Sake: the rice wine
Sake (nihonshu) takes centre stage. Unlike true wine, it’s brewed from rice, resulting in a clean, slightly sweet flavour profile. Think of it as a lighter, fruitier option compared to full-bodied white wines. There are two main types of sake; Junmai (pure rice sake) and non-Junmai types. While Junmai sake excludes any additives or alcohol, other varieties may incorporate distilled alcohol to enhance aromas and flavours.
We offer a variety of sakes, from the sweet Mio Sparkling sake with its light vanilla notes to Gokai Futsushu – Nagano with its crisp and traditionally dry taste. And if you’re not sure what to try, we do offer Sake Flights, where you can have a taste of three sake, either of your choice or from our preselected options; Sake Traditional Flight and Introduction to Sake Flight.
If you choose fruity or floral sake, it pairs well with lighter dishes like seafood and vegetables, like our Fried Squid or Salmon Teriyaki poke don. On the other hand, sakes with bolder, earthier flavours pair well with richer dishes like meat such as Spicy Pork poke don or our Lamb Shank buns.
Shochu: the spirit of choice
Shochu, a distilled spirit, comes in various flavours depending on the base ingredient. Sweet potato (imo) shochu offers a mellow, earthy taste, while barley (mugi) shochu leans towards a slightly smoky character. There are also other flavours such as brown sugar or even carrots. Similar to other spirits, shochu can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or mixed.
At Flesh & Buns, we have two shochu for you to try. Lento Amami is made from brown sugar whereas Satoh is a sweet potato shochu. These pair perfectly with dishes like our Crispy Piglet Belly buns or Smoked Chilli Beef Hot Stone Rice.
Umeshu: the sweet and tart plum wine
Umeshu is a delightful liqueur made from steeping Japanese plums (umeboshi) in alcohol and sugar. The result? A vibrant amber drink with a sweet and tart flavour profile, reminiscent of a mellow sour plum wine. It’s a fantastic choice for those who enjoy fruity cocktails which is why we offer a Kocho No Hana cocktail made from butterfly pea flower-infused gin, umeshu, lychee and jasmine syrup.
We also have Umeshu Urakasumi, an umeshu-flavoured sake. We recommend pairing umeshu with either one of our savoury appetisers such as our Yaki, or desserts like our Kinako Donuts.
Japanese whisky: a liquid luxury
Heavily influenced by Scotch whisky, Japanese distillers have mastered the art of creating smooth, nuanced whiskies. These are known for their delicate floral or citrus notes, alongside a hint of smokiness. Similar to Scotch, Japanese whisky comes in two main varieties: single malt made from malted barley at a single distillery and blended whisky made from a combination of malt whiskies from different distilleries.
We offer both single malt and blended Japanese whisky for you to try. One is the Hakushu 12-year single malt whisky that boasts a fresh and forestry flavour profile. Another single malt Japanese whisky is our Yamazaki Distillers Reserve with its red berry notes. For blended Japanese whisky, we have the Akashi Blended with its slightly sweet apricot flavour or Suntory Hibiki Harmony with its flavours of crushed almonds, oranges and sherried malt.
Similar to other whiskies we recommend pairing our Japanese whisky with our sushi dishes such as Salmon & Avocado Maki or Tuna Sashimi.
Non-alcoholic options: refreshing brews
Japanese culture takes immense pride in its green tea. From the invigorating sencha to the calming matcha, green tea offers a healthy and flavourful beverage option and we’re pleased to offer our green tea both hot or cold with complimentary refills.
For other soft drinks, we’ve taken inspiration from key Japanese and Asian flavours to create our Pear and Lychee fresh juice and our Yuzu Berry Soda soft cocktail made from fresh raspberry and blueberries, cranberry, yuzu and soda. These pair well with our entire menu so sit back and enjoy!
Ready to try some Japanese drinks?
Exploring these traditional drinks alongside Flesh & Buns’ delectable Japanese street food creates a truly immersive experience. So, come raise a glass (or mug!) and embark on a delicious journey to Japan! Click here to book either our Covent Garden or Oxford Circus restaurant.
