Sugidama Sake Podcast

Oliver Hilton-Johnson is a Sake Specialist and Director of Tengu Sake, a sake imports, wholesale & retail company. Tengu Sake supplies quality Japanese sake and spirits to some of the UK’s finest restaurants and bars and is the recipient of the International Wine Challenge’s ‘Sake Merchant of the Year’ award 2016 - 2019. In November 2019 Oliver was named as one of the ‘Future 50’ drinks industry professionals to watch. Oliver has got a fascinating story about how he went from hating sake to falling in love with it and setting up one of the best and innovative sake importers in the UK.

I know Oliver from the Kikisakeshi Sake Specialist Course I took a few years ago where Satomi, whom I interviewed last time, and he were teaching us the art of sake. But you might have met him at one of many sake events in London before the current pandemic. So Oliver is a great guy and in the interview, he is talking about a lot very interesting stuff:  how to drink sake, how to choose it and also provides very good sake tips.

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:

• Oliver's sake story
• Sip or shot? 
• Hot or cold?
• What food is great with sake?
• How to deal with the complex sake terminology
• How to buy sake with confidence
• How to store sake properly
• Sake tips
• Sake of the episode: Tatenokawa Phoenix Junmai Daiginjo

Kampai!
Sake mentioned:
Tatenokawa Phoenix Junmai Daiginjo
Tatenokawa Sake Brewery
Tengu Sake

Tengu Sake Main Website

Music used:
Wirklich Wichtig (CB 27) by Checkie Brown https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Checkie_Brown_1005/hey/Wirklich_Wichtig_CB_27

Just Arround the World (Kielokaz ID 362) by KieLoKaz
 https://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoKaz/Free_Ganymed/Just_Arround_the_World_Kielokaz_ID_362

Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Vocal: Svetlana

The second part of the exciting two-parter about how sake is made. I never stop admiring the skill and craftmanship of sake brewers. They manage to create a beautiful drink from rice and water. In this episode we continue exploring the sake brewing process learning about sandan jikomi, multiple parallel fermentation, pressing and post-production. 

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:

• Recap from the previous episode
• Sandan Jikomi
• Multiple Parallel Fermentation
• Why open tanks?
• Sake pressing
• Preparing sake for bottling (post-production)
• Sake of the episode: London Kanpai Taru Barrel-Aged Junmai

Kampai!
Sake mentioned:
Kanpai Taru Barrel-Aged Junmai
Kanpai London
London Sake

Episode Dictionary
Moto/Shubo (酛/酒母) - yeast starter
Sandan Jikomi (三段仕込) - a three-stage mixing process of sake fermentation mash
Moromi (醪) - sake fermentation mash
Hatsuzoe/soe (初添/添) - Day 1 of Sandan Jikomi
Odori (踊り) - Day 2 of Sandan Jikomi (resting day)
Nakazoe/naka (仲添/仲) - Day 3 of Sandan Jikomi
Tomezoe/Tome (留添/留) - Day 4 of Sandan Jikomi
Fune (槽) - sake press
Arabashiri (荒走り) - rough run
Nakadori/Nakagumi (中取り/中汲み) - mid run in sake pressing
Seme (責め) - the final run in sake pressing
Fukuro-tsuri (袋吊り) -  hanging cotton bags
Shizuku-zake (雫酒) - drip sake
Tobingakoi (斗瓶囲い) - a special 18-litre sake bottle
Sake kasu (酒粕) - sake lees, a by-product of sake pressing
Oribiki (おり) - rice sediment
Roka ( ろ過) - filtering
Chozo (貯蔵) - sake maturation
Chougu (調合) - blending
Warimizu - (割水) - diluting sake with water

Music used:

Wirklich Wichtig (CB 27) by Checkie Brown https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Checkie_Brown_1005/hey/Wirklich_Wichtig_CB_27

Just Arround the World (Kielokaz ID 362) by KieLoKaz
 https://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoKaz/Free_Ganymed/Just_Arround_the_World_Kielokaz_ID_362

Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Vocal: Svetlana 

Satomi Dosseur is a sake professional and educator, a founder of Enshu Limited, which runs a  great and very interesting sake specialist course (Kikisake-shi) in London, which I took a few years ago. Satomi can talk hours about sake and is very good at encouraging people to try it and enjoy.

Born and raised in Tokyo, Satomi grew up with a deep understanding and love of Japan’s exceptional culture. She was taught by her Japanese parents to appreciate and love the diverse uniqueness of Japan’s way of life.

With certification from the SSI, and completion of the Japan Sake Brewers Association’s technical Sake making course, Satomi continues to be recognised as a leading Kikisake-shi and Shochu Kikisake-shi professional.

