Kintsugi Sake LLC Announces Operational Takeover of Origami Sake Brewery in Hot Springs, Arkansas

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:

About Kintsugi Sake LLC

Kintsugi Sake LLC is an adult beverage company that blends traditional Japanese brewing techniques with American ingredients to deliver premium profiles free from sulfates and artificial additives. Guided by the ethos of crafting “The Better-for-You Booze™,” the company's portfolio features its flagship Oishii Sake line, including Oishii Clear and Oishii Cloudy Nigori, alongside the Kintsugi Sake expression. The portfolio also includes the Oishii Sake Spritz lineup, a four-strong range of all-natural canned cocktails in Mango Yuzu, Watermelon Lime, Lychee Lemon, and Coconut Lemongrass, as well as the upcoming debut of Oishii Matcha Liqueur, crafted with ceremonial Japanese matcha and Wisconsin dairy cream. Following its operational takeover of Origami Sake, Kintsugi Sake LLC vertically controls production from its hub in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

About Origami Sake

Located in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Origami Sake is the largest domestically owned craft sake brewery in the United States. Utilizing 100% local Arkansas ingredients, the brewery pairs mineral-rich spring water from the Ouachita Mountain aquifer with premium sake rice varietals grown by its local partner, Isbell Farms. Operating out of a sustainable, 100% solar-powered facility, Origami Sake is a pioneer in domestic craft brewing, producing a portfolio of authentic American sakes including Thousand Cranes Junmai, White Lotus Nigori, and Angelfish Junmai Daiginjo.