gaijinmark wrote:

So, about a month ago Mitsuwa had their annual Okinawa Festival. I picked up this Okinawa travel brochure and it had a little paragraph about "awamori" which is the type of sake they make in Okinawa. Today I got some just to check it out. To say it's potent is a bit of an understatement. This from Wiki: (check out the last sentence) Awamori (泡盛) is an alcoholic beverage indigenous to and unique to Okinawa, Japan. It is made from rice, and is not a direct product of brewing (like sake) but of distillation (like shōchū). Awamori is typically 60 proof(30% alcohol), although "export" brands (including brands shipped to mainland Japan) are increasingly 50 proof (25% alcohol). Awamori is aged to improve its flavor and mellowness. Some brands of awamori (notably hanazake) are 120 proof (60%) and will catch fire.

Anyone who has seen Churasan will know all about awamori I would like to try it one day, although I doubt I could find it at my local bottle shop [/i]

Having some Hime brand Genmai cha on my waitress friend's recommendation... Not bad: nice balance of green tea and roasted brown rice flavor.

runpup wrote:

A big bottle of Miller High Life....Wonderful...

I thought you wanted to have a beer, not yellow water.

gaijinmark wrote:

So, about a month ago Mitsuwa had their annual Okinawa Festival. I picked up this Okinawa travel brochure and it had a little paragraph about "awamori" which is the type of sake they make in Okinawa. Today I got some just to check it out. To say it's potent is a bit of an understatement. This from Wiki: (check out the last sentence) Awamori (泡盛) is an alcoholic beverage indigenous to and unique to Okinawa, Japan. It is made from rice, and is not a direct product of brewing (like sake) but of distillation (like shōchū). Awamori is typically 60 proof(30% alcohol), although "export" brands (including brands shipped to mainland Japan) are increasingly 50 proof (25% alcohol). Awamori is aged to improve its flavor and mellowness. Some brands of awamori (notably hanazake) are 120 proof (60%) and will catch fire.

My friend and I drank this in Shibuya...got lit. Can't say I remember what proof it was...you're right...stuff is pretty dayem strong.

A coworker gave me this nice sake serving set today:



His wife got it as a gift ages ago and never used it, so he gave it to me.

The box says its from Kotobuki Trading in South San Francisco: http://kotobukitrading.com/

bmwracer wrote:

A coworker gave me this nice sake serving set today: His wife got it as a gift ages ago and never used it, so he gave it to me. The box says its from Kotobuki Trading in South San Francisco: http://kotobukitrading.com/

Very Cool. Now go to Mitsuwa buy a bottle of Nigorizake and get the party started!

Also cool from San Francisco...America's First Sake only store

www.truesake.com

Tu_triky wrote:

Very Cool. Now go to Mitsuwa buy a bottle of Nigorizake and get the party started!

I intend to... My brother and niece will surely participate.

bmwracer wrote:

I intend to... My brother and niece will surely participate.

I see you have four cups, which means there's one for me!

Tu_triky wrote:

I see you have four cups, which means there's one for me!

Be my guest...

My sis-in-law can't drink: she had hepatitis a while back.

bmwracer wrote:

Be my guest... My sis-in-law can't drink: she had hepatitis a while back.

Hehe...don't wanna be a party crasher, but I'll be there at 6.

Tu_triky wrote:

Hehe...don't wanna be a party crasher, but I'll be there at 6.

We'll save a seat for you.

Well my favourite drink is champagne altho I don't drink it anymore. One glass of wine with dinner and I am in napstate. I've forgotten the taste of a screwdriver 'in a bucket' which became my drink of choice later.

However, regarding beer. I wonder if anyone in UK now, can talk about NEWCASTLE BROWN ALE.....It is a very dark and very potent beer. I would bet that a pint of that would move your grey cells to the left and any more would rubberize your legs.

I drank a pint up on a bet years ago. This was on tap and just the right temperature from a good UK cellar. My husband was shocked and I was glad he was there to take me home. Actually the pub was the oldest pub and had been the site of the assizes of a travelling judge. Known as the Hanging Judge, he dispensed his judgement and had the person hanged right there in the pub from the rafter above the stairwell. True story.

Regarding SAKE. I have had it warm but I think I would prefer it over ice. Received a beautiful presentation set from Japanese business friend a long time ago. It was too pretty to disturb the box. There was also a
tasting cup which was ringed in blue at the bottom. I think this was to show the clarity of the sake. Not sure about that. Anyway often wondered about the quality after many years unopened. I don't think sake improves with age like wine but I don't know if it breaks down into vinegarl????

Peggy

brad2 wrote:

Regarding SAKE. I have had it warm but I think I would prefer it over ice.

It's much better cold, IMO.

Quote:

I don't know if it breaks down into vinegarl????

We've never let it sit around long enough to find out.

bmwracer wrote:

t's much better cold, IMO.

Yup...from what I understand the higher quality sake is usually served cold. The lower quality sake is served warm as the temperature masks the taste of some of the impurities in the drink.

Tu_triky,

that is very interesting. I was in an 'upscale' restaurant in Las Vegas when we were served warm sake.!!

Peg

brad2 wrote:

Tu_triky, that is very interesting. I was in an 'upscale' restaurant in Las Vegas when we were served warm sake.!! Peg

Don't get me wrong there is absolutely nothing wrong with warm sake...it's not bad or anything. It also depends on the season of course. Warm sake is traditionally served in the winter (obviously!). The thinking is heating sake runs the risk of killing the aroma and the flavor, replacing it with a dry, bitter aftertaste.

So if you are ordering a fairly expensive bottle of sake make sure they serve it cold

Non-alcoholic talk for once...

I'm not a big coffee drinker so in the morning over breakfast I recently opted for a Japanese green tea latte @ Urth Caffe...dayem it's so good I think I maybe getting addicted.

^ Green Tea Latte.... Hmm.

I am a fan of sangria! We went to a nice Spanish restaurant the other night and I had some.



It contains red wine and some fruit juice.
_________________

bmwracer wrote:

^ Green Tea Latte.... Hmm.

I've been thinking about it all day.