Best Shochu Podcasts (2024)

1
The Bartender's Pantry: a chat with Jim Meehan (ep. 78) 54:17

8d ago54:17

54:17

In episode 78 our host Stephen Lyman is joined by co-author of The Bartender's Pantry, bartender, bar owner, introvert, and writer Jim Meehan.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 100: The Uncle Nearest Raise the Bar Mentorship Alliance, with Lucia Creed, Kate Gerwin, and Tiffanie Barriere 27:36

13d ago27:36

27:36

The Uncle Nearest Raise the Bar Mentorship Alliance is a new platform that aims to match veteran bartenders with upcoming talent for the betterment of the bar community. In addition to Lucia Creed, head of trade advocacy for Uncle Nearest, we're joined by two of the program’s inaugural mentors: Kate Gerwin, owner of Happy Accidents in Albuquerque, …

1
The Death of the Soju Label Rule: a chat with Chef turned Lobbyist John McCarthy (ep. 77) 50:53

21d ago50:53

50:53

In episode 77 our host Stephen Lyman sits down to chat with lawyer turned chef turned lobbyist John McCarthy to discuss the end of the soju label rule for NY and CA. Of course, they also talk shochu, hospitality, and plenty else.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 99: The Tequila Ambassador V.O., with Phil Bayly, Jesse Estes, and Mitch Wilson 23:22

17d ago23:22

23:22

With a career that started in the mid-1970s and that continued until his death in 2021, bar owner and Tequila Ocho co-founder Tomas Estes helped change the way we drink, and think about, tequila. The Tequila Ambassador V.O., a fully revised version of his book, was released this spring, and for this episode we talk to the team members who helped br…

1
Designing Your Own Sake with Nathaniel Hoy 51:00

1M ago51:00

51:00

This week Chris Hughes continues our discussion of contract brewing sake with a conversation with Nathaniel Hoy. We started this series with Episode-117: A Sake of Your Own: Contract Brewing Sake: in which Sebastien Lemoine, Chris and Justin Potts shared their opinions and expertise on the trend of sake companies brewing custom sakes for clients. W…

1
Episode 98: Understanding Shochu, with Stephen Lyman and Christopher Pellegrini 28:42

1M ago28:42

28:42

Shochu is Japan’s signature spirit, yet it’s not well known outside the country. As our May/June 2024 cover feature reveals, that’s starting to change, with a wider array of excellent shochu increasingly appearing in American bars. For this episode, we talk about all things shochu with Stephen Lyman and Christopher Pellegrini, the co-hosts of the J…

1
The First Australian Shochu: interview with Hamish Nugent of Reed & Co. Distillery 46:22

1M ago46:22

46:22

In episode 76 our host Stephen Lyman sits down with chef turned distiller Hamish Nugent of Reed & Co. Distillery to talk trial and error, success, and the very first Australian Shochu.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 97: The Mint Julep, with Joe Stinchcomb 19:41

2M ago19:41

19:41

Pick some mint from the garden (or the farmers market) and grab a bottle of bourbon, because peak springtime is the perfect season for mixing up Mint Juleps. With Derby Day just around the corner, we talk Juleps with Joe Stinchcomb, a veteran bartender and an owner of Bar Muse in Oxford, Mississippi. Radio Imbibe is the audio home of Imbibe magazin…

1
Craft Sake Week with Rebekah Wilson Lye 1:00:44

2M ago1:00:44

1:00:44

In this week’s episode of Sake On Air Sebastien Lemoin and Cindy Bissig are talking about the World’s largest sake event, which just so happens to be a project that one of our other regular hosts; Rebekah Wilson Lye is deeply involved in. We are of course talking about Craft Sake Week in Tokyo! Japan’s most prominent sake event, which was founded b…

1
The Iconoclastic Chuko Distillery (ep. 75) 45:35

2M ago45:35

45:35

In episode 75 our hosts at long last profile the iconic and iconoclastic Chuko Distillery in Okinawa.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 96: Romeo’s East Village, with Evan Hawkins 13:38

