Sake Unplugged: Recent Episodes
Cindy & Giulia
Sake Unplugged is a podcast for anyone wanting to explore the world of sake! Our mission is to talk about all things' sake from the sake point of view. Every Thursday, we will share what sake is to us, let you in on our personal journey and talk about the people we meet, the people who live and breathe sake, the producers, shops owners, guides, and simply people who love sake. So join us as we share our sake lives, and who knows, we may even unravel some sake secrets as we are at it...
This is the last episode of 2023 and this time our hosts are keeping it within the SU family.
Giulia recently moved from brewing craft sake in Tokyo at Konohanano to going back to Izumo, Shimane Pref., like every winter, to brew sake at Itakura Shuzo and Cindy is taking up the occasion to dig more into the difference between these 2 breweries.
In this episode our hosts are taking us virtually into the world of sake breweries, comparing traditional and modern styles of brewing, and what it means to transition to such different environments.
This is a biweekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in on Thursdays and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans.
The next episode will be aired next year after a short winter vacation. If you miss our hosts, make sure to check on their accounts where they show us more of their sake journeys!
Happy Holidays from SU and see you in 2024!
Until then,
have a nice sake!
- ERRATA CORRIGE
The brewery Giulia visited in Hiroshima is Chikurin, not Shichiken. Apologies for the confusion!
This episode is all about a very special and unique sake brewery: Gozenshu!
Cindy and Giulia visited (separately) the brewery and they are excited to exchange stories and to share them with us.
Tsujii Honten, the brewery behind Gozenshu, is unique as they are focused on promoting Okayama and everything local, starting from the rice that they use to brew ALL of their delicious sake: Omachi.
Get yourself a cup of your favourite Gozenshu and follow along on this virtual brewery tour.
This is a biweekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in on Thursdays and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans.
The next episode will be aired on the 22nd of December and it will be a tale of two breweries from a kurabito's point of view. aka Giulia will tell us about how is it to work in a craft sake brewery Vs a traditional sake brewery.
Until then, have a nice sake!
After Sake Day, our hosts are celebrating another festivity regarding the sake world: Doburoku Day!
Doburoku Day is October 26th and our hosts are sharing with us all about this amazing day, how it came to be, and all the fantastic news about it!
The world of sake, or at least part of it, is literally fermenting with new products and amazing people who are shaking the industry, and Cindy and Giulia are thrilled to share all this with us!
This is a biweekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in on Thursdays and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans. If you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 23rd of November and our hosts will virtually visit Gozenshu in Okayama prefecture and enjoy some of its gorgeous sake!
Until then, have a nice sake!
This year Sake Day came with lots of surprises and our hosts are thrilled to share their new discoveries in the sake world!
Cindy joined the JSS amazing workshops and learned cool sake tricks that she'll share with us, and Giulia flew all the way to Hong Kong.
Cindy and Giulia are sharing with us their favourite Sake Day insights and more about their next adventures so check it out!
This is a biweekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in on Thursdays and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans. If you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 2nd of November and our hosts will celebrate the next festivity in the sake family: Doburoku Day!
Until then, have a nice sake!
It's that time of the year again! Sake Day is coming and our hosts couldn't be more excited!
October 1st is Sake Day and for sake lovers is like an early Christmas! Lots of delicious sake and events all around the world are ready to celebrate the most famous Japanese drink of all time.
Cindy and Giulia are sharing with us their favourite Sake Day tips and wisdom and, of course, they have plenty of recommendations in store for everybody.
They have wonderful plans for Sake Day, and you? If you haven't decided yet what to do on October 1st listen to Cindy and Giulia's recommendations.
This is a biweekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in on Thursdays and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans. If you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 5th of October and our hosts will share with us their after Sake Day experiences.
Information about festivals and how to enjoy the most important day for sake In Japan and overseas:
- Tokyo SAKE Collection 2023 ～サケコレ＠アキバ日本酒の日～ in Akihabara
https://nihonshu.com/sakekore2023/ (also in English)
- 日本酒ゴーアラウンド2023
in Sapporo, Sendai, Niigata (New!), Tokyo, Shizuoka, Kanazawa (New!), Nagoya, Kyoto
Osaka, Kobe, Himeji, Awaji Island, Okayama, Hiroshima, Izumo, Kochi, Fukuoka, Okinawa
https://oishiisake.jp/event/ngatokyo2023/
- Kanpai with Sake
https://kampai-sake.jp/en/about_en/
- JSS Sake Day
https://japansake.or.jp/JSScenter/
- Sake Festival in Sydney
https://sake-festival.com.au/
- Salon Du Sake in France
vhttps://www.instagram.com/salondusake/?hl=en
- World Sake Day in Hong Kong
www.sake-central.com
Until then, have a nice sake!
Did you guys miss our hosts and their shenanigans? Cos Cindy and Giulia are back with their sake adventures and they can't wait to share them here on SU!
More events, more tastings, MORE SAKE, and exciting news. This third season is filled with good vibes and... not only sake ;) Your favourite hosts have lots to spill!
This is a biweekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in on Thursdays and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans. If you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 21st of September and it's going to be a pre-Sake Day episode. Make sure to tune in for an early kanpai for Sake Day, for information about festivals and how to enjoy the most important day for sake in Japan~
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy and Giulia are doing a sake review! It's been a minute since our hosts shared their thoughts about the sake they love and 3 y.o. aged Daruma Masamune is perfect for this occasion!
Our hosts were so happy to have a chill session to talk about Daruma Masamune which comes from Shiraki Shuzo in Gifu Prefecture, in the heart of Japan.
It's obvious by listening to the episode how passionate our hosts are about this sake. Not only it's delicious but it's also versatile with food pairings and service temperatures as well as easy to enjoy in different settings.
