Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association | JSS
In September 2022, the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) held the “ASI Bootcamp in Malaysia 2022” in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The bootcamp was a 3-day event hosted at the “DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur” from September 12th to the 14th and consisted of training sessions to help educate young and promising sommeliers with the potential to lead the industry in the future.
Following the formation of an official partnership between the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association (JSS) and ASI in May this year, JSS was invited to participate in the bootcamp. JSS organized a Sake Masterclass that involved five different types of sake to showcase the appeals of sake to the young sommelier participants. In addition, JSS provided an opportunity for the participants to try 12 different types of sake at a tasting table.
The ASI Bootcamp is an educational program developed and promoted by ASI, with 2022 marking the second bootcamp following the inaugural event last year. The high-quality, intensive 3-day event involved 27 training sessions that consisted of masterclasses, workshops, and tastings for 47 young sommeliers selected from 22 countries around the world.
With the continual rise of the global popularity of sake, many of the participating sommeliers had been anticipating the introduction of a sake category in the bootcamp. During the event, a 40-minute masterclass titled “Sake -Ingredients, techniques, styles” was held to cater to this, covering topics like the essential details, fundamental differences between wine and sake, the role of koji (rice malt), UMAMI, and how sake is paired differently with specific cuisines.
The response to the masterclass was extremely positive, with many of the participants eager to ask questions. In addition, the masterclass even drew the attention and interest of other tutors. Overall, all participants indicated a high interest in the relatively unknown realm of sake potential.
Sommeliers need to have extensive knowledge across a broad field of beverages and wine in particular. The inclusion of the sake category in this intensive 3-day bootcamp will help to significantly boost awareness of sake and have a positive impact on the overall branding and reach of sake. JSS will continue its activities with ASI and other sommelier associations worldwide to establish an identity within the global liquor industry.
・ASI Best Sommelier of Asia & Oceania 2022
November 7th to 9th, 2022 – ASI Best Sommelier of Asia & Oceania Contest (Tokyo)
・ASI Best Sommelier of the World
February 7th to 12th, 2023 – ASI Best Sommelier of the World Contest (Paris, France)
The Association de la Sommellerie Internationale is a non-profit, international organization formed in 1969 in Reims, France. Affiliated with sommelier associations in 60 countries worldwide. The organization promotes the establishment of sommelier associations in various countries and works to improve the skills and ethics of the sommelier profession.
ASI Official Website: http://www.asi.info/
