Mixologists with an interest in the exotic may want to sign up for the third annual Great Honkaku Shochu & Awamori Contest, taking place on 18th March, preceded by an expert-led tasting on 12th February.
The competition is held by the UK Bartenders’ Guild in partnership with the Japanese Sake & Shochu Makers Association, and is intended to drive awareness of ‘the versatility and taste these unique spirits can provide’.
The overall winner, to be decided at a final in London after online cocktail recipe entries are whittled down, will win a trip to Japan, allowing them to hone their skills with these spirits with experts from the Japanese distilling industry.
This year’s event focuses again on the Honkaku Shochu and Awamori, which are a characteristic pair of Japanese spirits produced with a microorganism called koji-kin, a type of mould indigenous to Japan.
Last year’s competition was won by Matteo Basso, who develops his drinks at The Malt Lounge & Bar at The Prince Akatoki in London. As with last year, the entrants will be free to impart their own style on the competition, utilising their talents and knowledge to enhance and develop on the profile of the spirits and their flavours.
Ahead of the competition, the tasting session will be led by competition judge Christopher Pellegrini, founder of Honkaku Spirits, who honed his skills as a brewer at Otter Creek Brewing Company in Middlebury, Vermont, before becoming a full-time professor at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan.
He launched Honkaku Spirits in March 2020, with the mission of bringing ‘intensely artisanal’ Japanese spirits to American consumers, especially koji-based spirits like shochu, awamori, and koji whiskey.
Anyone that signs up to the tasting led seminar session will also be sent a link to a seminar from leading Shochu & Awamori expert Don Lee, which will consist of an in-depth look into the two spirits and how to get the most out of them.
President at UKBG, Claudia Carrozzi, said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with the Japanese Sake and Shochu Makers Association for another year.
“Following the great success of our past collaborations, we are eager to continue promoting the exceptional spirits of Japan. Our industry thrives on innovation and creativity, and we hope to generate more interest in Sake and Sochu across the UK.”
Competition entry is open to anyone, and those looking to enter the competition can register to receive a free sample pack. Entrants must register and attend the Honkaku Shochu and Awamori masterclass in order to enter the competition.
For more information on the competition and to sign up, click here.
