Today, the Olympic games in Tokyo begins. The Olympics are such a special time in the calendar, not just because of the sport on offer, but it gives us a reason to celebrate cultures around the world.
We’ve been lucky to get a taste of Japan through our mission with the JSS (The Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association) which is a non-profit organisation that consists of sake and shochu producers throughout Japan.
If you haven’t explored the wonders of Sake and Shochu, this is the perfect opportunity. Sake is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting rice, a process which dates back centuries. Shochu on the other hand, is a distilled liquor, typically made with rice, barley, sweet potatoes or buckwheat.
These drinks have their roots in Japan and still make up an important part of the country’s drinking and social culture.
We have been lucky enough to enjoy a Sake tasting, hosted by Marie Cheong-Thong, a member of the circle of wine writers, board director of the British Sake Association and spirits judge (to name a few!).
Based in London, Marie is available for Sake tastings and masterclasses and is also a WSET Certified Educator, too. Find out more about Marie here.
If you’d like to get a taste of Japan, head to some of London’s finest foodie establishments such as Sumosan Twiga, which serves the best of Japanese and Italian cuisine or Chotto Matte, a fusion between Japanese and Peruvian Cuisine (Nikkei)