To add to the sake itself, the CEO Shiraki Shigeri is so charismatic she will make you love Daruma Masamune even more!
As summer has arrived, our hosts will take some time off recording like last year. SU will be resumed in September, but in the meantime, our favourite hosts will keep you guys posted about their sake adventures on their social media.
If you miss SU, don't forget to check out previous episodes, and check on Cindy's Kyoto sake tastings or request a sake brewery tour here and join Giulia's Tokyo Sake Seminars here and sake dinners and tastings here.
Make sure to subscribe and tune and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired in September and until then,
Have a Nice Sake!
Shiraki Shuzo's website https://www.daruma-masamune.co.jp/ct/english/
Shiraki Shigeri's IG https://www.instagram.com/shigeri_shiraki/
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy and Giulia are welcoming fellow podcast hosts Andy Russell and Jim Rion from Sake Deep Dive!
Andy is a sake brewer, currently working at Kenbishi in Hyogo Pref. and author of the website Origin Sake, where he uncovers the many fascinating and complex aspects of sake.
Jim is a freelance translator and a passionate sake expert, especially when it comes to the sake from the Yamaguchi Pref., for which you can find all info on his website Yamaguchi Sake. He is also the author of the book Discovering Yamaguchi Sake: A Taster’s Guide to Breweries, Culture, and Terrain.
Together they host a very insightful podcast that will take you beyond common sake knowledge!
Our hosts were also really intrigued to hear about the guys' stories and how they got to meet and decided to start a podcast together.
This is a biweekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 29th of June and will be current sake events plus a sake review.
Until then, have a nice sake!
Sake Deep Dive: https://www.sakedeepdive.com/
Andy Russell: https://www.originsake.com/ , https://www.instagram.com/originsake/
Jim Rion: https://yamaguchisake.com/ , https://www.instagram.com/yamaguchisake/
Jim's book: Discovering Yamaguchi Sake: A Taster’s Guide to Breweries, Culture, and Terrain
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy and Giulia are exchanging stories on their latest sake adventures!
Cindy, being a sake nomad, is constantly traveling to unveil all the sake secrets and to discover new breweries and projects, and Giulia recently ended the brewing season in Izumo.
Our hosts were so happy to have a chill session to talk about what happened in the last 6 months or so, and they are sharing what they have in mind for the future, so grab a cup of sake and listen to what these two have on hold for us!
If you are curious about some of the things they mentioned and talked about in case you like to find out more 😉
Dewazakura: https://www.dewazakura.co.jp/en/
Itakura Brewery: https://shimane-sake.or.jp/en/sakebrewery/itakura/
Kodama Brewery: https://www.kodamajozo.co.jp/en/
JSS Sake Fair: https://sakefair.com/index_en.html
And if you are interested in joining some of the events our hosts are organizing you can find Giulia's Tokyo Sake Seminars here and sake tastings here or join Cindy in one of her Kyoto sake tastings or request a sake brewery tour here
This is a biweekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 1st of June with a Special Guest, so make sure to tune in.
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy and Giulia are welcoming Alex, a sake lover and owner of Omu Nomu in Singapore!
Alex has always been fascinated by Japanese cuisine and studied it avidly. A few years back opened Omu Nomu craft sake and raw bar, where the sake list here is always changing, so Alex's customers can try every week new sake!
Our hosts were also really intrigued to hear about the concept behind Omu Nomu and all the amazing events that Alex hosts. Cindy, being a doburoku ambassador, was particularly intrigued to know that Alex is hosting doburoku events too!
This is a biweekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 18th of May and will be a catch-up session for our hosts after months of sake events and brewing.
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy and Giulia are chatting about koji.
Our hosts started the conversation about rice in the previous episodes, and in case you missed those, go listen to them after hearing all about koji! When talking about rice in sake making, our hosts couldn't miss the chance to talk about koji and the koji-making process in sake.
First of all, what is koji? What it's used for and how does the koji-making process really impact the final flavour of sake? Don't worry, Cindy and Giulia will tell you all about it, and more!
As you might know by now, SU is now a biweekly podcast as your hosts are busy working in the (sake) field!
So make sure to subscribe and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
Our hosts will be back on May 4th with a Special Guest to make sure to tune in.
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy and Giulia are welcoming Alex, a fellow sake blogger and podcaster, and founder of Sugidama.
Alex made London his home about 20 years ago and from there he promotes sake and helps understand sake's world with his blog and podcast.
Our hosts were also really intrigued to hear about his work as an IWC sake judge so make sure to listen until the end to Alex's stories about the sake challenges he joined so far!
This is a biweekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 20th of April and will be about koji.
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy and Giulia are chatting about rice polishing.
Our hosts started the conversation about rice a couple of episodes ago, as they delved into rice varieties. This time they are exploring the polishing or milling of the rice.
What does it mean to polish rice? Why is it so important and how does sake change depending on the polishing ratio? Our hosts will try to solve some of these mysteries and more!
Discover more about the importance of rice polishing in sake making and how much it can impact the final result.
As you might know by now, SU is now a biweekly podcast as your hosts are busy working in the (sake) field!
So make sure to subscribe and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
Our hosts will be back on March 30th with a Special guest to make sure to tune in.
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy and Giulia are welcoming Robin Sola, a sake promoter and owner of Sorakami in London!
Robin was born and raised in the south of France but spend many years abroad, attended university in Tokyo, and now he lives in London where he opened his sake e-commerce called Sorakami to promote sake in the UK!
Robin's story is really intriguing and our hosts are really glad he decided to share it with them. Learn more about the scenery of sake in Europe, especially in the UK, and visit Sorakami for the fantastic sake selection and more!
