For the Japanese, "sake" is a generic term covering all alcoholic beverages, the first of them being "Japanese sake," which the Japanese call "nihonshu" or, administratively, "seishu" (respectively, Japanese alcohol or clear alcohol). Sake, as we conceive of it here, is therefore "nihonshu," a traditional Japanese alcoholic beverage, usually translucent, colorless and containing 15-17% alcohol, resulting from the fermentation of rice. It should not be confused with baijiu or meikueilu, distilled 40% alcohols presented in shooter glasses with suggestive drawings in many Asian restaurants, or with shochu, a (great) Japanese distilled spirit. Easy-to-read yet scrupulously precise, this book is the fruit of more than 6 years of research, a season of sake-making in Japan and countless exchanges with industry professionals. It meticulously unveils all the mysteries of sake. This book is intended for anyone who wishes to understand sake, its ingredients and its production method, whether they be neophytes, amateurs or professionals. Four themes are covered: raw materials, fermentation, fining and tasting. "An extremely detailed but approachable bible [of sake]" SommelierS International "The reference book on Japanese sake" Mikael Rodriguez, Head Sommelier, La Mamounia Palace, Morocco "A dense, rich and complete book that allow you to better understand and become familiar with Japanese sake." Philippe Faure-Brac, best sommelier of the world, RIO 1992 "One of the best explanatory book for Sake in the world." Toru Akita, Toji "5 stars, A bible to always keep by your side, one of the best books on the subject. Treated with scientific knowledge and in a structured way, I warmly recommend!" Adrien Nonameuh Facebook rating "This book is above and beyond what I hoped to find.The informations provided and the level of detail is fantastic." Paolo Tucci, Reader

With today’s sake drinkers increasingly informed and adventurous, now is the time for a truly expert guide to take you deeper into appreciation of this complex but delightful Japanese beverage, brewed from rice and enjoyed both warm or chilled. And what better mentor than John Gauntner, the “Sake Guy” and the world’s leading non-Japanese sake educator and evangelist? Here in over two dozen no-holds-barred essays, John reveals “the truth about sake” from a connected insider’s perspective. No other book or website presents such a knowledgeable, practical, and concise yet complete guide to sake idiosyncrasies, misperceptions, and controversies. Sake Confidential is the perfect FAQ for beginners, experts, and sommeliers. Indexed for easy reference with suggested brands and label photos. Includes: Sake Secrets: junmai vs. non-junmai, namazake, aging, dry vs. sweet, ginjo, warm vs. chilled, nigori, water, yeast, rice, regionality How the Industry Really Works: pricing, contests, distribution, glassware, milling, food pairing The Brewer’s Art Revealed: koji-making, brewers’ guilds, grading John Gauntner John Gauntner is the only non-Japanese certified Master of Sake Tasting. A resident of Japan since 1988, he has worked in the sake industry promoting and educating since 1994. Each year he conducts Sake Professional Courses for sake professionals and aficionados, and several of his students have gone on to open thriving sake shops, breweries, and izakaya in the United States.

**2020 James Beard Award Nominee** **2020 Gourmand Cookbook Award Winner for Japan in Spirits Books** Drink your way through Japan (even from home) with the help of this book! Japan is home to some of the world's most interesting alcoholic beverages--from traditional Sake and Shochu to Japanese whisky, beer, wine and cocktails that are winning global acclaim and awards. In this comprehensive survey of Japanese drinks, experts Stephen Lyman and Chris Bunting cover all the main types of beverages found in Japanese bars and restaurants, as well as supermarkets and liquor stores around the world. The book has chapters on Sake, Shochu, whisky, wine, beer, Awamori (a moonshine-like liquor from Okinawa), Umeshu plum wine and other fruit wines. There is also a fascinating chapter on modern Japanese-style cocktails--complete with recipes so you can get the authentic experience, including: Sour Plum Cordial Sakura Martini Improved Shochu Cocktail Far East Side Cocktail Thorough descriptions of the varieties of each beverage are given along with the history, production methods, current trends and how to drink them. Detailed bar and buyer's guides at the back of the book list specialist establishments where readers can go to enjoy and purchase the drinks, both in Japan and cities around the world, including London, Paris, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington DC, Shanghai and more! This is an indispensable book for anyone interested in brewing, distilling, new cocktails or Japanese culture, travel and cuisine. Kampai! Cheers!

