2018 Q2 Spirited Virginia - 25

T

his June and July, we can
look forward to the 21st
annual FIFA World Cup. Thirtytwo national soccer teams from
around the world will travel
to Russia and compete for the
Cup. They'll play matches in 12
stadiums across 11 cities. Like
the Olympics, the spirit of the
games is just as important as the
competition itself-cooperation,
fair play, sportsmanship and a
celebration of national cultures.
Virginia ABC wants to salute
the World Cup with you-
we'll embrace other nations
by embracing their unique
beverages.

and it comes in a wide variety
of flavors. The most festive and
traditional way to enjoy the
beverage is in a roadside "soju
tent" where you can drink fresh
homebrew. ABC carries several
brands of soju including Jinro
and Chum Churum. Drink it neat
or experiment with cocktails. Gun
bae!

ITALY

JAPAN

SOUTH KOREA

We'll start with South Korea.
If you're in Seoul, Pusan or
anywhere in-between, Soju is
what you'll raise a glass with.
The national drink, soju is a clear
spirit-not a wine-traditionally
distilled from rice, barley or
wheat, though today potatoes
and tapioca are also used. Soju
has been around since the time
of the Mongol Invasion of the
13th century, and the word itself
means "burned alcoholic drink"
in Korean. Sometimes weighing
in at more than 100 proof, it just
might burn a little going down.
Most Koreans drink soju straight,

similar to bourbon, with hints of
vanilla and corn.

Due east, across the Sea of Japan,
is the Land of the Rising Sun.
Raise a glass and say kanpai,
which literally means "dry glass"
or "empty glass." Sake plays
an important part in Japanese
culture, and it's the drink
most often associated with the
country.
However, the Japanese have
for many years been profoundly
interested in Western culture.
Maybe because their country
was closed off for centuries or
because the U.S. occupied the
country after World War II.
Either way, whiskey has long
been a prestigious drink in Japan,
in part because the category
of Japanese Whiskey was rare
and expensive. They've been
making their own whiskey for a
while, and it's ichiban-#1. Try
Suntory or one of Yamazaki's
aged whiskeys. A popular favorite
is Nikka Coffey Grain (no relation
to coffee grounds), which is

One of Italy's most popular afterdinner drinks is limoncello. Made
in southern Italy from simple
syrup and the zest of Femminello
St. Teresa lemons, this is a lowalcohol liqueur. Enjoy a classic
limoncello, such as Pallini, which
is both smooth and well balanced.
For something a little different,
there's Gioia Luisa Limoncello
Creme. This is a delicate yet
robust lemon liqueur with a dash
of cream to make it even more
smooth and delicious. Try it over
ice with a little orange juice for a
light, refreshing cocktail.

FRANCE

France is renowned for so many
types of food and drink. They
were the first great restaurateurs
and have led the world in winemaking for centuries. This
summer, say à votre santé-"to
your health"-to one of their
fine cognacs, such as Hennessey,
Courvoisier or Rémy Martin.
The French take their alcohol
seriously. To be labeled as cognac,

SPIRITED VIRGINIA | APRIL | MAY | JUNE 2018 25
2018 Q2 Spirited Virginia

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