NEW YORK — Aficionados of the Japanese vodka called shochu or the rice-based awamori will be in heaven February 6-11 when 16 different bars and restaurants in the city participate in a tasting contest billed as the “1st NYC Shochu & Awamori Tasting Contest.”
Here’s how the organizers explain the competition:
“You will taste and learn five different kinds of shochu/awamori and memorize their flavors. Then you will be asked to match 3 brands from memory and accumulate points. The three contestants with the highest points from each restaurant/bar will receive gift certificates of $200, $100 or $50 and be invited to compete in the final event at the Kitano Hotel on Park Avenue on February 15.”
Contest participation fee is $30 per person. That covers two free drinks (including a shochu/awamori cocktail) and edamame. Full participation details are available here.
The venues involved:
Onieals
174 Grand Street
Kibo Japanese Grill
111 East 18th Street at Park Ave South
Uminoie
86 East 3rd Street
Solas
232 East 9th Street
Amber
432 6th Avenue
Bao Noodle
391 2nd Avenue
Moco
516 3rd Avenue
Kitano Hotel
66 Park Avenue
Natsumi
226 West 50th Street
Shimizu Sushi
West 318 West 51st Street @ WJ Hotel
Shochu Bar Hatchan
210 East 44th Street
Yakitori East
210 East 44th Street
Samurai Mama
205 Grand Street, Wiiliamsburg
One or Eight
66 South 2nd Street, Williamsburg
Fushimi
Various locations
Bozu
296 Grand Street, Williamsburg
The shochu and awamori brands:
- Zuisen (awamori)
- Gokuu (barley)
- Satsuma shiranami (potato)
- Shiro (rice)
- Beniotome (sesame)
- Kappa no sasoimizu (potato)
- Ginza no suzume (barley)
- Ginza no suzume kohaku (barley)
- Kaikouzu (potato)
- Ryukyu oukoku (awamori)
- Kannoko (barley)
- Kumesen (awamori)
- Tombo (barley)
Check out my New York Drinks Events Calendar, the most comprehensive anywhere.