2M ago13:38

13:38

Romeo’s opened in New York City this past December, promising to bring a new kind of cocktail experience to the East Village. For this episode, we talk to owner Evan Hawkins about the kind of bar he wanted to open with Romeo’s, and about how the bar combines his years of experience bartending in nightclubs with the lessons he learned at craft cockt…

1
Preserving the Flavors of Sake with Coravin & Toku 1:00:10

3M ago1:00:10

1:00:10

During the recording of Episode 115 “Should sake be promoted like wine?”, Sarah Stewart mentioned a research project between some members of the British Sake Association, and Coravin, the US firm selling a device aimed at preserving the flavors of wine in the bottle after indulging oneself with one glass or two. Intrigued, Sebastien Lemoine reached…

1
Whisky Rising: a chat with author Stefan VanEycken (ep. 74) 40:23

2M ago40:23

40:23

In episode 74 our host Stephen Lyman sits down with author of Whisky Rising, Stefan VanEycken in Tokyo. They discuss Stefan's whisky journey, his book, and the state of Japanese whisky in 2024.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 95: The Enduring Beauty of Vermouth, with Alf del Portillo, Marta Premoli, and Francesco Lafranconi 27:46

3M ago27:46

27:46

Vermouth is an essential cocktail ingredient, and it can also be spectacular when served on its own. For this episode, we talk to several bartenders about the many reasons vermouth fascinates them and factors into their work: Alf del Portillo and Marta Premoli, owners of Quattro Teste in Lisbon, Portugal, and Francesco Lafranconi, who helped establ…

1
A Sake of Your Own: Contract Brewing Sake 54:00

3M ago54:00

54:00

This week Justin Potts, Chris Hughes, and Sebastien Lemoine discuss the growing trend of sake companies making special sakes for clients and/or partners. The conversations covers the benefits to both established breweries and entrepreneurs trying out their ideas before having to create their own brewery. Their conversation also goes into the differ…

1
Award Winning Aloha Whisky Bar: a chat with David Tsujimoto (ep. 73) 29:36

3M ago29:36

29:36

In episode 73 our host Stephen Lyman visits Aloha Whisky Bar in the Ikebukuro neighborhood of Tokyo. He and owner David Tsujimoto talk whisky discovery, the journey to bar ownership, and the state of Japanese whisky in 2024.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 94: Viva Vermouth, with Francois Monti 25:33

3M ago25:33

25:33

François Monti is a Madrid-based journalist, educator, and Imbibe contributing writer, and the author of books including El Gran Libro del Vermut. For this episode, he joins us to talk about all things vermouth (the focus of our March/April issue), exploring vermouth’s rich history in cocktails, its culinary connection, and the future of this aperi…

1
Rebroadcast: Matured Sake, Aged Sake 1:07:36

4M ago1:07:36

1:07:36

This week we’re digging a classic from out of the cellar – our episode exploring the absolute magic of sake that’s been crafted to stand the test of time. While still a relatively niche category within sake, more and more producers are leaning into clearly communicating the amount of time – and in what form – their sake spends maturing prior to rel…

1
Shochu Trends 2024 (ep. 72) 37:30

3M ago37:30

37:30

In episode 72 our hosts reflect on a massive increase in awareness for shochu in awamori overseas and wonder about what 2024 has in store.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 93: Victoria Eady Butler from Uncle Nearest 11:31

3M ago11:31

11:31

In 2021, we recognized Victoria Eady Butler as one of our Imbibe 75 People to Watch for her work as the master blender for Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey. For this episode, we catch up with her on her ongoing work at Uncle Nearest; get a glimpse into future plans for the brand as it looks toward Cognac; and talk about the Uncle Nearest HBCU Old Fash…