This is a biweekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 3rd of March and will be about rice polishing.
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy and Giulia are chatting about rice varieties.
Rice is one of the main ingredients of sake and probably the most famous one, so it's time for our hosts to dive into it!
It's been a minute since the last educational episode on SU so here you go! Discover more about the importance of rice in sake making and how much it can impact the final result.
As you might know by now, SU is now a biweekly podcast as your hosts are busy working in the (sake) field!
So make sure to subscribe and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
They will be back on February 23rd with a secret guest to make sure to tune in.
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy and Giulia are welcoming back Simone Maynard, better-known ad the Sake Mistress, and the first time on the show Maki Tanaka.
They invited these fantastic ladies on SU to chat about a new chapter in the TwTT community: the TwTT Podcast!
As a lot of you know, the Taste with The Toji project is going on since the beginning of the pandemic and it is now established in the sake community, so much so that we can't get enough. So our hosts were thrilled to hear about this new podcast project and invited Simone and Maki for all-female podcasters chat.
If you haven't, go listen to the amazing interviews they've done so far and join the TwTT community if you haven't already!
This is a biweekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 9th of February and our hosts will talk about rice varieties.
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy and Giulia are chatting about Giulia's brewing life in Izumo, Shimane!
Giulia is back to Itakura brewery and will be spending the whole season brewing delicious sake.
Let's hear what does it means to work in a sake brewery first hands and all the querks of the kurabito life!
Big news coming to SU as this weekly podcast will become biweekly for a while as your hosts are busy working in the (sake) field!
So make sure to subscribe and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
They will be back on January 26th with a secret guest to make sure to tune in.
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy and Giulia are welcoming Mayuko Sasayama, a sake promoter and teacher based in Spain!
Mayu was born in Japan but spend many years abroad and now she lives between Spain and Japan, promoting sake!
She is so busy promoting sake, working in a sake bar in Madrid, sharing her passion on her youtube channel and now she is even writing a book about sake in Spanish! We are really honoured and happy to chat with her and can't wait to see what she is going to do next!
This is a byweekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 12th of January and will be about Giulia's life as kurabito.
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy and Giulia are taking you guys to Viet Nam!
Cindy recently joined a sake event in Kyoto held by a Vietnamese sake brewery and Giulia will interview her to know more about it.
The brewery is called HUE FOODS COMPANY LIMITED and they make also shochu and coffee liqueur, and their mission is to blend Japanese and Vietnamese cultures together
Their sake is the most unexpected and the host will tell you all about it so pour yourself a cup and enjoy!
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
Next week our hosts will take a break as Cindy will be busy taking tour operators to several breweries in Tochigi to create future sake tours for all of you to enjoy and Giulia will be moving to Shimane to start the brewing season at Itakura Shuzo!
They will be back on December 8th with a secret guest to make sure to tune in.
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy and Giulia are welcoming Arline Lyons, a translator specializing in sake as well as a sake educator and promotor, and all-around sake lover!
Arline is Irish but lives in Switzerland, which makes her Cindy's reverse twin. Her story with sake started from a translator's point of view and became a passion and a mission.
She currently has multiple IG accounts and websites that are all about sake, a newsletter and she's constantly looking for ways to promote sake. She is telling our hosts all about her events and her amazing sake pairings with cheese, chocolate, tea and so much more!
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 24th of November and will be about an event Cindy joined recently: Viet Nam sake tasting! We can't wait to hear all about it
Until then, have a nice sake!
Arline social media:
IG: tastetranslation & discoversake
Websites: https://taste-translation.com/ & https://discover-sake.com/
Newsletter: Sakenews
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy and Giulia are sharing their recent experience at Marie Chiba's new sake bar: Eureka!
Marie Chiba is a household name and her sake and food pairing ideas and concepts are as delicious as intriguing. Visiting Eureka is an absolutely unique experience, as Marie is very attentive to tailoring the meal and the pairings for each of her guests.
Enjoy a cup of sake, or two, while the hosts share all about the menu and the sake that Marie carefully selected for them.
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 24th of November and will feature an international sake lover and Cindy's reverse twin: Arline Lyons!
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy and Giulia are welcoming back Kim Roxas from Setting Sun Sake in San Diego to chat about a very delicious topic: Sake Cocktails!
At Setting Sun Sake they like to colour outside the lines, and play with sake to create delicious recipes. Kim in fact, isn't only a sake sommelier, she is a pastry chef so she definitely knows how to create recipes, and her creativity allows her to experiment with the most unusual ingredients.
Kim prepared useful tips on how to make cocktails with sake and she is even sharing with us the recipe of her famous curry-juku sake cocktail. You can find the recipe here: www.sakeunplugged.com And if you make it, don't forget to share your thoughts with us ;)
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 10th of November and will be a little different again, as we'll take you inside Marie Chiba's new restaurant: Eureka!
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy Bissig and Giulia Maglio are talking about something they both learn to love recently: doburoku!
For those of you who don't know about this drink, doburoku is the grandparent of sake and recently is getting back on trend.
Let's find out together exactly what this drink is and why is it so important to revive this delicious piece of Japanese history.
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 3rd of November and will feature an international surprise guest, so tune in next week and until then
Have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy Bissig and Giulia Maglio are welcoming back Chris Hughes for a catch up, and also to learn about recent sake events and news in the industry!
So pour yourself a cup of your favourite sake and come enjoy the chat as we learn what's happening recently in the sake world, but also some interesting collaborations Chris is taking part in.
The sake community is always growing and evolving, and recently there has been an amazing variety of events and festivals you want to absolutely hear about!
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com.
The next episode will be aired on the 27th of October and will be about doburoku!
