tightens the safety net against supply disruptions—a welcome safeguard when weather or regulatory shifts can halt production in a day.
The plant’s zero‑waste goal and all‑solar power give it rare credentials among craft beverage producers. While the broader market hasn’t quantified similar metrics yet, these claims resonate with eco‑conscious buyers and can be highlighted in marketing that stresses “U.S. made” and green attributes. For distributors, this presents an opportunity to pitch a domestically produced, sustainably sourced sake as an alternative to imports—especially useful in states where import restrictions or bottlenecks limit availability.
The deal doesn’t change the existing state‑by‑state distribution rules. Kintsugi will still rely on third‑party distributors for multi‑state reach, and bars or retailers must navigate current licensing structures. Operators can integrate the new line without overcommitting inventory by adding a limited case of the RTD Spritz to a premium craft section and using the “U.S. made” tag as a conversation starter with customers who value provenance and sustainability.
Kintsugi’s move to Hot Springs shows domestic production can pair scale, vertical control, and green credentials. Yet the 500 k‑liter annual output—just one‑eighth of U.S. volume—reminds operators that headline numbers alone don’t dictate competitive advantage in a market still dominated by imports.
Original Press Release
Led by CEO Buzzy Sklar, the strategic move establishes the company at the helm of the largest domestically owned sake facility in the U.S. to accelerate multi-brand innovation.
HOT SPRINGS, AR — June 3, 2026 — Kintsugi Sake LLC, the innovative adult beverage enterprise behind the rapidly growing Oishii Sake portfolio, today announced a partnership with the original investment group of Origami Sake, alongside an operational takeover of its production facility in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Under the terms of the agreement, Kintsugi Sake LLC’s executive leadership will oversee management and operations for the facility under a newly established parent company, ARB. Buzzy Sklar, CEO of Kintsugi Sake LLC, will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer of ARB, while Peter Iglesias will serve as Chief Operating Officer.
The integration brings Origami Sake, the largest domestically owned sake brewery in the United States, into Kintsugi Sake LLC's multi-category ecosystem. The transition will optimize production efficiencies and lower cost of goods sold (COGS) across Kintsugi’s portfolio, which includes core Oishii Sake Junmai bottles (Oishii Clear and Oishii Cloudy Nigori), the Kintsugi Sake expression, the ready-to-drink (RTD) Oishii Sake Spritz line, and the upcoming summer debut of Oishii Matcha Liqueur.
“We are excited about this next step for Oishii Sake and the partnership we have found with Origami Sake,” said Buzzy Sklar, CEO of Kintsugi Sake LLC and ARB. “This venture allows us to control our own production and lower our COGS. By taking over management and acquiring an ownership stake, we can eliminate outsourcing constraints, control quality, and innovate more quickly with our proprietary product lines and canning and bottling lines.”
Kintsugi Sake LLC confirmed that Origami Sake’s existing on-site brewing and operations staff will remain involved under the supervision of a dedicated on-site Vice President of Operations. The facility will change its name to Origami Brewery and continue to produce its existing portfolio, including Thousand Cranes Junmai, White Lotus Nigori, and Angelfish Junmai Daiginjo, alongside Kintsugi’s product lines.
The Hot Springs facility, located at 2360 E. Grand Ave., occupies a 3-acre site with a 22,000-square-foot building and serves as an operational powerhouse, operating at a current capacity of 500,000 liters per year, with the infrastructure already in place to immediately double production to meet demand. The brewery sources its water exclusively from the Ouachita Mountain aquifer in Hot Springs, which is the same aquifer used by Mountain Valley Water. This water source is naturally filtered, low in sodium and iron, and possesses a perfect pH for sake production. Additionally, the facility operates on 100% solar electric power with the goal of being a zero-waste manufacturer. For its production, the brewery relies on an agreement with its local growing partner, Isbell Farms, to source sake rice varieties grown in Arkansas, including Omachi, Somai, and Yamada Nishiki.
For media inquiries, interview requests with CEO Buzzy Sklar, or to request high-resolution asset folders of the facility and product portfolio, please contact:
Sources consulted (web research):
Source: BevNET