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:

• How to order sake
• Sake and food
• Sake as digestive
• Sake tips
• Sake of the episode: Nishinoseki Cube Honjozo Genshu

Kampai!
Sake mentioned:
Nishinoseki Cube Honjozo Genshu
Kayashima Sake Brewery
London Sake

Enshu Limited (Kikisake-shi)

Music used:
Wirklich Wichtig (CB 27) by Checkie Brown https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Checkie_Brown_1005/hey/Wirklich_Wichtig_CB_27

Just Arround the World (Kielokaz ID 362) by KieLoKaz
 https://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoKaz/Free_Ganymed/Just_Arround_the_World_Kielokaz_ID_362

Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Vocal: Svetlana 

Great news! 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.

There is something magical in sake brewing. Sake is a process-driven drink compared to wine which is driven but its main ingredient, grapes. While ingredients play a very important role in sake brewing, 80% of sake quality still comes from the skill of the brewer and only 20% from the ingredients used.

Episode's Content:

• Main stages of sake brewing
• The choices made before brewing
• Rice preparation
• Making rice koji
• Sake starter: shubo or moto
• Sake of the episode: Narutotai Ginjo Nama Genshu

Kampai!
Sake mentioned:
Narutotai Ginjo Nama Genshu
Honke Matsuura Brewery
London Sake

Kanpai London Brewery

Article about sake yeast

Sake Yeast from Origin Sake

Music used:
Wirklich Wichtig (CB 27) by Checkie Brown https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Checkie_Brown_1005/hey/Wirklich_Wichtig_CB_27

Just Arround the World (Kielokaz ID 362) by KieLoKaz
 https://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoKaz/Free_Ganymed/Just_Arround_the_World_Kielokaz_ID_362

Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Vocal: Svetlana

A lot of people often ask me why sake. They are usually quite intrigued. I’m not Japanese (they don’t know that sake in Japan is not that popular these days), I’ve never lived in Japan (only visited two times as a tourist), my wife is not Japanese (again, another thing that could link me to the drink, don’t know why).

I wouldn’t say that I fell in love with sake at the first sight or shall I say sip. For a long time, my drink of choice was wine or beer. I love German Riesling, I enjoyed French and Italian wines when we were going on holiday there. I like beer. Before my I breakthrough with sake a few years ago, I had tried sake a couple of times and it was ok but nothing to write home about. Then one day I’ve got an email from a good friend of mine, who is also fascinated by Japan, inviting me to a sake tasting.

Episode's Content:

• How I learnt about sake and why I love it
• People of sake
• The history behind every brewery
• Bottles and labels
• Sake in Japanese culture and art
• Sake and culinary
• Social drink: pouring for each other
• Sake of the episode: Dassai

Kampai!
Sake mentioned:
Dassai 45
Dassai 39
Dassai 23
Dassai Beyond
Asahi Shuzo
Sugidama Blog

Music used:
Wirklich Wichtig (CB 27) by Checkie Brown https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Checkie_Brown_1005/hey/Wirklich_Wichtig_CB_27

Just Arround the World (Kielokaz ID 362) by KieLoKaz
 https://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoKaz/Free_Ganymed/Just_Arround_the_World_Kielokaz_ID_362

Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Vocal: Svetlana

The process of making sake is really exciting! There are several sake brewing methods: three main ones, kimoto, yamahai and sokujo (or sokujo-moto) and another one, bodaimoto, which is even older but has been rediscovered only recently. Sake taste profile depends to a certain extent on the method used to make it. So if you know what each method means, you can make a better choice of sake.

All the methods differ by the way, the starter is created. In kimoto, the starter is churned for hours with special poles to turn it into a mush. Yamahai was invented after the kimoto and got rid of this churning. While sokujo-moto slashed the production process by two whole weeks and produced clearer and more refined sake. Bodaimoto, is a very ancient sake brewing method invented by Nara monks around the 12-14th century and was superseded by kimoto.

Episode's Content:

• What is shubo (moto)?
• Acidic environment
• Kimoto
• Yamahai
• Sokujo-moto
• Bodaimoto and its rediscovery
• How sake made with different methods taste
• Sake of the episode: Gozenshu 1859 Prototype Junmai Muroka Nama Genshu Nakadori Bodaimoto

Kampai!