Until then,
haveanicesake
In today's sake podcast our hosts, Cindy Bissig and Giulia Maglio are talking about a very special topic, sake vessels!
After several episodes talking about types of sake and breweries, our hosts decided to talk about the various types of containers that can be used to enjoy sake, from ochoko to guimoni and all the way to Edo-style glassware, this is another rabbit hole you definitely want to fall in!
So join them and find out more about the different styles of drinking cups, why there are so many and which ones match your favourite type of sake.
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 20th of October and will feature one of SU favourite guests, Chris Hughes so mark your calendar to not miss this!
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy Bissig and Giulia Maglio are welcoming another international guest to the show, Jake Myrick, founder of Sequoia Sake in San Francisco!
So prepare yourself for a slightly extended Episode of Sake Unplugged, because Jake's story is really inspiring and we enjoyed chatting with him!
Sequoia sake is a family business and a project filled with love and determination, we can't wait to fly out to San Francisco to meet him and try his sake. One of the many reasons why this brewery is special is that they also grow their own rice, which makes Jake's and his family's lives really busy, but surely fulfilled.
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans!
The next episode will be aired on the 13th of October and will be about sake vessels!
Until then,
Have a Nice Sake!
In today's sake podcast our hosts, Cindy Bissig and Giulia Maglio are talking about a very special day in the sake calendar - "Nihonshu no hi" or International Sake Day!
So join them and find out more about what Sake Day is, why it is celebrated and when and of course for some interesting facts about sake, both in Japan and abroad.
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 6th of October and will feature yet another international sake guest and brewery. This time Jake Myrick, from Sequoia sake, will join the podcast so mark your calendar to not miss this!
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy Bissig and Giulia Maglio are welcoming a very special guest to the show, Lorenzo Ferraboschi, founder of the Sake Company, SSA Sake Educator among many other things!
So prepare yourself for a slightly extended Episode of Sake Unplugged, because Lorenzo has so many amazing projects related to sake and Japan in general, we might need to have him back for part 2!
Not only he brings sake to Italy but he makes sure that each sake respects the philosophy of the breweries. To do so, he keeps in touch with them and nurtures them to create a real bridge between Japan and Italy.
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 29th of September and will be about "Sake Day"!
Until then, have a nice sake!
It is September which means “Hiyaoroshi” or Autumn Sake has just arrived in the shops and our hosts, Cindy Bissig and Giulia Maglio are excited because this is their favorite seasonal sake of the year!
So join them as they talk about what Hiyaoroshi sake is in this week's episode, as well as how it compares to other seasonal sake, and also share what they have tried recently, all-time favorites and what to look out for this autumn!
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 22nd of September and will feature yet another international sake guest, Lorenzo Ferraboschi, the founder of Sake Company and SSA Sake Educator in Italy, so prepare yourself as we have Italian power on the mic!
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy Bissig and Giulia Maglio are welcoming a very special guest to the show,Roberto Maxwell, Journalist, sake professional, and creator of Tokyo Aijo!
So prepare yourself for a slightly extended Episode of Sake Unplugged, because Roberto had so much to share. From how he got into sake (which is one of the best stories we heard so far) to how he became to work with not just sake but also shochu and awamori, to his work in both Japan and Brazil to showcase and promote our favorite beverage!
For more information on all Roberto does, check out his homepage and follow him and connect on Instagram, not just for sake but also for all things Japan.
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 15th of September and will be about possibly our favorite seasonal release "Hiyaoroshi" so make sure to tune back in!
Until then, have a nice sake!
Sake Unplugged's summer break is finally over and our hosts Cindy Bissig and Giulia Maglio are back from their respective holidays (although listening to them, they seemed to be working even harder) and are excited to share what they have been up to!
From pairing sake with (even more) Italian food, to visiting sake breweries, connecting with other sake professionals and enthusiasts to simply enjoying sake (both in Japan and in Italy) with family and friends this is a little look behind the scenes and into our hosts personal life. So prepare yourself for a slightly different Episode of Sake Unplugged...
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 8th of September and this time Journalist and Sake Professional Roberto Maxwell will be sitting in the hot chair (just kidding), so make sure to tune in!
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy and Giulia are talking about one of their favorite topics: sake and food pairing! To be precise, sake and Italian pairing. This episode is going to be a very delicious one!
For those of you who have been following Cindy and Giulia's already, you know that they like to experiment and have fun with their sake so prepare yourself to get inspired by their pairing ideas and tips.
Sake and food pairing is a super fun topic and a world that we will never stop exploring!
They think that it’s important, if not necessary, to take sake and put it into new perspectives.
Pour yourself a cup, get some cheese and enjoy.
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visitwww.sakeunplugged.com
🎙️Thank you so much for listening so far! This episode concludes season 1 of Sake Unplugged. Cindy and Giulia will take a summer break in August, recharge the sake batteries and they’ll be back on September 1st with more guests, more topics and more sake - in the meantime, they’ll keep posting on their social media so stay tuned~
Until then,
Have a Nice Sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy and Giulia are welcoming a very special guest to the show, Takashi Eguchi, probably best known for his fantastic tasting notes as part of "The Japanese Saké Bibel" by Brian Ashcraft!
However, this is really only a tiny part of Takashi's, or Umio's (as friends call him) sake portfolio. He has written more than 500 sake reviews on his blog, has interviewed countless brewers both in Japan and overseas, is currently lecturing "Sake Tourism" at Doshisha University in Kyoto, and finds time to taste and share his love for sake every Thursday at 8 pm on his YouTube Channel with a live and interactive sake tasting (among even more other things....)
So prepare yourself for a slightly extended Episode of Sake Unplugged, because it just had to be like that. You will find out about what it really means to experience sake locally, along with endless stories of Umio's sake journey, and yes there will have to be a part two... ...until then
make sure to follow Umio on his Instagram for regular sake updates and slightly odd but beautiful anecdotes from Japan.
