Sugidama Sake Podcast

Ep. 49: How to Enjoy Sake: Easy Buying Guide

The new season of Sugidama Sake Podcast is out and I am releasing the first episode on Saturday! This is the start of a mini-series "How to Enjoy Sake".  After talking to a lot of people who don't drink sake I have realised that very often the reason is that they believe that sake has some special rules for buying, drinking and enjoying it and they don't know them.In reality, sake is like any other drink, has its own particularities but they are not as complex and different from other alcoholic beverages as some people think. Its a Japanese drink so some of the language associated with it is Japanese, but it should not be a problem if you don't know it. You can start your sake journey without any advance knowledge.And in the first episode of the series I am giving very simple and easy tips for buying your sake. Another exciting thing is that I am organising Sake & Pintxos Discovery Night to celebrate versatility of sake. It's a drink that can be enjoyed with any kind of food! And on December 14 we will drink it with iconic Basque food, pintxos, which are so ubiquitous in Northern Spain. If you are in London that day, please come! It would be great to meet any of my listeners. The tickets and the event information: Sake & Pintxos Discovery Night.Don't forget, Sugidama Podcast now has a sponsor, London Sake, an excellent online sake store. London Sake has one of the widest selections of premium and craft sake available online today plus shochu and some other beverages. They deliver across the UK and Europe, and with over 100 sake from 25 breweries, there really is something for everyone.Using simple online tasting notes and sensible, affordable food pairings they help you find the perfect sake without any of the fuss. Listeners of the podcast can get a 10% discount Listen to the episode to get the magical code! London Sake: making sake simple.Episode's Content:Sake & Pintxos Discovery Night: a bit of the back story"How to Enjoy Sake" mini-series ideaWhere to buy sake?Is a price of sake a factor?Sake lingo: should I know all this strange words?Why is sake shop staff  invaluable?Sake of the episode: Kamoizumi “Red Maple” 2-Year Aged Nama Genshu GinjoKampai!Sake of the episode:Kamoizumi “Red Maple” 2-Year Aged Nama Genshu GinjoKamoizumi ShuzoWorld Sake Imports UKLondon SakeRed Maple Full ReviewSugidama BlogSake & Pintxos Discovery NightSugidama Podcast on Podchaser - please review if you don't use Apple PodcastsMusic used:Wirklich Wichtig (CB 27) by Checkie Brown https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Checkie_Brown_1005/hey/Wirklich_Wichtig_CB_27Just Arround the World (Kielokaz ID 362) by KieLoKaz London Sake subscriptions & bottle shopA wide range of premium and craft Japanese sake delivered fresh to your door.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Ep. 48: Shochu Advisor Course Overview

The final episode of Season 4 is about a new Shochu Advisor Course, run by the Intentional Sake School. I have recently taken it and decided to share my experience. The course was taught by amazing Toshio Ueno,  a Co-Founder of the Sake School of America, Director of Sake at MTC. Ueno san is Sake Samurai and advisor to many Japanese government bodies, associations and companies. His knowledge stretches from wine and beer to sake and shochu and many other areas. It's a new and I think the only shochu course available in the UK. It’s a short and to-the-point course with a very wide coverage from the history of shochu to shochu-making methods, types, ingredients, food pairing etc. After completing the course you will sit an exam and if successful will receive a Shochu Advisor certificate. The course is great and highly recommended if you are interested in Japanese alcoholic beverages!Don't forget, Sugidama Podcast now has a sponsor, London Sake, an excellent online sake store. London Sake has one of the widest selections of premium and craft sake (and shochu!!!) available online today. They deliver across the UK and Europe, and with over 100 sake from 25 breweries, there really is something for everyone.Using simple online tasting notes and sensible, affordable food pairings they help you find the perfect sake without any of the fuss. Listeners of the podcast can get a 10% discount Listen to the episode to get the magical code! London Sake: making sake simple.Episode's Content:What is shochu?How sake and shochu are similar?Ueno sensei and the International Sake SchoolWhy did I decide to get a Shochu Advisor Diploma?The Shochu Advisor course contentThe shochu tasting part of the courseFinal ThoughtsSake of the episode: Takara Towari Soba ShochuKampai!Shochu mentioned:Takara Towari Soba ShochuTakara USAYutakaThe Sake School of AmericaSugidama Podcast on Podchaser - please review if you don't use Apple PodcastsMusic used:Wirklich Wichtig (CB 27) by Checkie Brown https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Checkie_Brown_1005/hey/Wirklich_Wichtig_CB_27Just Arround the World (Kielokaz ID 362) by KieLoKaz https://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoKaz/Free_Ganymed/Just_Arround_the_World_Kielokaz_ID_362Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Vocal: Svetlana

Ep 47: Sake Around the World. Sake in Manchester with Jamie Ryder (Yamato Magazine)

