Bar Rev

Day 8: Day Off in Fukuoka

October 12, 2013 by Stephen 2 Comments

After a week of almost non-stop traveling I was ready for a slow day. Since my Iki trip had been canceled, the Shochu Project had been on a Wednesday, and Munemasa Shuzo was scheduled for Friday in nearby Saga, I decided to stay in Fukuoka another day. I'd been here last summer and seen most of the touristy things with Seikai Ishizuka, so I was able to just relax.

Day 1: Landing in Fukuoka & Straight to Bar Rev

October 6, 2013 by Stephen 2 Comments

After landing in Tokyo, I had kakiage soba (soba with fried seafood – crab and shrimp) and a draft beer. The perfect end to that long flight. After a 3 hour layover in Tokyo, I boarded a plane to Fukuoka, arriving at 9:45pm local time.

A Rev(olutionary) Bar in Fukuoka

July 27, 2012 by Stephen Leave a Comment

On the map, Bar Rev looks like it's a couple side streets off a main thoroughfare. The first side street is actually a narrow sidewalk barely fit for a motorcycle, or perhaps a Japanese microcar, but certainly not a proper street. Had I not know explicitly where to turn I would have wandered aimlessly until getting hopelessly lost or giving up and going back to my hotel.

iichiko silhouette

This iichiko silhouette is probably the most common Japanese shochu currently available in the United States. In NYC I’ve seen it in random mom & pop liquor stores as the only shochu among a shelf of sake options. It’s most commonly available in 750ml bottles, though I’ve seen other sizes in other countries. This is a great starter shochu, which is why I’ve chosen it for my first tasting note. It was my introduction to shochu back in 2008. I’d had Korean soju before, but Japanese shochu is a strikingly different (and better) experience.

Tasting Notes: Lento Shochu

Lento is the top selling kokuto shochu in Japan, and it is available internationally as well. Try it on the rocks or with sparkling water for a refreshing taste of the Amami Islands. Kanpai!

Tasting Notes: The SG Shochu MUGI

The SG Shochu MUGI wraps several barley shochu identities into one. It's lightly barrel-aged and carries the associated sweet notes. But there's also a graininess that is revealed when the temperature of the drink drops. It's a versatile barley shochu that can be enjoyed a variety of ways.

Tasting Notes: The SG Shochu IMO

The SG Shochu IMO is a clear invitation to create the classic imo cocktail. If you get it right, it will resonate and cascade around the world until you can't not have sweet potato shochu on your menu if you consider yourself a proper drinking establishment.