For Her:

For Valentine’s Day, we usually associate Champagne on this romantic day. How about considering other drinks? Maybe it’s time to visit English Sparkling Wine as a bubbly alternative. English Sparking Wine production is expected to double over the next decade, they are taking over the date night tipple of choice, with Nyetimber leading the way, looking forward to their bumper harvest of English Sparking Wine.

Nyetimber is available to purchase online in Singapore via Analogue Wine Merchants. They currently have two Rosé options to suit various budgets:

• Rosé Multi-Vintage

This beautiful sunset-pink Multi-Vintage rosé offers a unique combination of aromas, including British summer fruits and shortbread. Its creamy, round texture and refreshing redcurrant, raspberry and cherry flavours give it an elegant and silky finish.

Price: SGD$118

• 2010 Nyetimber 1086 Prestige Cuvée Rosé

The first ever Prestige Cuvee rosé made in England, 1086 Rosé represents the pinnacle of Nyetimber’s winemaking. Their 2010 vintage celebrates a pure expression of Pinot Noir red fruit, alongside floral and pastry notes (the result of many years of ageing on the lees). The body and supple texture of this wine, mean weightier poultry and seafood pair perfectly.

Price: SGD$450

For Him:

Asakura Premium Koji Whisky was recently launched in Singapore by Kyushu Spirits. It’s distilled from 100% local Japanese barley (mug) and matured in oak sherry casks, combined with traditional koji fermentation, giving a distinctively smooth taste and texture to this whisky, created in a single distillery.

Asakura Premium radiates a deep golden hue, reminiscent of the fields of their origin. Scents of honey, vanilla and coconut from the oak cask, combined with a hint of soft white florals, lure the nose. On the palate, notes of honey work with hints of buttery brown sugar and cinnamon with a touch of yuzu zest.

Asakura Premium is available to purchase in Singapore through Cellarbrations and retails for SGD$198 (currently on promotion for SGD$152)

Wishing all an advanced Happy Valentine’s Day 2021! Have a great time together enjoying your drinks! Cheers!

* Information and pictures courtesy of VIM & VIGOUR PR *

The post Valentine’s Day Drinks Gift Guides for him and for her appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Asakura Premium is their first brand of Koji Whisky by Kyushu Spirits. They are determined to keep the traditional distillation methods used in Japan’s southernmost island alive, by working with a consortium of local families to create ground-breaking hybrid spirits, crafted through a combination of traditional Japanese fermentation and Western ageing techniques. 

To understand more about Asakura Premium, let’s go into the history and heart of Kyushu. For centuries, the people of Kyushu have been accustomed to drinking shochu. This is an integral part of the island’s history, Kyushu Spirits is inspired by this aspect, they work with distilleries to combine wood ageing with the koji fermentation process pioneered by their ancestors to create whiskies that are truly unique in balance and flavour. 

The use of koji in the standard malting process gives the whiskies a rich aroma and a characteristic flavour. Kyushu Spirits whisky makers use only locally sourced grains such as barley, buckwheat and rice. Those locally sourced grains come from where has long been considered some of the best farmland in Japan, thanks to Kyushu volcanic soil that is rich in minerals. 

Asakura Premium is the first product in the Kyushu Spirits range. They are created in a single distillery, distilled from 100% local Japanese barley (mugi) and matured in oak sherry casks, which combined with traditional koji fermentation endows a distinctively smooth taste and texture unique to Asakura Premium. 

Asakura Premium Tasting Notes

Asakura Premium radiates a deep golden hue, reminiscent of the fields of their origin. Scents of honey, vanilla and coconut from the oak cask, combined with a hint of soft white florals, lure the nose. On the palate, notes of honey work with hints of buttery brown sugar and cinnamon with a touch of yuzu zest. 

Vikramm Chand, Founder and Managing Director of Kyushu Spirits, said, “having grown up in Japan, I became very interested in the variety of spirits being crafted locally, and was very surprised to learn about the different sources of artisanal brewers that exist throughout the country. Through Kyushu Spirits, we hope to continue working with local distilling families on the island to introduce these intriguing hybrid whiskies to the rest of the world.” 

Personally for me, I am constantly exploring and tasting the whole wide world of whisky, from single malt, pure malt, blended, grain whisky. For Japanese whisky, I am still exploring, tasting and learning more about this market. When I do get a chance to taste Asakura Premium, I would share more of my tasting and food pairing adventures!

Local pricing and availability 

Asakura Premium is available to purchase online through Cellarbration and retails at SGD198 for a 500ml bottle. 

Asakura Premium is currently served at the likes of Sake Labo, The Cooperage, The American Club, and Matsuya Dining in Singapore.

For more information on Kyushu Spirits and Asakura Premium

Kyushu Spirits: https://www.kyushuspirits.com/en/ 

Asakura Premium: https://www.kyushuspirits.com/en/#Asakura-Premium-is 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asakurapremium/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AsakuraPremium 

Hashtag: #AsakuraPremium 

* Information and pictures courtesy of Kyushu Spirits and VIM & VIGOUR PR *

The post Launch of Asakura Premium Koji Whisky by Kyushu Spirits in Singapore appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.