yatai

Day 12: Welcome Home to Kagoshima

October 18, 2013 by Stephen Leave a Comment

Last year when visiting Kyushu, I was amazed at how Kagoshima felt like home. Not only was it humid like Florida, where I grew up, but the people were warmer and friendlier than anywhere else I've visited in Japan. Since leaving last July I've been determined to come back.

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.

Yatai Life

August 27, 2012 by Stephen Leave a Comment

A yatai is a small, mobile food stand with a few seats around the outdoor kitchen. In Fukuoka there were dozens of these stands lining sidewalks late night near popular drinking areas. After a full night of izakaya hoping and a bar or two you'll stumble to one of these stands for a meal to top it all off. This helps fight off the potential hangover and the food just tastes so good.

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.

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.