The Tasting Sessions

Akashi Sake Brewery is a family owned and run boutique sake producer with history of over 140 years.

The brewery is based in Akashi City, a famous fishing town on the coast of Seto Inland Sea. This region has a rich source of quality spring water and the fertile land to grow highest grade rice grains – ideal for sake making.

Akashi Sake Brewery only uses these locally sourced premium ingredients and carefully hand-craft their sake. Akashi-Tai sakes do not contain any artificial flavouring or preservatives. They are very pure and authentic Japanese sake.

Where to buy
· www.theDrinkShop.com – for all the range.
· Japan Centre Piccadilly – Tokiwa, Junmai Daiginjo, Daiginjo and Honjozo. Kaga Umesha also here.
· Selfridges – Tokiwa
· Harrods – Tokiwa
· Gerry’s (Old Compton Street) – Tokiwa and Honjozo Genshu
· Soho Wine (Percy Street) – Honjozo

For outlets outside London and trade enquiry please contact Malcolm Cowen Ltd.
020-8965-1937 / info@cowen.co.uk

Wakana’s recommendation
For sake beginners
Try daiginjo or junmai daiginjo. Many western audience seem to find it somewhat familiar to their palate.

Regular sake fans
Honjozo is always good to keep in your fridge. Tasty at any temperature but warm one is particularly nice for the chilly winter nights.

Sake geeks
Genmai Aged Sake. Very unique and unconventional sake. Limited edition.

For cocktails
Honjozo genshu and Tokiwa Shochu. Why not add a Japanese twist to your drinks? For original Akashi-Tai cocktail recipes contact Wakana at trade@akashi-tai.com.

For everybody
Shiraume Umeshu. Pure bliss. Must try.

Angella and I love connecting with people who are passionate about wine, and friends in the industry make for a very good Tasting Sessions event. Corney & Barrow and Bibendum are the guys bringing it to you on 28 October.

We love that Corney & Barrow offer online wine advice daily – what a fantastic form of tech support. With fine wines to blow your mind and some decent heritage, these are the guys that made sure we had Mâcon-Verzé, Domaines Leflaive, 2006 in our biodynamic wine flight.

I think Angella has a secret crush on Nicolas Joly – she has been carrying around his book for the last month. But it was the team at Bibendum that made sure Savennieres Les Vieux Clos Nicolas Joly 2004 was on the list for our Biodynamic: Wine or moonshine? Tasting Session.

We’ll make your Tuesday night an experience, but we can’t lay claim to making any of the fabulous food and wine produce that will be hitting your finely tuned palates.

Luckily, we know a lot of interesting characters who live and breath the stuff. We are putting together a list and will be posting it here. There will be some big names (hey, who doesn’t love a Haute-Medoc paired with a sliver of Wagyu beef). But look out for the new, emerging and just plain unusual.

We will be showcasing this produce at The Tasting Sessions events and hook you up with the distributors so you can knock the socks off your friends at the next dinner party.

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