1
Studying Sake with Michael Tremblay 1:12:33

4M ago1:12:33

1:12:33

It feels like only the very recent past when opportunities for more formal sake education and certifications were few and far between, and when they were available, they were often infrequent and hosted in only a handful of territories, which made learning from knowledgeable industry insiders and professionals relatively prohibitive for most of the…

1
Episode 92: Agave and Beyond, with Chava Peribán and Nacho Jimenez 31:36

4M ago31:36

31:36

Tequila and mezcal are booming in American bars, and other Mexican spirits are making their way to the mainstream. For this episode, we explore this growing part of the drinks world with Salvador “Chava” Peribán, host of the Heritage Mezcal podcast and one of this year’s Imbibe 75 People to Watch; and Ignacio “Nacho” Jimenez, a partner and master o…

1
Rebroadcast: Shochu 101 1:03:00

5M ago1:03:00

1:03:00

We’re getting back to basics this week in the world of shochu with one of our most popular shows from our back catalog: Shochu 101. Released back in December of 2018, Mr. Shochu himself, Christopher Pellegrini, walks us through the fundamentals that should help anyone new to the category better understand and enjoy Japan’s incredible indigenous spi…

1
Episode 91: Thad Vogler and the Single Village Fix 25:14

4M ago25:14

25:14

In the January/February 2024 issue, San Francisco bartender, bar owner, and author Thad Vogler shares his story of the Single Village Fix. Vogler first created this simple mix of mezcal, lime juice, and pineapple gum syrup for a bar menu in 2008, tying together his passions for agriculturally rooted spirits and simple, classic formulations. In the …

1
Koji and Agave Spirits: a chat with Emma Janzen on these beautiful traditions (ep. 71) 59:41

5M ago59:41

59:41

In episode 71 our host Stephen Lyman is joined by James Beard Award Winning Author and Journalist, Emma Janzen to talk about the similarities, differences, histories, and culture behind two of the world's most fascinating indigenous spirits traditions: agave spirits and koji spirits.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Should Sake be Promoted like Wine? 56:01

5M ago56:01

56:01

This week’s episode of Sake On Air we dive further into the topic started with our post “Is wine the best way to promote sake?” last year. Arline Lyons, who wrote the post and has extensively researched the topic, takes a seat behind the mic and joins one of our regular hosts, Sebastien Lemoine to talk more about her findings. However, we thought i…

1
Noto Earthquake Support 12:57

5M ago12:57

12:57

Many of our listeners are likely aware of the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula of Ishikawa Prefecture back on New Years Day, 2024. While the most severe damage was unquestionably across the peninsula, the massive quake reverberated across neighboring prefectures as well, resulting in extensive, far-reaching damage that’s goin…

1
Episode 90: The 2024 Imbibe 75, with Robert Simonson and Baylee Hopings 24:06

5M ago24:06

24:06

We’re continuing our coverage of this year’s Imbibe 75 list of people and places who’ll change the way we drink in the year ahead. For this episode, we talk to two of 2024’s People to Watch: cocktail journalist (and Imbibe contributing editor) Robert Simonson, and Baylee Hopings, a Southeast Regional Speed Rack champion who recently made the move f…

1
Episode 89: Introducing the 2024 Imbibe 75 with Alex Jump 23:34

5M ago23:34

23:34

We’re kicking off 2024 by introducing you to some of this year’s Imbibe 75 list of people and places who’ll change the way we drink in the year ahead. For this episode, we talk to Denver bartender and beverage consultant Alex Jump about her work as co-founder and senior manager of operations for Focus on Health, and her work with no- and low-ABV co…

1
Becoming a Kuramoto with Junichi Masuda of Tsukinokatsura 54:26

6M ago54:26

54:26

We are always thrilled to be joined by special guests here at Sake On Air, but it is rather rare that we have a chance to interview a 15th-generation kuramoto. This week we’re thrilled to share our recent interview with Junichi Masuda, newly appointed CEO of Tokubee Masuda Shoten, makers of Tsukinokatsura, a brand of which we are all collectively h…

