Following our successful sake tasting events in 2021, we are delighted to be partnering with the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association on two special shochu tasting masterclasses, including both lecture and tutored tasting. This is an ideal opportunity for members who would like to know a bit more about the production of shochu, the different styles of the drink, and how to enjoy it at home.

We are delighted to welcome Rie Yoshitake to give an introduction to shochu on behalf of the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association. We will also be joined by two shochu experts to guide us through the different varieties on offer: Satomi Okubo of Enshu Limited and Ryuichiro Okada of Kampai Cocktails. There will be plenty of time to ask questions and share observations over the course of the evening.

Guests will be welcomed with a special shochu-based aperitif followed by a tutored tasting of five different shochu: rice, barley, potato, sesame and awamori, which they will enjoy paired with a selection of tasting menus including sashimi, tempura and lamb cutlets. After learning the qualities of different styles of shochu and how best to drink them, at the end of the session participants will learn how to make your own shochu martini at home. 

All the shochu being served are available for purchase in the UK, so you’ll be able to continue enjoying your favourites even after the tasting has come to a finish!

About the contributors

Satomi Dosseur is a Japanese Sake specialist and Director of Enshu Ltd, providing SSI (Sake Service Institute) International’s Kikisake-shi course as well as sake related events, promotions and seminars. Satomi’s first encounter with sake and shochu was in the Japanese restaurant Kozue in the luxurious 5-star Park Hyatt Tokyo hotel. Satomi is certified by the SSI (Sake Service Institute) as a qualified Kikisake-shi and Shochu Kikisake-shi. She has also completed the Japan Sake Brewers Association’s Sake Brewing Technology Training for Executives in 2011. Satomi has been a judge in the Sake category of the International Wine Challenge since 2009, alongside becoming the head Sake sommelier at Zuma Restaurant. After working 9 years for Zuma, she left to become SSI International’s accredited educator in UK and launch her company, Enshu Ltd.

Ryu Okada is the director of the UK’s leading mobile cocktail bar company, Kampai Cocktails, based in Brighton in the UK. He started his bartending career in London in early 2000 and his passion for the noble art of mixology and balancing the very finest cocktails has taken him to some of the best establishments in the industry such as Bar Detroit, Ronni Scotts and ROKA. Whilst at ROKA he started blending drinks with a shochu base creating many shochu cocktails and has been invited to many Shochu events in London. He also works with the UK government (DEFRA) to help promote British produced alcoholic beverages such as gins, whiskies and sparkling wines, to the Japanese market. He is now keen to be involved in promoting shochu to the UK and European market.

If you have any questions, please call the Japan Society office on 020 3075 1996 or email us at: events@japansociety.org.uk.