Oishii Kanpai 2018

Oishii Kanpai 2018

https://www.oishii.sg/event/4592/


This was an invited media review. I did not pay for the meal during the free hosted tasting session.
Attended with representatives from Purple Taste, Geeky Elephant, Darren Bloggie, and Hazel Diary.

Laplandia Super Premium Vodka

Kanpai! To The Season Of Sake!


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Held on 1st October 2018 at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, the Oishii Kanpai 2018 event commemorates World Sake Day. An annual event now in its 5th edition in Singapore, the Oishii Kanpai 2018 event showcased various line-ups of sake, shochu, vodka, and cocktails from different breweries, along with local Singaporean food for pairing.

Oishii Kanpai 2018 Event Poster

Great fun during the Oishii Kanpai 2018 event, especially since they synchronised a kanpai cheering session via Live Skype With Tokyo, in the Kanto region of Japan.

Cheers

Live Skype With Tokyo

Good range of bottles and brands for both the Sake Display and Shochu Display. We could sample as many as we wished, while stocks last. The crowd was mostly Japanese, and I think they probably appreciated the nuances of the beverages more than I did.

Sake Display

Sake Tokugawa Ieyasu Daiginjo

Sake Azakura Ringochan Tokubetsujunmai Nama

Shochu Display

Variety of local Singaporean cuisine, Italian cuisine, and desserts, all for pairing with either the sake or shochu. Tapas style portions. Unlike beer or wine pairing, a pairing of sake or shochu is not meant to be consumed together... you're supposed to finish the food first, then down the shot of sake or shochu. Thus, it's a once-off pairing, unlike wine or beer, where you can pair with each mouthful.

Cuttlefish Kang Kong Display

Rojak Display

Achar Display

Banana Muffin Display

Kueh Dadar Display

Sago Balls With Passionfruit Display

Started with a Cocktail Shochu Yokaichi Rice & Yuzu paired with Plate Of Chicken Rice With Steamed Chicken, Roast Pork Belly. The heavier savoury sweet flavours of the chicken rice, steamed white chicken, and roast pork belly, are alleviated by the fruity tangy sweet sour notes of the yuzu & rice shochu cocktail.

Cocktail Shochu Yokaichi Rice & Yuzu

Plate Of Chicken Rice With Steamed Chicken, Roast Pork Belly

Did my own pairing of Sake Azakura Ringochan Tokubetsujunmai Nama & Cuttlefish Kang Kong, and I found it works quite well. The fruity apple flavour of the 'apple-chan' sake complemented the fruity sweet flavour of the pineapple, and vegetal notes of the kang kong / water spinach leaves.

Sake Azakura Ringochan Tokubetsujunmai Nama & Cuttlefish Kang Kong

Sake Azakura Ringochan Tokubetsujunmai Nama & Cuttlefish Kang Kong

Paired a premium Sake Tokugawa Ieyasu Daiginjo & Pizza Margherita. The light, refreshing sake acted almost like a palate cleanser for the stronger tomato and cheese flavours of the pizza.

Sake Tokugawa Ieyasu Daiginjo & Pizza Margherita

Sake Tokugawa Ieyasu Daiginjo & Pizza Margherita

The pairing of Shochu Zenryo-Imo Ikkomon & Peking Duck Wrap was interesting. The clear, sharp notes of the sweet potato shochu contrasted with the savoury salty smoky flavours of the peking roast duck and sweet bean sauce. Works decently without being overpowering.

Shochu Zenryo-Imo Ikkomon & Peking Duck Wrap

Shochu Zenryo-Imo Ikkomon & Peking Duck Wrap

The pairing of Sake Daina Tokubetsu Junmai 13 Genshu & Rojak didn't quite work for me, as the savoury pungent flavour of the rojak was much too strong for the more delicate sake.

Sake Daina Tokubetsu Junmai 13 Genshu & Rojak

Sake Daina Tokubetsu Junmai 13 Genshu & Rojak

Tried a pairing of Sake Hakkaisan Ginjo & Laksa. This worked well; the dry sharp texture of the sake complemented the savoury spicy flavours of the rich laksa gravy. As with all sake or shochu pairings, I finished the food first, then drank the shot.

Sake Hakkaisan Ginjo & Laksa

Sake Hakkaisan Ginjo & Laksa

Enjoyed the evening at Oishii Kanpai 2018, chilling, speaking with friends, and learning more about sake, shochu, vodka, and Asian cocktails.





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