It has never been a better time to be a shochu drinker in New York City. On February 12 & 13 the Japanese External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Japanese Sake & Shochu Makers Association (JSS) have partnered to create “Experience Shochu, The National Spirit of Japan“. If you are curious about the spirit or already know you’re a fan, you owe it to yourself to make time for these events.
DAY ONE: Sunday, February 12, 2012
SHOCHU NIGHT OUT From 6-9pm diners at three famous izakayas (Inakaya, Robataya, & Sakagura) will be treated to free tastings (dinner is regular price, make reservations through the restaurants) from several shochu producers who will be visiting from Japan. Also visiting each restaurant during the event will be master Sake Sommelier Chizuko Niikawa of Sake Discoveries. This promises to be a completely unique experience for the lucky few who can get reservations.
You can find more information at the Shochu Night Out facebook page or by following @shochuny on Twitter.
DAY TWO: Monday, February 13, 2012
EXPERIENCE SHOCHU TRADE EVENT An industry tasting event is scheduled at Astor Wines (upstairs). From 2:30-5:30 there will be a trade show with 16 shochu distillers sharing their products (approximately 37 shochus, 3 Awamori, and 3 umeshu plum wines) with interested restaurants, bars, liquor stores, and members of the press. Beginning at 3pm there will be a 1 hour seminar featuring JSS director Toshiro Takahashi and The Liquid Chef, well known mixologist Junior Merino. I imagine he’ll come up with some pretty fancy shochu cocktails.
For free tickets to the TRADE ONLY event (2:30-5:30) click here.
EXPERIENCE SHOCHU PUBLIC EVENT Following the industry event, there will be a public shochu tasting event from 6-8pm in the same location (Astor Wines, upstairs). This will give shochu connoisseurs and novices alike a chance to try a wide variety of the spirits and interact with the producers themselves. I will be giving a brief introduction to the spirit just past the registration desk if you want to stop by and say hello or learn something about shochu before you begin your adventure.
For free tickets to the PUBLIC event (6-8pm) click here.
For more information about EXPERIENCE SHOCHU, follow @tasteshochu on Twitter (please also follow @KampaiUS).
Hope to see you at one of these!
Kampai!