Home-grown lifestyle collective, NORMAT is launching its debut creation, ‘AGAINST THE GRAIN’ — a Japanese sake specially crafted to complement the diverse and distinct cuisines of Singapore and Southeast Asia with its unique flavour profile (Above: Nakadori Premium Selection)
Japanese monozukuri — or craftsmanship — is held in high regard for good reason. Of the countries whose culinary and distillation expertise have been successfully exported worldwide, there are few that hold a candle to the tradition and technical prowess that Japan has mastered. From their omakase in the kitchen, to their kanso and fukinsei design principles in the home, Japan’s philosophies of creation are at the root of the immense prestige and demand for their products both locally and internationally.
What then would happen if Japan’s national beverage was redesigned to pair perfectly with the tastes of Singapore? NORMAT — a local lifestyle collective helmed by Larry Peh that aims to bridge traditional craftsmanship with intentional contemporary design — answered this bold ideation by engendering its ‘AGAINST THE GRAIN’ sakes. Reimagining Japanese savoir-faire in alcohol distillation with the intention of accompaniment to Singapore’s beloved dishes — NORMAT’s two Japanese rice wines emerge as vessels of versatility tailored specifically to fit Singapore’s gastronomic landscape.
NORMAT’s vision of sake reimagined was easier said than done, however. With Japanese techniques comes Japanese tradition — centuries worth of it — that would dissuade most who wished to contemporize a beverage so steeped in heritage and cultural expectations. For Peh, however, the envisagement of ‘AGAINST THE GRAIN’s was rooted in a genuine personal love for the beverage and a desire to simplify its premise for all.
“Barries such as language, complex jargon, pairing dilemmas, and preconceived notions often hinder our understanding and adoption of sake as an alternative beverage. I wished to create a highly complex, yet universal sake that could be easily understood and enjoyed by anyone, anywhere and any way you desire.” shared Peh on the motivation to launch ‘AGAINST THE GRAIN’.
After facing initial pushback, NORMAT and Peh’s tenacity found ground in Kishida Rice Farm — a site located at the base of the sacred Mt. Yoneyama in Joetsu City. With exceptionally fertile soil, pristine mountain water, and ample sunlight, the sake produced and extracted from the farm bring a refined authenticity that is translated perfectly to its rich and flexile profiles during the brewing process.
The first of the pair is the Junmai Daiginjo (S$194) that is brewed with 100% Koshitanrei rice and mountain water. Fronting a gentle fruity aroma and a balance of umami and sweetness with a silky snow-like finish — it presents itself as ideal both for individual savouring and pairing with local culinary delights. The other of the NORMAT sakes comes in the form of the Tokubetsu Junmai (S$158). It features a rare combination of Gohyakumangoku and Tsukiakiri rice that creates a smooth velvety texure, elegant fruity aroma and a polished lightly acidic umami flavour that ends with a long aftertaste. With the latter, NORMAT pushes the conventions of traditional sake making, presenting a beverage that can be revelled in regardless of the fare it is accompanied with.
(Above: Tokubetsu Jumani)
In commemoration of its launch, NORMAT’s ‘AGAINST THE GRAIN’ sakes will be available for public trial at New Bahru’s The Coconut Club and ÁTIPICO on August 31st and 1 September. Patrons can have their go at pairing the Junmai Daiginjo and Tokubetsu Junmai with traditional Malay cuisine like Nasi Lemak at the former or morsels of sweet delight at the ÁTIPICO atelier.
NORMAT’s ‘AGAINST THE GRAIN’ sakes are now available for purchase on NORMAT.com. Once you are done with this story, click here to catch up with our August 2024 issue.
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