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 28th of July and will be about sake pairing - Sake and Italian food in particular!
Until then, have a nice sake!
It is summer in Japan and Cindy and Giulia felt inspired to talk about Amazake, as it is somewhat of a secret summer drink here in Japan.
So tune in to learn more about its historic references, health benefits (who knew Amazake was a great hangover cure?), and of course how it's made, what it tastes like, and what to look out for!
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 21st of July and will feature Takashi Eguchi, who some of you may know for his superb tasting notes in one of our favorite sake books "The Japanese Sake Bible"!
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged Cindy and Giulia are revisiting a topic dear to their hearts, they are one more time talking and reminding people of the devastating event that shook many sake lovers as earlier this year when Yuki Shuzo in Ibaraki prefecture burned down.
They are once again not alone. This time they are joined by Chris Hughes, fellow sake podcaster, sake educator and enthusiast, as well as Harald deRopp sake lover and a relentless promoter of sake, to talk about the brewery and shine a little light on what has happened and how we, collectively can still help them. With the emphasis being on continuation, as with many events like this, they are only in the news and talked about for so long, however, there is no quick fix and our continuous support is needed, which is why this episode is one more time so important.
As with last time, if you are in any position to help in whatever way, please do so. Buy their sake, visit their events, or of course donate, and maybe less obvious keep talking and promoting them, so when they get back on their feet they can be off to a great start.
For people living in Japan monetary donations can be made to the following bank account:
常陽銀行 結城支店
普通 1502819
真結酒造組合(シンケツシュゾウクミアイ)
Joyo Bank Yuki Branch
Normal account: 1502819
Shinketsu Shuzou Kumiai
If you are outside of Japan it is a little bit more difficult and many people are still trying to find the best way to show their support. If you do have an idea please reach out to us via SNS.
If you are looking to find out more about the collaboration of Michizakura and Yuki Shuzo you can read more about their "Michikozakura" sake here and for the upcoming Tokyo event check out this page, it is in Japanese only...
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 14th of July and will be about Amazake, what it is and what it is not and why it is so good for you, especially in Summer!
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy and Giulia will be trying one of the most famous summer sake out there - Ice Breaker from Kyoto!
For those of you who have been following Cindy and Giulia's already, you know that summer sake was on ep. 25. So if you want to know more about this special category, go check it out!
So why talk about another summer sake? Because Ice Breaker is totally different from any other summer sake out there!
They will try it chilled, on the rocks and warm too! You'll be surprised to know that Ice Breaker is one of the reasons why Cindy is changing her opinion about warm sake. Why? Check it out in this new episode!
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 7th of July and will be the first double interview on Sake Unplugged. Chris Hughes will be returning to chat with us with Harald Deropp, who will join for the first time. They both recently joined an event dedicated to Yuki Shuzo and they will tell us all about it so don't miss it!
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy and Giulia are welcoming another international guest to the show, Oh Reuben Luke, the Young Sake Ambassador of the Year!!
Our hosts met Reuben while he was touring Japan a few months ago visiting sake breweries. While Giulia got a chance to catch up with him at a sake tasting in Tokyo, Cindy spent a weekend brewing sake with him at Miyoshikiku Brewery in Shikoku (followed by more sake tastings in Kyoto) and they both loved his passion and incredible knowledge of sake.
Being a Singapore-based sake enthusiast, Reuben has, as expected plenty of sake certifications under his belt and although he had a taste for sake early on, chance brought him to sake and it has since taken over his life. These days he is a sake importer, managing partner at Kabuki Works importing craft sake, and working on other sake-related projects promoting sake and the people involved with it. He is also a big history geek as you will find out in this episode of Sake Unplugged and if you want to know a bit more about what he is up to aside from working in the sake industry you can follow him on Instagram, spoiler alert there is still a lot of sake...
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 30th of June and will be about a summer sake we mentioned in a previous episode - Ice Breaker from Kinoshita Syuzou in Kyoto. An incredibly popular sake (and not just in Japan!), so if you can, make sure to sip along for this sake review.
Until then, have a nice sake!
It is June which means “Natsu Sake” or Summer Sake has just arrived in the shops and our hosts are excited because this is the second seasonal sake of the year!
Join Cindy and Giulia, in this week's episode as they talk about what natsu sake is, how it compares to other seasonal sake, and also share what they have tried recently, all-time favorites and what to look out for!
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 23rd of June and will feature yet another Guest, Oh Reuben Luke, Singapore's Young Sake Ambassador of the year!
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy and Giulia are welcoming yet another guest to the podcast, Yumika Yamamoto, a Koji Aficionada from Japan!
For anyone not familiar with Yumika, she has been working for various sake breweries over the past few years, including Itakura Shuzo and Kaze No Mori as well as helping sake breweries in Spain, with what she does best - Koji.
Learn more about her time brewing sake and find out about her exciting future plans in this week's episode and as another highlight, what makes this episode so special, it is partially done in Japanese (with translations of course), so if you are learning Japanese, you will especially enjoy this.
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 16th of June and will be about another seasonal sake, this time our hosts will be talking about "Natsu" sake, sake released during summer as it is just about to hit the shelves...
Until then, have a nice sake!
This week's episode of Sake Unplugged is slightly different, as Cindy and Giulia are talking about a recent event that shook many sake lovers as the news arrived on the 11th of May that Yuki Shuzo in Ibaraki prefecture had burned down.