1
Rebroadcast: Hot Sake (Kanzake) 101 1:10:59

6M ago1:10:59

1:10:59

This week we’re digging up a classic from the archives that we released back in April 2020. The theme of the week is kanzake, which felt appropriate as a majority of our audience is now officially rolling into the winter months. If you’re interested in more warm/hot sake insight, we highly encourage you to check out the special session we hosted fr…

1
Succession Challenge(s): how to pass the baton (ep. 70) 28:29

6M ago28:29

28:29

In episode 70, Stephen reflects on succession challenges in small family distilleries on his first solo podcast for Japan Distilled.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Kurabito Stay with Marika Tazawa 40:31

6M ago40:31

40:31

With more travelers these days favoring unique experiences over a few days of leisure for their limited vacation days, Japan’s sake breweries have gradually been improving and expanding their offerings to both domestic and international visitors choosing to tick “sake journey” off their bucket list. An industry that’s largely sheltered itself from …

1
Episode 88: Jeffrey Morgenthaler’s Eggnog Essentials 21:15

6M ago21:15

21:15

No holiday season is complete without festive drinks, and among the seasonal standards is eggnog. Jeffrey Morgenthaler is an eggnog evangelist, serving his signature Tequila and Sherry Eggnog to guests at his bar, Pacific Standard, in Portland, Oregon. For this episode, Morgenthaler reflects on how he arrived at his recipe, and he shares some tips …

1
Sake in Brazil with Fabio Ota 1:01:51

7M ago1:01:51

1:01:51

Fabio Ota joins regular host Sebastien Lemoine to talk all things sake in Brazil. Fabio, a lawyer turned sake guy, is the CEO and creator of Megasake, São Paulo’s premier sake shop and distributor. He was named a Sake Samurai earlier this year as part of the 18h cohort, and holds 13 different sake certifications. Sebastien and Fabio get into the in…

1
Episode 87: Toby Cecchini and the Cosmopolitan 26:25

7M ago26:25

26:25

The Cosmopolitan is a modern classic cocktail that’s reached far into drinks culture. For this episode, Cosmo creator Toby Cecchini (owner of Brooklyn’s Long Island Bar) shares the story of the drink’s origins and its rapid takeover of cocktail culture, along with his approach to making his signature drink. Radio Imbibe is the audio home of Imbibe …

1
Tasting Sake… Professionally? 1:04:45

7M ago1:04:45

1:04:45

For many years a Sake Tasting Competition has been held for selected sake sommeliers from across the country in Tokyo to challenge their tasting skills and knowledge. This year the Brewing Society of Japan has released a special tasting kit, that can be bought by anyone (depending on the availability of it, of course) to help sake professionals and…

1
Imbibe in Kyushu: Interview with Paul Clarke (ep. 69) 29:09

7M ago29:09

29:09

In episode 69, Stephen chats with editor in chief of Imbibe Magazine, Paul Clarke, toward the end of their Imbibe in Kyushu Distillery Tour.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 86: Beer in San Francisco, with Dave McLean from Admiral Maltings 20:06

7M ago20:06

20:06

The San Francisco Bay Area has been at the heart of craft brewing for more than 50 years. For this episode, we track craft beer’s tumultuous trajectory with Dave McLean, co-founder of Admiral Maltings in Alameda and founder of Magnolia Brewing, San Francisco Beer Week, and the Bay Area Brewers Guild. Radio Imbibe is the audio home of Imbibe magazin…

1
Shochu Cocktails with Suzu 58:57

8M ago58:57

58:57

In this week’s episode of Sake On Air we dive further into the world of Shochu and Cocktails as we are excited to have had the chance to talk to Christian Suzuki-Orellana, aka ‘Suzu’, the founder of Kagano Pop-Up, General Manager & Bartender at “Wildhawk” as well as a participant of the immensely popular Netflix show, “Drink Masters”. Among his man…

