What do you do when the doors close repeatedly in your face?
Most of us would simply give up. Cutting our losses instead of getting too ahead of ourselves may be the wiser choice, especially if the pursuit—a Singaporean creation of “an authentic Japanese sake”—would’ve been considered by many to be a passion project. For pioneering creative firebrand and certified sake sommelier, Larry Peh, though, failure was never an option. Closed doors simply meant that he had to keep moving in search of the next brewery to make his own sakes a reality.
“I wished to create a highly complex yet universal sake that could be easily understood and enjoyed by anyone, anywhere, in any way they desire,” explains Peh of the origins of Normat, a Singapore-born lifestyle brand that seeks to collaborate with artisanal distilleries to elevate sake and evolve the appreciation of the spirit.
Normat’s debut offering, the appropriately monikered Against The Grain collection, encapsulates Peh’s vision. Finding a kindred spirit in small-batch sake distillery, Kubiki Shuzo, Normat conceived an entirely unique flavour profile and used locally sourced rice from the Niigata region to create a sake “crafted from the grain up for a far more worldly palate”.
The result? Three exceptional Against The Grain creations: the refined and clean tasting Junmai Daiginjo; the fruity and aromatic Tojubetsu Junmai; and the 120-bottle premium edition Nakadori Junmai Daiginjo that contains the smoothest volume of the sake that was pressed during the making of the Junmai Daiginjo.
“We took on the challenge of creating two sakes that could be enjoyed on their own, yet could hold their weight against a myriad of dishes–from lighter to stronger flavours, from Singapore to Asia and the world. Instead of a perfect pairing that uses various sakes to match different dishes, here, we suggest an alternative approach of creating perfect harmony with just our two sakes,” says Peh.
And truly, these sakes do hold their own against robust Singaporean flavours. We had the opportunity to try both alongside the sambal belacan that usually accompanies nasi lemak, and each sip from both glasses harmonised beautifully with the strong flavours.
But don’t take our word for it. Over two weekends, both of Normat’s Against The Grain sakes will be available for public trial at two beloved restaurants, The Coconut Club and ATIPICO on 24th and 25th August, as well as 1st September. Enjoy local delights together with the new sake and discover fresh perspectives of what sake can be.
Normat’s Against The Grain sakes can also be purchased online here. Drink responsibly.