"For hundreds of years, shochu and awamori have dwelled near the center of Japan's vaunted culinary traditions. Despite outselling most other alcoholic beverages in Japan, however, these premium distilled treats have largely remained hidden from the rest of the world. But that is beginning to change. The Shochu Handbook is the first major reference published on the subject in a language other than Japanese and covers everything from how distilled beverages arrived in Japan to a step-by-step overview of the distilling process. There are also detailed chapters devoted to deciphering bottle labels, food pairing, serving styles, and speaking the language of these drinks. Packed with information, The Shochu Handbook also includes an extensive list of recommended bottles, a chapter devoted to cocktail and homemade liqueur recipes, and Japanese-English language assistance for everything from ordering shochu in a bar to telling the difference between single-distilled and multiple-distilled drinks."--Amazon.com.

The Sake Handbook is the foremost guide to the history, brewing, and distinctive flavors of sake. Just what are jizake, namazake and ginjoshu? The Sake Handbook answers all these questions and many more about sake wine, and will help you enjoy Japan's national beverage in style. Author John Gauntner is recognized as the world's leading non-Japanese sake expert. A longtime Japan resident, he is well known among sake brewers and others within the sake industry. He wrote the Nihonshu Column in the Japan Times for many years before writing a weekly column on sake in Japanese for the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan's and the world's most widely distributed Japanese newspaper. In 2006, John received the Sake Samurai award. He has published five books on sake including Sake Confidential This sake book features: This new edition has been completely revised and updated Gives you all the information you need in an handy, portable format Offers a detailed explanation of the sake brewing process Reviews over a hundred sake brands, with illustrations of their labels for easy identification Profiles over 50 Japanese izakaya or pub-style restaurants in Tokyo and the surrounding environs Lists specialty shops in Japan where you can purchase hard-to-find Japanese wine brands Lists specialty retailers in the United States and elsewhere

Japanese cuisine.

**2021 Gourmand Cookbook Award Winner for Japan in Spirits and Other Drinks** The Japanese Sake Bible is the ultimate book about Japan's national drink--from its history, culture and production methods to how to choose the best sake and recommended food pairings. Author Brian Ashcraft--the author of the popular guide Japanese Whisky--has put together lively commentaries based on dozens of interviews with master brewers and sake experts across Japan. His fascinating stories are accompanied by over 300 full-color photographs, maps and drawings. A unique feature of this book is that it includes reviews, tasting notes, scores and a buying guide for over 100 of the leading sake brands, written by respected Japanese sake expert Takashi Eguchi. These include all the sakes most commonly found outside Japan. Each sake has a photo of the label, tasting notes, a score and recommended food pairings. Information on the leading brewers is provided, and the sakes are grouped by flavor profile. Japanese sake is brewed worldwide today and is winning over many converts. A foreword by sake connoisseur and world-renowned DJ Richie Hawtin addresses the spread in global popularity and the shared mission of making this specialty beverage as accessible as possible. With the help of this book you'll soon become an expert in selecting, serving and enjoying Japan's favorite drink.

How did an obscure tribal sport from precolonial Hawaii—one that was nearly eliminated by Christian missionaries—jump oceans to California and Australia? And how did it become such a worldwide passion, even in places where the surf may be excellent but the society is highly conservative or superstitious about the sea? In Sweetness and Blood—a brilliantly written travel adventure—journalist (and surfer) Michael Scott Moore visits unlikely surfing destinations—Israel and the Gaza Strip, West Africa, Great Britain, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Cuba, and Morocco—to find out. Whether he is connecting eccentric surf legend Doc Paskowitz to the Arab-Israeli conflict, trying to deconstruct the terrorist bombing in a nightclub in Bali, or being chased by the German police while surfing a river break in Berlin, Moore masterfully weaves together politics, culture, history, and surfing to create a book like no other.

Sensory evaluation methods are extensively used in the wine, beer and distilled spirits industries for product development and quality control, while consumer research methods also offer useful insights as the product is being developed. This book introduces sensory evaluation and consumer research methods and provides a detailed analysis of their applications to a variety of different alcoholic beverages.Chapters in part one look at the principles of sensory evaluation and how these can be applied to alcoholic beverages, covering topics such as shelf life evaluation and gas chromatography – olfactometry. Part two concentrates on fermented beverages such as beer and wine, while distilled products including brandies, whiskies and many others are discussed in part three. Finally, part four examines how consumer research methods can be employed in product development in the alcoholic beverage industry.With its distinguished editor and international team of contributors, Alcoholic beverages is an invaluable reference for those in the brewing, winemaking and distilling industries responsible for product development and quality control, as well as for consultants in sensory and consumer science and academic researchers in the field. - Comprehensively analyses the application of sensory evaluation and consumer research methods in the alcoholic beverage industry - Considers shelf life evaluation, product development and gas chromatography - Chapters examine beer, wine, and distilled products, and the application of consumer research in their production

With more than 1,200 useful phrases and expressions and over 2,300 words covering just about any situation a traveler is likely to encounter, Berlitz Phrase Books remain the unparalleled market leader. Maps. Index.