INTRO
In episode 55 of the Japan Distilled podcast, Stephen & Christopher try to build a $200 USD home bar full of delicious koji spirits.
CREDITS
Theme Song: Begin Anywhere by Tomoko Miyata (http://tomokomiyata.net/)
Mixing and Editing: Rich Pav (https://www.uncannyrobotpodcast.com/)
HOSTS
CHRISTOPHER PELLEGRINI Vermont born and bred, long-time Tokyo resident and author of The Shochu Handbook, Christopher learned about delicious fermentations as a beer brewer at Otter Creek (Middlebury, VT). He now spends most of his waking hours convincing strangers that shochu and awamori are unlike anything they’ve ever tried before.
STEPHEN LYMAN discovered Japan’s indigenous spirits at an izakaya in New York City. He was so enthralled that he now lives in Japan and works in a tiny craft shochu distillery every autumn. His first book, The Complete Guide to Japanese Drinks, was nominated for a 2020 James Beard Award.
Stephen and Christopher have massive home bars and are happy to help you get started on your journey.
If you have any comments or questions about this episode, please reach out to Stephen or Christopher via Twitter. We would love to hear from you.
SHOW NOTES
The Challenge
Inspired by the $150 home bar challenge Noah Rothbaum and David Wonderich recently undertook on the Fix me a Drink podcast, Stephen challenged Christopher to build a $200 koji spirits home bar from the following websites (out of stock products not allowed – some may have gone out of stock since we recorded).
For $200 each both Stephen & Christopher needed to build a 6 bottle koji spirits home bar. The assumption is that the listener is starting from scratch. US pricing was used to standardize for an overseas market so your mileage may vary.
Stephen’s Home Bar
Stephen went with a traditional Japanese style home bar, trying to hit the major shochu sub-categories along with Okinawan Awamori.
Ryukyu Ohcho Awamori ($34 at UmamiMart) – a popular awamori from Miyako Island in Okinawa.
Kawabe Kuma Shochu ($32 at mmsake.com) – vacuum distilled rice shochu made with sake yeast.
Ark Jakuunbaku ($39 at UmamiMart) – atmospheric 100% barley shochu that’s only very lightly filtered.
Tojii Junpei Sweet Potato Shochu ($42 at UmamiMart) – handmade sweet potato shochu in the US!
Jougo Kokuto Sugar Shochu ($27 at Astor) – a tropical fruit bomb.
Beniotome Sesame Shochu ($19 at UmamiMart) – incredible value for the only sesame shochu made in Japan.
TOTAL: $193
Christopher’s Home Bar
Chrisotopher went in a very different direction, thinking more about the home bartender.
Jougo Kokuto Sugar Shochu ($27 at Astor) – see above.
Beniotome Sesame Shochu ($19 at UmamiMart) – see above.
Yanagita Aokage Barley Shochu ($33 at UmamiMart) – not roasted, but smells like it. The engineer turned toji uses directional steaming to get the carmelized notes in this beautiful shochu.
Yamaneko Sweet Potato Shochu ($40 at UmamiMart) – an absolute gem from one of our favorite distilleries.
Masahiro Okinawa Gin ($38 at UmamiMart) – awamori based gin from Okinawa using local botanicals.
Okakura Bermutto ($36 at UmamiMart) – Japan’s first vermouth is actually based off of rice shochu.
TOTAL: $193
Stephen’s Budget Home Bar
Kumejima’s Kumesen Awamori ($24 at Astor) – extreme value.
Hakutake Zenkoji Rice Shochu ($23 on mmsake.com) – pairs with Popeye’s fried chicken! 100% koji rice shochu.
Chingu Black Barley Shochu ($34 at mmsake.com) – handmade barley shochu. Why wasn’t this in our lists above?
Kozuru Kuro Satsuma Shochu ($19 at UmamiMart) – extreme bargain.
Jougo Kokuto Sugar Shochu ($27 at Astor) – see above.
Beniotome Sesame Shochu ($19 at UmamiMart) – see above.
TOTAL: $146
More to Explore
Let us know what home bar you were able to build. We will certainly be updating this episode periodically – probably every year or two.
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