Journal

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Stories of makers, ingredients, places and the decisions behind Japan's most compelling drinks.

Preserving the Art of Sake in the Tropics

Drink

Sake Storage in Bangkok: Product-Specific Handling

Essential Temperature Mastery for Bangkok’s Premier Dining Establishments The Enigma of the Shifting Vintage: Why the Same Label Tastes Different As a distinguished restaurateur or sommelier in Bangkok, you have likely encountered this conundrum: “It tasted profoundly different at the brewery,” “the bouquet faded mere days after opening,” or a discerning patron noting, “This lacks the […]

Château des Annereaux – AOC Lalande de Pomerol

Six Centuries of Legacy

The Enduring Prestige of Château des Annereaux On Bordeaux’s Right Bank, within the heart of Lalande-de-Pomerol, the vineyards of Château des Annereaux flourish just a stone’s throw from the prestigious borders of Pomerol. Since the Annereau family first graced this land in 1390, the art of winemaking has been preserved through the same lineage for […]

Drink

Shochu’s “Silent Revolution”

Experiencing Japan’s Premier Spirit in the Heart of Bangkok While sake has gracefully secured its place at fine dining tables worldwide, another spirit stands as Japan’s undisputed master of distillation: shochu. Sweet potato, barley, rice, brown sugar—the vibrant diversity of its ingredients, the mastery of artisanal distillation techniques, and the profound depth of flavor cultivated […]

Drink

Will Aged Sake Unveil a New Dimension of Japanese Sake in 2026?

An Exquisite Luxury, Forged by Time Traditionally, Japanese sake has been introduced through the language of immediacy: fresh pressing, shinshu vitality, and bright aromatic lift. That framing remains important, but by 2026 it no longer captures the full category. A quieter and more durable narrative has emerged beside it—one centered on time, structure, and long-horizon […]

Drink

The Art of Clear Amazake KOJI CLEAR

Redefining the Essence of Koji Nestled in Daisen City, Akita Prefecture—one of Japan’s most esteemed rice-producing regions and the birthplace of celebrated sake such as Dewatsuru and Kariho—a new era of fermentation is being born. Introducing KOJI CLEAR. Crafted exclusively from rice koji, premium rice, and pure water, KOJI CLEAR is an exquisite, crystal-clear, non-alcoholic […]

Drink

An Ode to Freedom and Romance

LIBROM’s “Kyoho and Oak” Unveils a New Paradigm Tucked away in a quiet alley of Fukuoka’s Chuo Ward lies an exclusive boutique brewery. Founded in 2021, LIBROM Craft Sake Brewery is an urban sanctuary whose name gracefully intertwines the Italian words LIBERTÀ (freedom) and ROMANZO (romance). Their guiding ethos is as poetic as it is […]

Domaine Dominique GRUHIER

Memories of a Monastery, A Love Letter to a Daughter

800 Years of Domaine Gruhier’s “Cuvée Juliette” In the village of Épineuil in the Yonne, northern Burgundy, the landscape unveils a serene, contemplative elegance—strikingly distinct from the glamorous hills of the Côte d’Or. There, a monastery that has witnessed the passage of eight centuries still stands in graceful silence. In 1212, Cistercian monks established the […]

Domaine DECELLE

A Third Masterpiece, Toward Burgundy

Domaine Decelle & Fils Paints a Portrait of Chambolle-Musigny In the world of French wine, there’s an unspoken rule: earn renown in one region, and that should be enough. But Olivier Decelle has transcended this convention—twice. In the southern Roussillon, he took the reins of Mas Amiel, a storied name in fortified wines. In Saint-Émilion, […]

Chateau de GARNEROT

A Red Wine Born of White Rock

Two Female Vintners Resurrect a Burgundian Château In the Côte Chalonnaise of southern Burgundy—a serene enclave nestled just beyond the famed Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune—stands an 18th-century jewel: Château de Garnerot. Once the beating heart of Burgundy’s viticultural high society, this historic estate hosted prestigious gatherings of the Confrérie Saint-Vincent and grand […]

Drink

Gin Born in the Birthplace of Sake

How Umenoyado Shuzo Elevated “Sake” into an Exquisite Botanical Nestled at the foot of Mt. Katsuragi in Nara Prefecture—the southwestern edge of the Yamato Basin—lies Umenoyado Shuzo. Founded in 1893 (Meiji 26), this historic brewery has perfected the art of sake crafting for over 130 years. Its name is inspired by a magnificent 300-year-old plum […]

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