Beneath the lotus
You bloom in shades of neon
Your bourbon brown eyes
Deep in Kyushu countryside
Your kiss smoking like shochu
Tanka Of A Good Ol’ Boy
Tag: shochu
The Art Of Mixing Koji Cocktails Is A Book For Japanese Drink Nerds & Beginners
The world of Japanese drinks is an endlessly fascinating space. Whether it’s the variety of sake or the deep traditions of spirits like shochu and awamori, Japanese drinking culture has something for everyone. And if you’re interested in falling down the Japanese drinks rabbit hole, you’ll want to read The Art Of Mixing Koji Cocktails by Sam Boulton.
An accessible guide to Japanese drinks, the book covers different production methods, categories, brands and cocktails to try.
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Bringing Sake Down To Earth In Manchester With Monkey Trio
The UK has one of the fastest-growing Japanese food and drinks scenes in the world and historically, London has been the place where everything goes down. But that’s been changing in recent years and Manchester has been flying the flag for Japanese food and drinks up North.
That momentum doesn’t look like it’s going to slow down any time soon, especially with the unveiling of the city’s first dedicated sake bar: Monkey Trio.
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Takara Towari Soba Shochu Is A Mind-Blowing, Shape-Shifting Sort Of Spirit
Shochu is one of my favourite spirits and the amount of ingredients that can be used to make it is one of its main appeals. On my shochu journey I’ve tried sweet potato, rice, barley, kokuto (brown sugar) and a category that’s blown my mind recently is soba (buckwheat).
Specifically, Takara towari soba shochu blew my mind because of how good it tastes and here are my thoughts.
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Sake, Shochu And Drinks Galore: Launching The Drink To That Newsletter
Being in a bar or a restaurant is transformative. Venues like that are an intersection of new cultures, communication, excitement and storytelling. Drinks play a vital role in creating these experiences, with Japanese drinks like sake and shochu elevating nights out, intimate lunches and conversations with friends.
Sake is one of my favourite drinks. But it’s not the only thing that floats my boat. I’m pleased to announce the launch of Drink To That, a newsletter for imbibing knowledge, celebrating the hospitality industry and providing content marketing tips for drink brands.
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Tantakatan Shochu Review: You Won’t Be A Fish Out Of Water With This Delicate Drink
In terms of ingredients, shochu may well be the most diverse spirit on the planet. Japan’s best kept secret can be made from lots of unusual substances. I’ve gravitated to more niche varieties of shochu and Tantakatan shiso comfortably sits in that camp.
A shochu with a fishy tale behind it, there’s a lot to enjoy about this delightful drink.
Kinjo Shiro Shochu Review: Sweet And Savoury Heaven In A Glass
Ever tried Japanese shochu? If not, you’re missing out on a world of incredible flavour and history. Yamato Magazine has become something of an evangelical space for Japan’s indigenous spirit and diving down the shochu rabbit hole continues with the beautiful kinjo shiro shochu from Takahashi Shuzo.
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Kaido Blue Shochu Review: A Savoury Crowd Pleaser From Hamada Syuzou
They say some drinks are an acquired taste and with shochu that rings true. Because once you’ve developed a taste for Japan’s national spirit, you’ll fall down the rabbit hole and want to discover as many varietals as your hands and wallet will allow.
One of the latest drinks I’ve tasted on my shochu odyssey is Kaido blue from the Hamada Syuzou distillery, which is also responsible for the glorious Daiyame sweet potato shochu.
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Fire Water Of The Kamuni: Burash
Japanese spirits like shochu aren’t that well-known in Western countries. But when you develop a taste for shochu, it’s easy to disappear down the rabbit hole and drinking the spirit has inspired the creation of a spirit for my horror world of The Frontier.
No matter where you come from on The Frontier, alcohol is the great equaliser, playing a vital role in religion, politics and everyday life. The same goes for the kamuni, who use alcohol as a way to be closer to their beliefs, celebrate and mark important milestones.
A popular drink within kamuni culture is burash, a type of spirit that can be made from several ingredients and has a huge range of flavour profiles.
Creating An Original Cocktail: Wabi-Sabi Recipe
There’s something magical about cocktails. A story to tell, new ingredients to mix, cultures to share with a wider audience. Japanese cocktail culture has an incredible amount of creativity, from the way certain drinks are made, to the passion of every bartender and mixologist who puts a new concoction in front of their guests.
It’s that kind of energy that’s inspired me to try coming up with my own cocktails. Introducing Wabi-Sabi, a cocktail that taps into the philosophy of transience as viewed through Japanese culture.
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