THE COCKTAIL THAT WILL LEAVE AN IMPACT BUT NOT A MEMORY
BIRTH OF THE SAKE BOMB
Sushi is a love or hate type of affair for most people. If you hate it, its probably because the idea of eating raw fish can send you swimming away faster than a Sailfish (yes there is such a fish).
If you do love it, there are many factors that are involved, such as: watching the Itamae (skilled sushi chef) craft his art in front of you, sitting at the communal table with others while looking at their handmade orders, and the raw energy felt from all the flowing sake without abandon.
However, Sushi Bars antagonists are really turned off by impressions of imitation fish, and of the headache-inducing cheap “HOT” Sake. One can get caught up in the atmosphere and the presentation of cheap alcohol that is being served in an ornate traditional Takuri set, along with the party ambiance that’s wrapped up like a sushi roll.
What most patrons aren’t aware of is that the “HOT” sake is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It’s actually the most inferior type of sake and it’s just brewed rice alcohol that has been heated multiple times just to mask all of its imperfections; Think of a burger joint that uses the same oil over and over to make your orders. Indigestion anyone???
This does nothing for the reputation of carefully driven Sake that has thousands of years of family heritage. So why do they serve it? The brutal honesty is, it’s the American culture.
Americans love a good time but nothing exotic and in excess. Therefore, money can override traditions. Yet, Everyone knows that drinking alcohol over the course of a day’s time will have you develop an appetite for food that can serve an army. Thus, serving drinkable alcohol with a sense of romanticized tradition is like leaving the patron with experiencing Sushi and Sake likened to catered Fast Food. Now walks in the Sake Bomb.
The origins of the Sake Bomb are mysterious and can easily be associated with Japan in the light of the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. It was a drink regarded to be invented by American soldiers who were occupying Japan after World War II. For this reason, the cocktail is much more popular in America than it is in Japan. Leave it to the Americans to make a clashing drink out of two clashing cultures. While neither country is complaining, genuine Japanese imagine the West to be foolish for squandering quality sake by dropping it into beer; Budweiser or Coors.
WHAT IS THE BOMB
Sake Bombs were made in order to forget life after World War II. This was when American soldiers were still occupying War-torn Japan. Traditionally, the sake shot was balanced on two chopsticks that were placed on top of the beer glass.
Supposedly, the beer-loving American soldiers would hit the table with their fists, causing the shot of sake to drop into the beer. The balancing act is a fact that is hard to believe, but the act of intoxicating military stationed soldiers isn’t. I would equate the “Sake Bomb Cocktail” to a cheap tequila shot; meant to be drunk in shame.
HOW A BOMB IS MADE
Sake Bomb is a Japanese “cocktail” that is prepared by dropping a shot glass filled with sake into a glass of beer. It’s not really a cocktail. A cocktail by definition is an alcoholic drink composed of one spirit or multiple spirits along with other fixings, such as fruit, herbs, sugar, cream, or anything else.
The Japanese considered Western ideals for dispensing Sake made by their family master brewers at that time to be foolish. Modern times have modified the quality of Sake dropped into a beer glass. Most sushi bars offer the two Japanese beer giant options; Sapporo and Asahi. While the two beers are solid, the sake quality dropped into your beer will leave your brain confused.
The Sake used today is nothing like what the soldiers had in the 1940s. The Sake used in this era is the most inferior form of the brew traditionally called “FUTSU-SHU”. This is the lowest grade Sake that is highly similar to moonshine. It applies to a more than a generous term like “normal sake,” or “table Sake. This is also the Sake that most people associate with “Hot Sake” served at sushi bars without abandon in the beautiful traditional carafes. The reason why it’s the lowest grade is that it’s the leftovers of the sake brew that has all the impurities that brewers don’t want. However, why throw it away, when they can generate extra money from what was a labor-intensive process. Basically, “Futsu” generally refers to any non-premium brew, while “shu” simply means sake.
STYLES OF THE BOMB
Even though Sake Bombs are customarily composed of cheap beer and sake, they still evoke dramatic presentations with images of a party or a good time. Here are some examples of the sake bombs.
Shoju Bomb: Beer and Soju
Vegas Bomb: Crown Royal and Sake
Irish Car Bomb: Irish Cream, Whiskey, Guinness, Sake
The list can go on forever, like the Strange History to this drink that was created in the Mid 20th century. Then there are the food and alcoholic shooters that can only be created by Americans. Oyster Shooters, Uni Shooters. Americans love a good time and the American- Japanese are willing to contribute to the efforts.
What’s your experience with any of these concoctions???
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Note: Don’t do Sake Bomb on Granite
