satsuma

satsuma by definition is:

1. さつま - a kind of sweet japanese orange

2. 薩摩国 - an old province of Kyushu, Japan that is now the western half of Kagoshima Prefecture (鹿児島県)

3. satsuma - a new shochu bar at robertson quay

let's talk about No.3

there is this new shochu bar, at gallery hotel. they have two levels.

level one, outdoor tables/chairs. indoor bar and tatami seats. oh no shoes allowed, so please wear pretty socks or have nice pedicure

level two, proper tables and chairs.

they serve all sorts of japanese food. ranging from dinner portions like the usual sashimi to the snacks that goes with your alcohol like edamame (peas), stick grilled chicken otherwise known as yakitori.

the main draw is that they stocked plenty of shochu for your drinking pleasure.

oh what is shochu?

shochu, 焼酎

distilled alcohol, made from stuff like potatoes, rice, wheat and even black sugar.

amazing what they can extract from vegetable. makes you think again about becoming a vegetarian.

well, you can have it on the rocks, with cold/hot water or even shooter style.

mmmm

didn't manage to have much food as i had sashimi somewhere else.

had to start somewhere with the shochu right? so i ordered the first one on the list.

made from sweet potatoes, recommended portions - 30/70. 30% shochu, 60% iced water.

looked harmless, just like your regular 8-glass-a-day of water.

had a nice fragrance to it.

next!

this time, i decided to choose. with my brain and not blindly pointing.

decided on this basil shochu.

came along my glass, on the rocks. they put in an oba leave (actual name is aojiso 青紫蘇) with the drink. before you could actually have a sip, the fragrance of the oba together with the basil-infused shochu hit your nose almost immediately.

pop by satsuma if you want to try shochu!

just the many types of shochu waving from their shelves