Wikipedia knows

About Awamori:

Awamori is an alcoholic beverage indigenous to and unique to Okinawa, Japan. It is distilled from rice, not brewed.

Awamori is typically 60 proof, although “export” brands (including brands shipped to mainland Japan) are increasingly 50 proof. As awamori ages, its alcohol content rises, and some brands of awamori are 120 proof and will catch fire.

The most popular way to drink awamori is with water and ice. When served in a restaurant in Okinawa, it will nearly always be accompanied by a container of ice and carafe of water. Awamori can also be drunk straight, on the rocks, and in cocktails.

One thing they don’t mention in the writeup is just how jaw-blowingly cheap this stuff is. We’re talking getting four people absolutely plastered: genuine talking to walls and deciding you’re fluent in both Japanese and Okinawa-ben fucked, for about ten bucks, in a restaurant. Awesome.

They also don’t mention the hangover. This is probably a good thing.

Posted in Japan on Monday September 11, 2006.