It's the conclusion of the Sake Around the World miniseries. We started it in Birmingham with Simon Boulton, then flew to Hong Kong to talk to Eric and Will, after that we chatted with Timothy and John from the Sake Revolution podcast in New York and made a stop in Paris to discuss sake and wine culture with Tony. Finally, we are back in England to speak with Jamie Ryder about the sake scene in Manchester and the North of England. Jamie Ryder is a hospitality copywriter and marketer and the owner of Yamato Magazine, a publication that celebrates Japanese culture. He's also a certified sake sommelier and international kikisakeshi. His debut short story collection Transmutations is out now.  Don't forget, Sugidama Podcast now has a sponsor, London Sake, an excellent online sake store. London Sake has one of the widest selections of premium and craft sake available online today. They deliver across the UK and Europe, and with over 100 sake from 25 breweries, there really is something for everyone.Using simple online tasting notes and sensible, affordable food pairings they help you find the perfect sake without any of the fuss. Listeners of the podcast can get a 10% discount Listen to the episode to get the magical code! London Sake: making sake simple.Episode's Content:Meet Jamie Ryder Sake in Manchester:sake awareness,where to drinkpreferencestrendsprospects of a local brewerySake gameFuture plansSake of the episode: Ozeki Hana Awaka SparklingKampai!Sake mentioned:Ozeki Hana AwakaOzeki websiteOriental MartThe Akashi Sake BreweryKokuryu Black Dragon Junmai GinjoKokuryu Sake BrewerySorakamiYamato MagazineDrink To That, a weekly newsletter Transmutations: A Collection of Short StoriesSugidama Podcast on Podchaser - please review if you don't use Apple PodcastsMusic used:Wirklich Wichtig (CB 27) by Checkie Brown https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Checkie_Brown_1005/hey/Wirklich_Wichtig_CB_27Just Arround the World (Kielokaz ID 362) by KieLoKaz https://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoKaz/Free_Ganymed/Just_Arround_the_World_Kielokaz_ID_362Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Vocal: Svetlana

Ep. 46: Brewery Focus. Kuheiji Honten with Japan Centre

Kuheiji Kuno is a maverick. He's a trailblazer of the sake world taking his inspiration from hundreds of years of sake brewing tradition, Japanese culture and philosophy of living with nature, and French winemaking.  He believes in terroir, which remains a controversial topic in the sake industry. But he doesn't just believe in it, he demonstrates it with his sake.So we sit down with Nao Torisawa and Hiro Kumagami from Japan Centre, which is one of the largest sake retailers in the UK, and talked about, tasted and discussed three of the Kuheiji sake. Don't forget, Sugidama Podcast now has a sponsor, London Sake, an excellent online sake store. London Sake has one of the widest selections of premium and craft sake available online today. They deliver across the UK and Europe, and with over 100 sake from 25 breweries, there really is something for everyone.Using simple online tasting notes and sensible, affordable food pairings they help you find the perfect sake without any of the fuss. Listeners of the podcast can get a 10% discount Listen to the episode to get the magical code! London Sake: making sake simple.Episode's Content:Meet Nao and HiroJapan CentreKuheiji sake brewerySake 01:  Kuno Kuheiji Kurodashocho Fukuji 2019 Junmai DaiginjoSake 02: Kuno Kuheiji Kurodashocho Tako 2020 Junmai DaiginjoSake 03: Kamoshibito Kuheiji Hi No Kishi Junmai Daiginjo SakeKuheiji terroirFuture plans and GoodbyesKampai!Sake mentioned:Kuno Kuheiji Kurodashocho Fukuji 2019 Junmai DaiginjoKuheiji HontenJapan CentreKuno Kuheiji Kurodashocho Tako 2020 Junmai DaiginjoKuheiji HontenJapan CentreKamoshibito Kuheiji Hi No Kishi Junmai Daiginjo SakeKuheiji HontenJapan CentreKuheiji Sake BreweryJapan CentreSake Deep Dive Terroir Episode 1 and Episode 2Sugidama Podcast on Podchaser - please review if you don't use Apple PodcastsMusic used:Wirklich Wichtig (CB 27) by Checkie Brown https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Checkie_Brown_1005/hey/Wirklich_Wichtig_CB_27Just Arround the World (Kielokaz ID 362) by KieLoKaz https://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoKaz/Free_Ganymed/Just_Arround_the_World_Kielokaz_ID_362Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Vocal: Svetlana

Ep 45: Sake Around the World. Sake in France with Tony Yip

We continue our journey around the world to find out how sake fares in different countries. And today I am talking to Tony Yip from VSF Wine Education about France. How does sake coexist with wine in one of the key wine-making countries?  Do people drink sake at all there and what about local sake?  I have asked Tony all these questions. So listen to the episode to find out what he replied!Don't forget, Sugidama Podcast now has a sponsor, London Sake, an excellent online sake store. London Sake has one of the widest selections of premium and craft sake available online today. They deliver across the UK and Europe, and with over 100 sake from 25 breweries, there really is something for everyone.Using simple online tasting notes and sensible, affordable food pairings they help you find the perfect sake without any of the fuss. Listeners of the podcast can get a 10% discount Listen to the episode to get the magical code! London Sake: making sake simple.Episode's Content:A brief introduction and the state of sake in France Can sake and wine coexist in France?Pairing sake with French foodWhere do people usually buy and drink sake in ParisWhat kind of sake do French drinkers prefer?Sake in a wine-drinking countrySake trends in FranceLocal French sakeSake of the episode: Noguchi Naohiko Sake Institute Yamahai Aiyama 2018Kampai!Sake mentioned:Noguchi Naohiko Sake Institute Yamahai Aiyama 2018Noguchi Naohiko Sake InstituteTengu SakeVSF Wine EducationSugidama Podcast on Podchaser - please review if you don't use Apple PodcastsMusic used:Wirklich Wichtig (CB 27) by Checkie Brown https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Checkie_Brown_1005/hey/Wirklich_Wichtig_CB_27Just Arround the World (Kielokaz ID 362) by KieLoKaz https://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoKaz/Free_Ganymed/Just_Arround_the_World_Kielokaz_ID_362Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Vocal: Svetlana