What’s Awamori? Try Japan’s Oldest Spirit at the 2018 Okinawan Festival
(Sponsored) For the first time, guests can get a taste of Okinawan culture with special awamori tastings.
photo: courtesy of lotus spirits
An alcoholic beverage native to Okinawa, awamori has been a part of Okinawan culture since the 15th century. The liquor is distilled from rice using a traditional process and typically ranges between 30–60 proof. Like Champagne, which is produced exclusively in the Champagne region of France, Japanese law mandates that all awamori must be made in Okinawa. Today, there are only 47 distilleries crafting the beverage.
Held this year at the Hawai‘i Convention Center, the Okinawan Festival will share its culture’s 600-year-old tradition with a first-ever awamori tasting featuring 10 types of awamori. Guests will have a chance to sample Japan’s lesser-known spirit in two ways:
Awamori Tasting
Saturday, Sept. 1, 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.; Sunday, Sept. 2, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Tickets are $5 each and include two 1-ounce tastings of your awamori of choice. Want to try more? Purchase multiple tickets for more tastings. Two two-hour-long tastings will be held each day, giving you more than enough time to sample all the awamori you want.
Awamori Tasting + Food Pairing
Saturday, Sept. 1, 1 to 3 p.m.
Tickets are $25 per person and include six awamori-based cocktails paired with six small plates from Island restaurants including Senia, Agu Ramen, Mariposa, Alan Wong’s, Pagoda Floating Restaurant and MW Restaurant.
To purchase tickets to Awamori Tasting, visit hnltix.com/events/awamori-tasting. For more information on the Okinawan Festival, visit okinawanfestival.com.
