Crate&Barrel X Malt Manila explores the delightful world of sake with no less than Sake Samurai Elliot Faber in a talk at the SM Makati store.
Sake, which has been long considered the national drink of Japan, is part of the country’s culture and tradition. It is often served with special ceremony. It is gently warmed in a small earthenware or porcelain bottle called tokkuri and sipped from a small porcelain cup called a sakasuki.
While it is often referred to as “rice wine”, it is made from rice through a brewing—rather than fermentation—process that converts starch into alcohol, similar to the way that beer is made. With that, sake’s popularity is spreading around the world.
Elliot, one of the few who has been honored as a Sake Samurai by the Japan Sake Brewers Association Junior Council, is the perfect person to talk about this iconic Japanese Drink. Hong Kong-based Elliot is the Beverage Director for Yardbird, A Modern Izakaya, RONIN, and Sunday’s Grocery. He is also the founder of Sunday’s Distribution—a beverage distribution company focused on a specific collection of wine, sake, and spirits.
As a certified sommelier and an advanced sake professional, Elliot is a senior whisky advisor to Zachys Wine Auctions, a contributing editor to JamesSuckling.com, and the co-author of Sake: The History, Stories and Craft of Japan’s Artisanal Breweries. Elliot has been a judge for the Decanter Asia Wine Awards since its launch in 2012 and has judged other awards, including the International Wine Spirits Competition and the Asia Wine Spirits Competition.
Elliot showed his sake creations in Crate&Barrel’s glassware: the Bitty Bite Tall, Callaway Shot, and Otis Highball glasses; pairing these with the signature degustation dishes of 12/10 using Crate&Barrel’s IkeTray, Tondo Plate, Gemma Appetizer Plate and Platter and Palisades Cheeseboard. The Steamer Bar Cabinet, a Crate&Barrel exclusive, is also used.
Crate&Barrel is in SM Aura Premier, SM Makati and SM Megamall.