Sake mentioned:
Gozenshu 1859 Prototype
Tengu Sake
Sugidama Blog

Tengu Sake: A Look at Bodaimoto Starters

Music used:
Wirklich Wichtig (CB 27) by Checkie Brown https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Checkie_Brown_1005/hey/Wirklich_Wichtig_CB_27

Just Arround the World (Kielokaz ID 362) by KieLoKaz
 https://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoKaz/Free_Ganymed/Just_Arround_the_World_Kielokaz_ID_362

Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Vocal: Svetlana

While sake has a milder taste compared to wine, it's diversity is astounding. You not only have sake grades or styles which have their own flavour profiles but also sake types, which add another dimension to the sake universe. Nigori, namazake, koshu, all these words mean variations in brewing technics adding unique characteristics to sake. If you know what these names mean, you can better choose sake for your meal or an occasion. The long names of sake, which sounded like spells from old fairy tales,  will suddenly acquire meaning: try  Tokubetsu Junmai Muroka Nama or Nigori Junmai Genshu for example and see if you can decipher them after listening to this episode.

Episode's Content:

• Nigori
• Muroka
• Namazake
• Genshu
• Taruzake
• Koshu
• Sparkling sake
• Sake of the Episode: “Arabashiri” First Run Nama Ginjo

Kampai!

Sake mentioned:
Tamagawa Yamahai Junmai Muroka Nama Genshu “Red Label”
World Sake Imports UK
VSF Wine
Sorakami
Arabashiri First Run Junmai Ginjo Nama Genshu
Miyasaka Brewery
World Sake Imports UK
The Whisky Exchange
Bottle Apostol

Music used:
Wirklich Wichtig (CB 27) by Checkie Brown https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Checkie_Brown_1005/hey/Wirklich_Wichtig_CB_27

Just Arround the World (Kielokaz ID 362) by KieLoKaz
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoKaz/Free_Ganymed/Just_Arround_the_World_Kielokaz_ID_362

Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Junmai, honjozo, ginjo, daiginjo... What do all these strange words mean? Do we have to know them to enjoy sake?  It will definitely help you to identify the sake types you like, to understand a difference between these incomprehensible sake bottles in a shop or exotic sake names on a wine-list, to decide what sake you should choose for a particular meal, or whether you need to pop the bottle in the fridge before drinking or it’s fine as it is and so on.
So let me be your guide in this vast and strange sake universe and you can decide for yourself whether you want to remember all this sake mumbo jumbo or just go easy and enjoy the drink.

Episode's Content:

• Variety of Sake
• History of sake classification
• Current sake classification criteria
• Futsushu
• Why do brewers add distilled alcohol?
• Premium/Special designation sake
• Premium sake is not always better
• Sake of the Episode: Dewazakura Oka Ginjo

Kampai!

Sake mentioned in the episode:
Dewazakura Oka Ginjo
Dewazakura Brewery
World Sake Imports UK
The Whisky Exchange
Sorakami

Sugidama Podcast on Podchaser - please review if you don't use Apple Podcasts

Music used:
Wirklich Wichtig (CB 27) by Checkie Brown https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Checkie_Brown_1005/hey/Wirklich_Wichtig_CB_27

Just Arround the World (Kielokaz ID 362) by KieLoKaz
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoKaz/Free_Ganymed/Just_Arround_the_World_Kielokaz_ID_362

Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Welcome to the first episode of Sugidama Podcast, the podcast about Japanese sake, the amazing drink, I am madly in love with, profoundly fascinated by and eager to tell you about!

Sake is a mysterious drink for the Western audience. Many heard but only a few have tried. As any mysterious object, it’s surrounded by myths and legends. Some of them are completely false and others have some truth in them. Before I started my sake journey I also had many misconceptions about it. So I would like to share some of the most common myths and bust them here. Or see if there is any truth in them.

In Japanese “sugidama” means a ball made of cedar twigs and it’s a symbol of a sake brewery. In old times a sugidama was usually hung in front of the brewery at the beginning of the brewing season and the locals knew that when it turned brown, the sake was ready and they could head for the brewery for a nice drink. So every time you listen to my podcast or read my blog, why not to have a sip of sake!

Episode Contents:

• Sake: what's in the name: sake vs. nihonshu
• Origin of sake
• Myth 01: Sake is a spirit
• Myth 02: Sake is rice wine
• Myth 03: Sake is always drunk warm
• Myth 04: Sake is good only with Japanese food
• Myth 05: Premium sake is always better
• Sake of the Episode: Keigetsu Nigori Junmai Daiginjo

Sake mentioned in the episode:
Keigetsu Nigori Junmai Daiginjo
Keigetsu Tosa Brewing Company (in Japanese)
Hedonism Wines

Sugidama Podcast on Podchaser - please review if you don't use Apple Podcasts

Music used:
Wirklich Wichtig (CB 27) by Checkie Brown https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Checkie_Brown_1005/hey/Wirklich_Wichtig_CB_27

Just Arround the World (Kielokaz ID 362) by KieLoKaz
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoKaz/Free_Ganymed/Just_Arround_the_World_Kielokaz_ID_362

Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/