They are joined by Simone Maynard, also known as the Sake Mistress and through the community, she built called "the Taste with the Tōji" to talk about the brewery and shine a little light on what has happened and how we, collectively can still help them. With the emphasis being on continuation, as with many events like this, they are only in the news and talked about for so long, however, there is no quick fix and our continuous support is needed, which is why this episode is so important.
You can find some more information about what is happening via Simone's platforms, so make sure to follow her projects on Instagram or Facebook and if you are in a position to help in whatever way, please do so.
For people living in Japan monetary donations can be made to the following bank account:
常陽銀行 結城支店
普通 1502819
真結酒造組合(シンケツシュゾウクミアイ)
Joyo Bank Yuki Branch
Normal account: 1502819
Shinketsu Shuzou Kumiai
If you are outside of Japan it is a little bit more difficult and many people are still trying to find the best way to show their support. If you do have an idea please reach out to us via SNS.
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 9th of June and other guests will join the podcast, Yumika Yamamoto, a female kurabito and Koji aficionada sharing her story with us and you!
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy and Giulia are welcoming yet another guest to the show, Jamie Ryder the founder of Yamato Magazine in the UK!
A great opportunity to talk sake with another sake lover and a chance to get his perspective on sake abroad and what is really happening, not just in his neighborhood of Manchester but also in the wider UK.
However, this is not all they chatted about, as Jamie is also a content creator and marketer working on his first publication of short stories and it just so has it, one of them is about a female sake brewer...
Learn more about what Jamie does by following him on Instagram, by checking out Yamato Magazine or why not connect with him on LinkedIn?
The next episode will be aired on the 2nd of June and will be a little different again, as we will talk about Yuki Shuzo in the context of the recent event, which was of course the brewery burning down earlier in May, and hope we can raise a little awareness and support from them.
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy and Giulia will be sampling another very special sake - Nihonshu from Okinawa!
Why is this so special? Because Okinawa, Japan's most southern prefectures drink culture is ruled by another indigenous beverage: Awamori. And its tropical climate makes it extremely difficult to make Japanese sake. However, one brewery is holding the fort - Taikoku Shuzo, located on the main island in Uruma.
Also, getting this sake is extremely difficult as it is only sold here (with a few guest appearances at sake festivals around japan). So when Cindy learned about it she decided to a. visit them and b. send a couple of bottles to Giulia so they could taste them together for this very episode.
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 26th of May and will be another interview, this time Jamien Ryder from Yamato Magazine will join our hosts and share more about his love for sake and what he is up to!
Until then, have a nice sake!
Food pairing is a huge topic these days and is one of the questions our hosts get the most, so in this week's episode of Sake Unplugged Cindy and Giulia are chatting about how to pair sake and food, some guidelines for people knew to Japanese sake, but also about their personal likes and dislikes.
As you may have guessed, this is another topic that is not as straightforward as one might wish it to be. No matter if someone is an occasional sake drinker or a sake enthusiast, sake pairing is always a bit of an adventure, but that is also what makes it so much fun!
Make sure to join the conversation and leave us a comment, do you agree with Cindy and Giulia? Do you have a great, terrible or shocking sake pairing story to tell? Share your insight right here in the comments or head over to join the conversation on Instagram and Facebook.
This is a weekly sake podcast, so subscribe to Sake Unplugged to never miss an episode! The next one will be aired on the 19th of May and will be about the only sake brewery in Okinawa - Taikoku Shuzo, so make sure not to miss it!
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Giulia is shining the spotlight on Cindy, to learn more about her weekend spent brewing sake at Miyoshikiku Shuzo in Shikoku Island!
Cindy joined a 2-day sake brewing experience with a small group over the Golden Week weekend, where she was able to look into (almost) every aspect of sake making. From steaming the rice, making koji, to bottling sake she got to see and do it all and is ready to report back on what it was really like!
If you are curious about the sake brewery Cindy was visiting you can check out Miyoshikiku Brewery's Homepage, and why not give them some love on their Instagram and check what they are up to as you are at it?
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 12th of May and will focus on how to pair sake, so make sure to tune in.
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this week's podcast, our hosts ventured out into the real world and visited a very special sake brewery - Matsui Shuzo in Kyoto!
Only a stone's throw away from downtown Kyoto, this brewery is a hidden gem and a must-visit for anyone visiting. So join Cindy and Giulia as they are talking about their visit, the brewery set up, and of course some of their sake and other products.
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 5th of May and will be another interview, well kind of, as in the next episode Giulia will chat to Cindy about her recent Brewery experience at Miyoshikiku in Shikoku and share some stories about it, so stay tuned and until then,
Have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy and Giulia are welcoming yet another guest to the show, actually, this is not correct as this week two guests join them, Kim Roxas and Josh Hembree from Setting Sun Sake in San Diego, to be precise!
The first-ever Sake Brewery chats on Sake Unplugged, but do not worry there are plenty more to come. However, this is a special one as the challenges presented to these guys are extremely unique and their ideology is somewhat wilder than what you may find in a traditional sake brewing environment. So make sure to listen to the full episode from how they got into sake, their progression, passion, and their McGuiver techniques, a very interesting chat whether you are into sake or not...
Learn more about them by checking out their Facebook page, including all they are up to, and find out more about how to support them and their Ronin program here, a great way to help out a fellow sake brewery/maker and the best part you get sake in return - what is not to love?
Also, make sure to say "hi" to them on Twitter and if you want to get in touch, just email them at settingsunsake@gmail.com or kim@settingsunsake.com 😉
The next episode will be aired on the 28th of April and will be a little different again, as we will feature yet another brewery, Matsui Shuzo in Kyoto as we have recently visited them so we will talk about our time there and the sake that we discovered!
Until then, have a nice sake!
