The Japanese External Trade Organization (JETRO) & the Japanese Sake & Shochu Makers Association (JSS) put on a pair of stellar events in New York City on February 12th & 13th. We've already raved about Shochu Night Out, but the next day (Monday, February 13th) was Experience Shochu at Astor Wines. Read More...

Learn to make yakitori from a master. Chef Atsushi Kono of Tori Shin will demonstrate the process of preparing and grilling yakitori (Japanese style grilled chicken skewers).  In 2011 Tori Shin became just the 2nd yakitori restaurant in North America to earn a coveted Michelin Star. You’ll also learn more about shochu than you ever thought you’d know from our editor and resident shochu expert, Stephen Lyman. In addition to several featured shochus, Japanese beer and sake will also be available to sample. Where: Tori Shin – 1193 1st Avenue (between 64th & 65th Streets) in NYC When: Saturday, March… Read More...

In Manhattan on Sunday, February 12th nearly 300 people were treated to a taste of shochu from the hands of shochu producers visiting from Japan. Dinner guests at Inakaya, Robataya, and Sakagura were greeted with sixteen shochu producers sampling their products. At Inakaya the producers were situated around the perimeter of the high ceilinged space where we tried old favorites such as iichiko, Zuisen, Jinkoo, and Kappa No Sasoimizu, but were also introduced to a new distillery – Komasa Jyozo from Kagoshima Prefecture, which now offers four new products in the U.S. Window’s Mugiichi and Window’s Migaki… Read More...

The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and Japan Sake & Shochu Makers Association (JSS) are co-sponsoring the 1st ever (hopefully annual!) New York Shochu Night Out. This ambitious city-wide shochu tasting takes place on Sunday, February 12th from 6pm to 9pm for dinner guests at three famous NYC izakayas. If you haven't been to any of them, you are in for a treat. All are lovely establishments with delicious food, impeccable service, and great atmospheres. Read More...

In another sign that shochu is becoming more popular in the U.S. we are being treated to the 1st ever New York Shochu & Awamori Tasting Contest featuring 10 shochu & 3 Awamori at 16 restaurants in Manhattan and Brooklyn. The contest runs February 6-11, 2012. Read More...

  Japanese love their parties and they love their drinks. To show just how much, they have both a bonenkai (忘年会) and shinnenkai (新年会) parties. Bonenkai is a party to “forget” the past year, usually held in December. Shinnenkai is a party to welcome the new year, usually coinciding with the lunar (Chinese) new year. We had the good fortune to be invited to the Sake Shinnenkai hosted by certified sake sommelier (Kiki-Sake-Shi きき酒師) Chizuko Niikawa (photo on lower right) of Sake Discoveries. The event was held at Kasadela, a lovely izakaya in the Lower East Side (11th… Read More...