Boy oh boy, had an opportunity to learn from my favorite sake instructor, as well as taste tons of hard-to-find Awamori and Shochu alone and in cocktails. This was my social media post the day after: “About last night…went to the @JapanHouseLA in Hollywood for a “fun evening of Japanese Craft Spirits”, specifically to learn…
I had titled this review before writing it, then I read this very educational and entertaining book and had to make a change because, well, I learned a lot about Japanese drinks yes, but also about the history and drinking culture in Japan. I found myself taking copious notes – some of which I will…
During the drive along an empty 5 freeway on a Saturday afternoon, up to the Frazier Park exit and then a few more miles to watch the terrain change from dry desert like conditions to lush green hills and pine trees, I got to try out all the great cornering my little Mini Cooper can…
NEW YORK (PRWEB) – Renowned Shochu maker iichiko hosted eight of Hawaii’s top bartenders for the 2018 iichiko BLŪ Bartender Competition on Jan. 31, at the popular Sky Waikiki. Andrew Woodley, of The Myna Bird Tiki Bar, took first place with his original creation, “Gift of the Islands,” showcasing the award-winning spirit. iichiko hand-selected a…
Essentially I attended the Japanese Food and Restaurant Expo to cover the sake and shochu portion (read part one of my coverage on the classes I attended on sake and shochu posted 10/13 on this blog) but I also knew, from my previous coverage of food shows, that beverages are only part of the picture….
Just when I thought I might have seen and tasted it all – a statement in and of itself is a bit crazy – I attended my first Japanese Food and Restaurant Expo. Of course there were terrific samples of fine Japanese food, an array of incredible knives and the type of service ware that…
New York, NY – The Ultimate Spirits Challenge has awarded Blue Nectar Tequila and iichiko Shochu with their highest honor, the Chairman’s Trophy. Dubbed the “world’s trailblazing spirits competition,” the Ultimate Spirits Challenge is led by globally renowned spirits reviewer Paul Pacult and an expert panel of judges from around the world. The judges taste…
