31 episodes
Sake Deep Dive Sake Deep Dive
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- Education
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5.0 • 10 Ratings
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A sake podcast for the beyond beginner!
Sake brewer Andrew Russell and sake writer/translator Jim Rion dive deep into the history and culture around Japan's national drink to bring context and insight, for when an introduction just won't cut it.
Join us every month for a tokkuri full of unfiltered sake knowledge!
Our theme song is from:
Lotus Lane by The Loyalist - Preconceived Notions https://soundcloud.com/preconceived-n...
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lotus-lane
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/1YVHRMVwwHg
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Kenbishi - A Sake for the Ages
Andrew and Jim take their first ever deep dive into a single brewery. Kenbishi is about as classic as it gets, and with Andrew’s first-hand experience, the talk gets deep indeed. Come see how this truly historic brand maintains its core flavor through the changing currents of history and fad!
Vocabulary from this episode:
Dakidaru - A small tank that is filled with hot or cold water to help control temperature in the brewing mash. Kenbishi makes their own out of wood.
Futakoji - A style of koji making in which the batch is split into small wooden boxes, called futa, for temperature control.
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/SakeDeepDive
Also, check out Andy’s new sake tours at: https://www.originsaketours.com/
And buy Jim’s book, Discovering Yamaguchi Sake wherever you order your books (print and ebook available)!
Our theme music is from
Lotus Lane by The Loyalist - Preconceived Notions Available at https://soundcloud.com/preconceived-notions
Under a Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lotus-lane
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/1YVHRMVwwHg -
Kijoshu - We Put Sake in Your Sake
This time, Andy and Jim put on airs and address the noblest of sake styles: kijoshu, a modern brew made to take on the snootiest of events. We discuss everything from the supposed mythical origins of the process to the ethics of trademarking names for shared styles. No Edo period brewing manuals here, just pure seventies funk.
Vocabulary from this episode
Engishiki - An ancient record of laws and customs from the noble court dating to around 927 CE.
Kijoshu -A style of sake made using finished sake instead of one part of the brewing water in the final brewing stage. Actually a trademarked name.
Saijoshikomi - One of several alternate names for sake made in the kijoshu style .
Shiori sake - An ancient brewing method in which a batch of sake is “refermented” with a fresh addition of rice and koji.
Recommended Sake
Andy - Kokuryu Kijoshu
Jim - Nakashimaya Kijoshu
Our theme music is from
Lotus Lane by The Loyalist - Preconceived Notions Available at https://soundcloud.com/preconceived-notions
Under a Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lotus-lane
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/1YVHRMVwwHg -
Blending Sake - Unmixing Truth from Fiction
Finally, the European masters have introduced the world of sake to the power of blending, something that no one in sake’s centuries of history ever thought of before. Or, not. Jim and Andy stir things up with a talk about the real, and very long, history of blending sake in all its many shapes and forms.
Vocabulary from this episode
Arabashiri - The initial “rough run” of sake from a pressing.
Nakatori - The middle, and often considered best, run of a pressing of sake.
Seme - The final cut, sometimes considered the “dregs” or tailings of a pressing of sake.
Chogo - The Japanese word for blending, as in sake.
Recommended Sake
Andy - Kuromatsu Kenbishi
Jim - Miyoshi Hana
Our theme music is from
Lotus Lane by The Loyalist - Preconceived Notions Available at https://soundcloud.com/preconceived-notions
Under a Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lotus-lane
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/1YVHRMVwwHg -
Nara - The Origin of Sake… Maybe?
Andy and Jim explore the history of Nara as an early center for sake development and innovation. From rice polishing to branding, there's a solid argument that this is where sake as a consumer good was born.
Vocabulary from this episode:
Katahaku - Sake that used polished rice for only the mashing rice.
Morohaku - Sake brewed with polished rice in both Koji and kakemai
Recommended Sake
Andy - Yucho Shuzo Takacho Junmai Bodaimoto
Jim - Kubo Honke Nemuryu Kimoto Junmai Jukusei
Our theme music is from
Lotus Lane by The Loyalist - Preconceived Notions Available at https://soundcloud.com/preconceived-notions
Under a Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lotus-lane
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/1YVHRMVwwHg -
Sake Brewing Tanks - Kame, Kioke, and Horo
Your humble hosts look over developments in the types of tanks used through history. It's a great chance to reflect on the surprising links between material advancements, brewing technology, and market demands.
Vocabulary from this episode
Horo - Enamel coating used on metal tanks
Kame - A general term for large ceramic jars/tanks used for storing or fermenting
Kioke - Wooden tanks
Taru - A wooden cask or keg used for storing and transporting sake
Recommended Sake
Andy - Kikumasamune Taruzake
Jim - Aramasa Cosmos
Our theme music is from
Lotus Lane by The Loyalist - Preconceived Notions Available at https://soundcloud.com/preconceived-notions
Under a Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lotus-lane
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/1YVHRMVwwHg -
Junmai - Pure (Non)Sense
Time at last for Andy and Jim to tackle the beast that is the junmai ideology. This time the gents look at just how junmai became such a hot topic, what it really means for the brewing industry, and the figures behind its postwar “revival,” if that’s what it really is.
Vocabulary from this episode
Aruten - Brewer’s alcohol added. Short for arukoru tenka
Komedake no osake - sake made from only rice/rice koji/yeast.
Mutenka - Nothing added
Recommended Sake
Andy - Gokyo Kiokezukuri Junmai
Jim - Ryujinmaru Junmai Nama Genshu
Our theme music is from
Lotus Lane by The Loyalist - Preconceived Notions Available at https://soundcloud.com/preconceived-notions
Under a Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lotus-lane
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/1YVHRMVwwHg
Customer Reviews
Deep Dive Indeed!
This excellent podcast is tailor made for those of us who enjoy a deeper exploration into a wide variety of sake topics. It goes into fantastic detail about the history, language, and production methods related to Nihonshu. I never fail to learn a lot of new and interesting things about my favorite drink from Jim and Andy. Congratulations and keep up the good work, guys!
Into the Moromi
I really enjoyed this episode on futsushu, which often gets glossed over in saké courses despite it being 65% or more of the saké market. A great detailed discussion between two of my favorite saké experts about futsushu history and regulations plus the technical aspects of how it is made. I look forward to the next episodes and the other saké topics that you will dive into.
Two passionate sake experts
Delivers exactly what it promises; an informative, articulate and well researched deep dive into the world of Sake.