A group of sake enthusiasts gathered at Nomi Dining Bar for a sake tasting with Joshua Kalinan.
Joshua, a renowned sake sommelier from Singapore, was the star of the show, and we couldn’t wait to taste the sakes that he had specially selected for us.
His credentials included being the winner of the 2019 International Kikisake-shi (Sake Sommelier) Competition held in Tokyo, Japan and Winner of the 2018 Sake Sommelier of the Year Competition, organised by the Sake Sommelier Association in London. He was also the first and only Certified Sake Sommelier from Singapore by the Sake Sommelier Association in London and the first and only Certified Sake Educator by the Sake Service Institute in Singapore.
It was difficult for Joshua to hide his knowledge and passion for sake. He introduced the generous spread of 18 sakes, each with its unique flavour and aroma. As we tasted each sake, Joshua shared the story of its production and the qualities that set it apart from the others. His passion for cooking helped in recommending food pairings for each sake, and we ordered some yakitori items from the Nomi kitchen to complement our tastings.
By the way Joshua was amongst the top 10 in MasterChef Singapore in 2018.
The sakes we tasted were exquisite, and we were introduced to a range, from Okinawa to Hiroshima to Niigata. Joshua’s enthusiasm made the experience even more enjoyable. In addition to being an excellent host and a gracious and engaging speaker, he encouraged us to take our time with each tasting, savouring the flavour and aroma of the sake and reflecting on how it paired with the food we were sampling. The banter got louder as we got past the halfway mark, as each of us tried to recall the sakes we tasted and thinking about how they compared with the next sake that was introduced.
Overall, the experience was exceptional. We enjoyed an unforgettable tasting experience and at $68 nett per person, it was doubly enjoyable. Our palettes were satisfied and our brains, though somewhat woozy, were contented. We left feeling uplifted and spirited, with a newfound appreciation for sake and the culture that surrounds it.
The next sake tasting session takes place on 16 April 12.30-2.30pm at Nomi Dining Bar, Forum Shopping Centre.
