Published: 3/19/2021
This week we discuss a couple of Japanese beverage industry giants. We also have links to articles about female sake brewers, Scottish shochu, LGBQT One Cups, and more.
Nikka Whisky: History & Brands
Nikka Whisky is one of the pioneering producers of Japanese whisky. Masataka Taketsuru, their founder, helped launch the industry and set the tone for its success.
Only Suntory can be said to rival this prestigious company, and much of their early success is due to Taketsuru-san, as well.
In this updates post, we take a long look at Nikka whisky, its brands, and where to find them.
Dassai Sake: Junmai Daiginjo Champions
Fruity and elegant Junmai Daiginjo sake has become one of the most popular styles. No brand is as recognized for it as Dassai (獺祭).
This article will cover this popular brand in detail. You’ll learn about their sake’s style, how it’s made, some of the shade, where to find some of your own, and more.
Japanese Alcohol: the Best of the Internet
Female Sake Brewers and Winemakers in an Industry Dominated by Men
In modern times, brewing has largely been a profession of men. However, a number of rising stars in the sake brewing and winemaking worlds are changing that for the better.
This Forbes article takes a look at a few of them, including Miho Imada of Fukucho and Miho Fujita of Yuho (Mioya Shuzo).
Ozeki Launches LGBQT Rainbow One Cup
Ozeki’s legendary One Cup has a new limited release look, with an LGBTQ-friendly rainbow design. It will be available in the US and Europe in May.
Ozeki is pretty forward-thinking on gender and sexuality issues—more than I realized. Learn more about their progressive practices and the rainbow One Cup from Sora News 24.
Scottish Brew Dog Wins IWSC Shochu Award
Japanese shochu has not taken off globally in a meaningful way yet. So the International Wine and Spirits Competition awarding a Scottish “shochu” an award is a bit of a surprise.
Producer Brew Dog produced this largely unaged spirit dubbed Inugami using galangal, ginger, and Scottish rhubarb.
Get the scoop from the IWSC themselves.
Could Future Japanese Whisky Regulations Hurt Growth?
New voluntary guidelines for Japanese whiskies have made big headlines recently. It’s a significant step in the right direction, but they are not legally required. This post from The Spirits Business has a couple of holes, but it does a great job of exploring this idea and the future of Japanese whisky. It also covers the market in general quite well.
Follow the Japanese Bar on Social Media
Connect with our latest posts, the newest Japanese beverage info, and get exclusive promotional offers. Level-up your Japanese alcohol IQ!