1
Episode 85: Garrett Oliver and the Michael James Jackson Foundation for Brewing and Distilling 18:16

8M ago18:16

18:16

The Michael James Jackson Foundation for Brewing and Distilling aims to provide scholarship support to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in the brewing and distilling industries. For this episode, we check in with Brooklyn Brewery brewmaster and MJF chair, Garrett Oliver, about the rationale behind the foundation’s mission, some of the people …

1
What is that?! Spirits Evaluation (Ep. 68) 32:31

7M ago32:31

32:31

In episode 68 of the Japan Distilled podcast, Stephen puts Christopher on the spot with an impromptu spirits evaluation.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Kusu Day: Tasting Awamori 1:02:59

8M ago1:02:59

1:02:59

This week, we ask that you indulge us just a bit as we…indulge. During Justin’s super-secret (and all-too-brief) return to Japan we had the opportunity to conduct a single recording. That date just happened to coincide with Kusu Day (September 4th) and the magnificent tasting set available at the JSS Information Center. Since Awamori doesn’t get ne…

1
Mizu Shochu: Japan's 1st Export Brand (ep. 67) 55:27

8M ago55:27

55:27

In episode 67, Stephen delves into the origins of Mizu Shochu with founder, Jesse Falowitz. Believed to be the 1st shochu ever developed specifically for the export market, Mizu has been a trendsetter for over a decade now.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 84: The Pinnacle Guide, with Hannah Sharman-Cox, Siobhan Payne, and Dan Dove 16:00

8M ago16:00

16:00

As co-founders of London Cocktail Week, Hannah Sharman-Cox, and Siobhan Payne are familiar with the growing complexity of the bar world. Early next year, Sharman-Cox and Payne (along with co-founder Dan Dove) will introduce The Pinnacle Guide, a bar evaluation and ranking system that’s been compared to the Michelin Guide in the culinary world. For …

1
Kura One by Katsunari Sawada (Part 2) 52:57

8M ago52:57

52:57

In our last podcast episode of Sake On Air, we had two of our regular hosts Chris Hughes and John Gauntner talk with Katsunari Sawada, the man behind the pocket-sized sake can, KURA One. If you have not had a chance to listen to it yet, we recommend you do so (here) before listening to the 2nd part, as we are looking further into the question of wh…

1
Episode 83: The Cocktail from the Black Lagoon, with Erin Hayes and Kelsey Ramage 13:11

9M ago13:11

13:11

Halloween is one of the most popular holidays around, and with this year’s Black Lagoon Cocktail Pop-up, bars everywhere are getting in on the celebrations. For this episode, we talk with Black Lagoon co-founders Kelsey Ramage and Erin Hayes about the origins of Black Lagoon, what visitors can expect from this years’ experience, and what it takes t…

1
Kura One by Katsunari Sawada (Part 1) 38:52

9M ago38:52

38:52

In this week’s episode of Sake On Air, two of our regular hosts Chris Huges and John Gauntner came together to chat with Katsunari Sawada san, the mastermind behind KURA One! For anyone unfamiliar with KURA ONE, the company’s mission in their own words “is a sake service that changes the “unreachable” into “deliverable”.” Moving away from the bigge…

1
Yabai Chuhai & Wild Skateboards: interview with Jason Rogers (ep. 66) 40:07

9M ago40:07

40:07

In episode 66, Stephen chats with former professional skateboarder Jason Rogers, founder of Yabai Chuhai.By Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman

1
Episode 82: Negroni Week 2023, with Lindsay Matteson 13:33

9M ago13:33

13:33

Negroni Week is taking place right now, from September 18-24, 2023. For this episode, we explore the wide world of Negroni variations with Lindsay Matteson. Currently the bar manager at the bitters-focused Barnacle and The Walrus and The Carpenter in Seattle, she’s also former head bartender at Amor y Amargo in New York City, and a longtime veteran…

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