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The PIL, Inc. Blog
Your source for sake and beer insights, industry news, and expert tips. Explore unique brewing traditions, food pairings, and how Pacific International Liquor connects you to the world of premium Japanese beverages.
Kawaba Beer
What is KAWABA? Kawaba is a small village of 3,400 people located amidst the beautiful landscape of Gunma, Japan. Kawaba means “The Place of Rivers,” so named because the village is surrounded by five rivers and many mountain streams. Kawaba Village also sits at the southern foot of Mt. Hotaka…
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LUCKY CUP
“Next Step” beverage for people who have only experienced hot sake. We dream of a future in which all Americans can enjoy sake as an everyday casual beverage. To achieve this goal, we developed LUCKY CUP as an easy-drinking “fun” sake. We hope LUCKY CUP’s amazing taste and pop image…
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It’s totally natural sake – Sparkling Sake “NATURAL” Junmai Ginjo by NINKI-ICHI
Did you know there are dozens of sparkling sakes available in America? Some are sold in retail stores for less than $5 a bottle, while high-end Japanese restaurants in Las Vegas and New York serve sparkling sake, a medium size, for $300 or more. Why is there so much price…
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What is “Kimoto style” sake?
If you are a sake drinker with an intermediate level of sake knowledge, you may recognize the types of sake as Junmai, Ginjo and Daiginjo as depending on the polishing rate of the rice, the main ingredient of sake. To be at an advanced level, you may be expected to…
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Once-in-a-lifetime sake – Shichiken Onakaya Tobin-Kakoi from Hakushu, Japan.
Tobin-Kakoi is a once-in-a-lifetime sake that is ultra-super premium, extremely rare, and heavily awarded. Have you heard of Tobin-Kakoi? If you are a sake drinker and recognized “Daiginjo” as the top category and most expensive tier, let me tell you that Tobin-Kakoi is even better (the best of the best)…
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Dear Restaurant Owners: Selling Sushi or Ramen To-Go? Why Not Add Sake To-Go?
The COVID-19 outbreak has changed everything in our lives – especially eating style. Due to the prolonged restaurant shut-down order, people must stay at home, potentially missing out on delicious meals cooked by their favorite chefs. On the other hand, this critical situation has created a new normal—an increase in…
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Have to stay home? Order premium sake “To-Go” from your local restaurant.
It seems there is nothing in our lives that has not been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak & subsequent quarantine. This specifically includes the restaurant shut-down order—meaning that you can no longer go out to your favorite Japanese restaurant for an evening of fine Omakase sushi dinner with a glass…
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10 Best Appetizers with Sake
Just as there are many kinds of sake on the market, there are also many kinds of Japanese otsumami (sake appetizers) to pair with them. Here, we pick our top 10 best appetizers for sake. Some of them might seem/taste a little weird to you at first, but each of…
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Food Pairing : KATANA Extra Dry Junmai Ginjo
A full-bodied drink with SMV+7, this super-dry sake has a strong presence and thick flavor with almost no perceptible smell or sweetness. Its excellent flavor, dryness and acidity pair well with bold, sweet, or oily foods. (ex.) Tempura, Sushi, rich-flavor meats and fish such as steak, fried pork, yakitori chicken,…
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KIGEN “THE SAMURAI” SAKE CUP
Hello Sake lovers! We are pleased to announce the launch of our new product KIGEN SAKE CUP. “Infusing Japanese Tradition into a Modern Era” KIGEN translates to an origin, a beginning, an era, and refers to Japan's deep sense of tradition. This tradition is reflected today in Japan’s modern…
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