A few weeks ago Cindy and Giulia were talking about sake labels, what legally has to be printed on them, what is voluntarily added by some breweries, and what they would like to be printed to make everyone's purchasing decisions easier and of course, subsequently everyone's sake experience a better one.
Now in Sake Labels Part 2, our hosts are taking the conversation one step further, this time focusing on the design and ultimately what makes us choose a sake, or not. This includes personal preference, but also history, research, and more often than not experience.
As you may have guessed, it is not as straightforward as one might wish it to be. No matter if someone is an occasional sake drinker or a sake enthusiast, the adventure of purchasing sake continues...
Make sure to join the conversation and leave us a comment, do you agree with Cindy and Giulia and what would you like to be included on a sake label? And do you have a favorite design or style? Share your insight right here in the comments or head over to join the conversation on Instagram and Facebook.
This is a weekly sake podcast, so subscribe to Sake Unplugged to never miss an episode! The next one will be aired on the 21st of April and we cross the pond and bring Setting Sun Sake to the podcast, so make sure to add this date to your calendar 😉
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy and Giulia are welcoming yet another guest to the podcast, Chris Hughes, WSET Educator, Sake Evangelist, and regular host of fellow sake podcast Sake on Air!
Many will already know Chris, as his sake endeavors have made him a name in the sake industry, and include educating the WSET level 3 in Sake in Japan, regularly talking as a host on Sake on Air, supporting, producing, and starring in a variety of YouTube productions, as well as his expertly done tasting notes and content production, the list goes on and on!
A fun chat getting to know the real Chris, from his love of Anime, what brought him to Japan as well as some of his favorite sake stories. And of course, the sake, the breweries, and the people that have influenced him. For anyone who wants to check out the brand that wooed Chris before he even tasted the sake, you should check out "Nanbubijin" and to see the very charismatic Kuji Kosuke you can check out one of the many videos here.
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 14th of April and will be part two of our discussion on sake labels, this time we are focusing on design and how it affects our buying decision (or not?) so make sure to mark this on your calendar.
Until then, have a nice sake!
As the image already suggests, in this episode of Sake Unplugged Cindy and Giulia will be talking about a very special brewery they both love - Miyoshikiku Shuzo from Shikoku!
Why? Because the sake is just so good!
But also because it is such a creative brewery. With countless products and some of the coolest labels on the market, Miyoshikiku is one of the rebels of the industry. With some, really interesting ideas, Mamiya-san, Toji, and the owner has even been quoted that he wants to make sake for people who do not like sake.
It is definitely an interesting concept and the sake resulting from it speaks for itself. Topped off with unconventional labels, this brewery has gotten itself quite a fanbase!
However, this episode is also a review and tasting, the perfect chance to drink along, so if you do find it, these are the sake featured in today's podcast:
--coming shortly---
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 7th of April and will be another interview, this time the one and only Chris Hughes will be guest on the show, with plenty to talk about and sake stories to share!
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy and Giulia are welcoming yet another guest to the show, another strong woman in the sake industry, Kyoko Nagano from Sake Lovers Inc. and Sake Geek!
People who are familiar with her will know, this is not all she does, this powerhouse is also involved in a lot of behind-the-scenes activities. Whether she actively finds investors for breweries that are on the brink of closure or her work for Singapore Tv, showcasing rural Japan and its culture to name just a few, somehow she still finds time to bake, with sake kasu of course 😉
So join these three ladies for an interesting chat about Kyoko, women in the sake industry, and of course sake!
Learn more about her project by checking out Sake lovers Inc for upcoming tours and events as well as Sake Geek, where you can find sake reviews including the one Cindy and Giulia wrote.
...as a little bonus, she has also shared with us an article she wrote about sake kasu you can read it here and if you would like to know more about and support Mariko, who so tragically passed away last year, you can visit Sake Lovers De and you can see the sake label she designed here.
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 31st of March and will be a sake review, this time the brewery featured will be Miyoshikiku Shuzo!
Until then, have a nice sake!
Whether someone is an occasional sake drinker or a sake enthusiast, purchasing sake can be a little bit of an adventure, unless we already know the sake and/or the sake brewery. The reason for that is because the labels on sake bottles can be quite mysterious, with more often than not, not a lot of information on them, or should we say, not a lot of information on them that points towards the taste of the sake inside that bottle...
So in this week's podcast, Cindy and Giulia are talking about what is on a sake label, which includes legal requirements that have to be printed on it, what is voluntarily added by some breweries, and what they would like to be added to make everyone's purchasing decisions easier and subsequently our sake experience a better one.
Make sure to join the conversation and leave us a comment, do you agree with Cindy and Giulia and what would you like to see printed on a sake label to make your trip to the shop easier? Share your insight right here in the comments or head over to join the conversation on Instagram and Facebook.
This is a weekly sake podcast, so subscribe to Sake Unplugged to never miss an episode! The next one will be aired on the 24th of March and has another guest join, this time we are welcoming Kyoko Nagano from Sake Lover's inc and Sake Geek, to name just two of her many ventures.
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy and Giulia are welcoming yet another guest to the podcast, Makarim Salman or Mac in short, the man behind Kanpai Planet!
And as the name already suggests Mac knows a thing or two about Japanese drinks. He has been relentlessly promoting Japanese beverages, creating high-quality content, and has dedicated himself to not just showcasing these drinks, but also the culture surrounding them, which of course includes sake.
In the summer of 2021, he ventured out to Sado Island and spent a week making sake at Gakkogura, which is a brewery school program organized by Obata Shuzo. A unique experience open to anyone that would like to get some hands-on brewing experience. In fact, Cindy also joined them just the week before and with Giulias's recent stint in Shimane, they were excited to talk to him about it, especially as he just released a multi-part documentary series on how sake is made on his YouTube channel Kanpai Planet.
