Japanese Horror Cocktail

Whether fictional or factual, Japanese horror uses the Japanese culture as an asset, noted for its unique thematic and conventional treatment of the horror genre differing from the traditional Western representations.

Japanese Horror can be found focusing on psychological horror, carefully executed tension-building and supernatural horror, involving ghosts (yūrei) and poltergeists, or it could delve into its creepy and frightening folklore, which can touch on possession, exorcism, precognition, shamanism and yōkai.

This kind of horror can be found in films, anime, theater, literature, manga, video games, or artwork.

This Cocktail, although only simple in its creation, holds within a frightful world of possibility, combining the Devil’s Rum with Japan’s own Rice Wine called Sake, from Misty Mountains, you’ll get to taste something from another plane.

The Sake – Misty Mountain

This Sake has the unique characteristic of a cloudy brew, with the cloudiness coming from the fact that these Sakes are unfiltered – or in the case of Misty Mountain, partially filtered – leaving some of the rice lees still in the bottle.

Misty Mountain is also made using the ancient Bodaimoto method, which tends to yield slightly earthier and sourer Sake (this is a good thing!).

Tsuji Honten – in Katsuyama town, Okayama, Japan – was founded in 1804. Today’s brother & sister team, Soichiro & Maiko Tsuji, are the seventh generation brewers. Tsuji Honten are pioneers of using omachi rice and an ancient, medieval brewing technique: Bodaimoto.

You can pair Sake with a variety of different food/dishes, this Misty Mountain Sake is recommended to pair well with blue cheese and spicy/peppery dishes. Available at the Wasabi Company England.

Misty Mountain – Junmai Bodaimoto Nigori – Tasting Notes 

Aroma – “Sweet and sour, with rice water, light milk, with marzipan and almond, passion fruit with slight peppery notes on the aroma.”

Flavour – “Green character, vegetable skins, well cooked sushi rice water, ripe passion fruits and peppery notes on the palate.”

The Rum – Diablo

A devilish Producer by the name of House of Rum has three quality Rums in their Diablo series, beautifully packaged and ready to be enjoyed by those wishing to make a deal with the devil. We’ve taken their Diablo Aged Rum to help us create our Cocktail, but before we do, let’s give it a taste.

The dominant origin of our unique blend are 3 & 5 year old rums born in column stills from the Dominican Republic whilst our Jamaican rum is 5 years old and was born in pot stills.

Diablo Aged Rum – Tasting Notes

Aroma – “Yeasty, freshly baked, straight out of the oven white bread, apple pies, brown sugar, toffee, caramel and vanilla with raisins and blackberries on the aroma.”

Flavour – “Smooth and sweet with bread and toasty notes, brown sugar, caramel, toffee, vanilla with some added honey to combine with sweet spices, oaky characters, and red apples on the palate.”

Was It A Difficult Decision To Make Your Drastic Career Change When You Decided To Spend More Time In The Caribbean?

“Ha ha, that’s a great question. Hey listen, any dramatic change is always a difficult decision but it’s definitely not one I regretted. Growing up in Manchester to living in the Caribbean as a Scuba Instructor. Diving every day on spectacular reefs with sharks, rays, octopus and stunningly beautiful reef fish to partying in the evening with loads of cool people from around the world as well as drinking amazing rums….I’ll let you decide!” – David Howarth

 Cocktail – Japanese Horror

Ingredients

• Sparkling Sake – Misty Mountain
• Diablo Aged Rum

How To Make The Japanese Horror Cocktail

• 15mls of Diablo Aged Rum
• 75mls of Sparkling Sake

Japanese Horror Cocktail Tasting Notes 

Aroma – “A devilish warmth of Rum wraps itself around your nose, tempting you into a deal you won’t forget, with rich Sparkling Sake luring you in with apple l’eau de vie characters, dried white cheese, pear blossom and bruised cooking apples on the aroma.”

Flavour – “Soft, rich and warming, with very smooth rum that tastes like the light, a lovely balance, smooth and silky texture of pear blossom, light green bruised pear flesh, fresh oysters and creamy cheese on the palate.”

 

Image Credit: Swamp – Hands – Haunted House – Alien