With plenty of drink-related content, make sure sure to watch the YouTube mini-series called "Making sake on Sado". There are currently 2 episodes out, with the rest of them being released over the next few weeks, but there is plenty of other content out there and if you want to keep up with Mac follow him on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter!
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 17th of March and will be about sake labels, what they tell you and what not, so make sure to mark this on your calendar.
Until then, have a nice sake!
One of the first things that come up with sake and something quite confusing for people new to the beverage are the sake categories. How do they work? Why do we have them? Do they actually mean anything for the end-consumer? Is a Ginjo sake better than a Futsushu?
Join Cindy and Giulia in this week's episode to find out more about how sake is categorised, as well as what our hosts think about it. One thing we can reveal, nothing is as simple as it sounds...
Make sure to join the conversation and leave us a comment, do you agree with Cindy and Giulia or do you have a totally different opinion on it? Share your insight right here in the comments or head over to join the conversation on Instagram and Facebook.
This is a weekly sake podcast, so subscribe to Sake Unplugged to never miss an episode! The next one will be aired on the 10th of March and has another guest join, this time we are welcoming Mac from Kanpai Planet talking to us about his latest adventure - brewing sake at Gakkogura in Sado and a few other things of course.
Until then, have a nice sake!
In this week's episode of Sake Unplugged, Cindy and Giulia are welcoming their very first guest to the show, someone who not just influenced the two of them, but also happens to be a huge part of why this sake podcast came to life in the first place!
The woman we are talking about is of course Simone Maynard, also known as the Sake Mistress!
Simone is a Melbourne-based sake ambassador, who, like many others had to completely rethink her game when the pandemic hit. However, this has not stopped her, in fact, it seems like she is even more relentlessly promoting sake, its culture, and above all its people. She is doing this through her project "the Taste with the Toji" and what started out as a small gathering, has since drawn a huge amount of people joining her online session every Monday night, meeting breweries, but also artisans and people working in peripheral industries.
What started out as informational sessions, has turned into a strong community and every single one of them is so much more than just an online tour. It is where many friendships are being made, they have sparked real-life meet-ups as well as countless plans to meet and visit the people introduced through the session once Japan is open for travel again...
But of course, this conversation with Simone is not all about her projects, it is really about the amazing person that she is, creative, funny, generous, and above all humble. Putting the community first, a facilitator creating a space for people to meet, to exchange, and maybe most importantly in a time where we are all practicing social distancing, to belong.
Learn more about her project by checking out "the Taste with the Tōji" and if you want to keep up with Simone follow her on Instagram or Facebook.
...as a little bonus, she has also shared with us her art, you can see it here as well as some of her pottery, which is absolutely beautiful...
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 3rd of February and will be about sake categories, why they are meaningful, and why they often do not help at all.
Until then, have a nice sake!
With international Nigori day (which was the 5th of February) just behind us, Cindy and Giulia felt inspired to talk about this wonderful style of sake in this week's episode of Sake Unplugged.
Sometimes misunderstood and occasionally confused with other products (Amazake and Doboroku), Nigori sake is an extremely versatile product, as aside from all the flavors and aromas, we are now also adding texture into the sake experience. From light, cloudy, and effervescent to thick and chunky that almost tempts one to reach for a spoon, Nigori is an absolute joy to discover and will level up anyone's sake game once you get a chance to try and compare them.
If you are looking to drink along, the sake featured in this episode are:
•Tamazakura from Shimane
•Nakashimaya from Yamaguchi
They may be a little tricky to get, however, if you happen to see them on a shelf or menu, do give them a try if you can, you won't regret it.
This is a weekly podcast so make sure to subscribe and tune in every Thursday and follow Sake Unplugged on Instagram and Facebook for updates and shenanigans, or if you are looking for additional information visit www.sakeunplugged.com
The next episode will be aired on the 24th of February and will feature Simone Maynard, also known as the Sake Mistress, in an intimate chat about herself, her projects, and of course plenty of sake...
Until then, have a nice sake!
Sparkling sake has been one style of sake that has created quite a bit of a hype in recent years. Being a rather young member of the sake family, it has like no other sake been able to capture the attention of the media and has been able to attract new demographics to enjoy sake. Aiming at a younger and often female audience, it has certainly created a bit of a stir, which is why this episode of Sake Unplugged is entirely dedicated to this bubbly sensation.
Join Cindy and Giulia in this week's episode to find out more about sparkling sake, geeking out a little bit on how sparkling sake is made, the Awa Sake Association, and their requirements to member breweries, but of course, also their relationship with sparkling sake, what they like and think about it.
Make sure to join the conversation and leave us a comment, what is your experience with sparkling sake, do you agree with Cindy and Giulia or do you have a totally different opinion on it? Share your insight right here in the comments or head over to join the conversation on Instagram and Facebook.
This is a weekly sake podcast, so subscribe to Sake Unplugged to never miss an episode! The next one will be aired on the 17th of February and will be about Nigori.
Until then, have a nice sake!
Hot sake or warmed-up sake can be a bit of a controversial topic, as there is a misconception that sake is heated up to mask unwanted flavors and/or hide bad quality. But is this really true?
Join Cindy and Giulia in this week's episode of Sake Unplugged to find out more about hot sake, a little bit about its history, how to heat it up, and of course, our host's favorite sake, or should we say, a favorite sake that either of them enjoyed warmed-up recently.
Join the conversation and leave us a comment, what is your experience with hot sake? Any favorites? Leave a comment with your story right here or head over to join the conversation on Instagram and Facebook.
This is a weekly sake podcast, so subscribe to Sake Unplugged to never miss an episode! The next one will be aired on the 10th of February and will be about sparkling sake.
Until then, have a nice sake!