The Spirit of Japan: interview with director Joseph Overbey (ep. 89)
In episode 89, Stephen chats with his longtime friend and collaborator Joseph Overbey about their upcoming film, The Spirit of Japan.
Jul 02, 2025•48 min•Season 5Ep. 89
Japan Distilled
Distilled spirits have been made in Japan for over 600 years, but even today these drinks remain unknown outside the Land of the Rising Sun. Join shochu and awamori ambassadors Christopher Pellegrini and Stephen Lyman bi-weekly for a deep dive into Japan's best kept secrets. If you enjoy exploring craft spirits from around the world, but think whisky is the most popular Japanese spirit, you are in for a treat with the Japan Distilled podcast.
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Episodes
Shochu Live #1 @ Umami Mart (ep. 88)
In episode 88, Stephen chats with Kayoko Akabori of Umami Mart about the 1st ever American shochu festival! Shochu Live will be held on June 28th in Oakland, CA.
Jun 20, 2025•38 min•Season 5Ep. 88
Live Show! Koji Spirits Chat at Charleston Wine & Food Festival (ep. 87)
In episode 87, Stephen chats koji spirits in Charleston, South Carolina as a guest of Imbibe Magazine 's editor in Chief, Paul Clarke ( listen to episode 69 for more of his thoughts on Japanese spirits) and James Beard Award winning author, bartender, and bar owner, Julia Momose. The trio hosted a live panel discussion of koji spirits to a group of guests, most of whom had never tried shochu, awamori, or koji whiskey before....
May 22, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Season 5Ep. 87
Surgeon General's Warning (ep. 86)
In episode 86, Stephen spends some time musing on the recent announcement that the U.S. Surgeon General recommends cancer warnings on beverage alcohol labels.
Mar 25, 2025•24 min•Season 5Ep. 86
Okay, so who is Stephen Lyman? (ep. 85)
In episode 85, Stephen Lyman finally gets around to introducing himself.
Jan 21, 2025•47 min•Season 5Ep. 86
Who is Christopher Pellegrini? (ep. 84)
In episode 84, Christopher Pellegrini finally gets around to introducing himself.
Jan 14, 2025•46 min•Season 5Ep. 84
Big News! UNESCO Koji Fermentation is an Intangible Cultural Heritage (ep. 83)
UNESCO Koji Fermentation recognition? In episode 83, we discuss the recent announcement that Japanese koji alcohol fermentation has been named an intangible cultural heritage.
Dec 31, 2024•35 min•Season 4Ep. 83
Talking Koji Cocktails with Grant Lavrenz (ep. 82)
In episode 82 our host Stephen Lyman sits down at Khaluna Restaurant in Minneapolis with Grant Lavrenz who is doing amazing things with koji spirits in his cocktail program.
Sep 26, 2024•36 min•Season 4Ep. 82
Nankai Shochu: a conversation with founder Paul Nakayama (ep. 81)
In episode 81 our host Stephen Lyman is joined by founder of Nankai Shochu, the first kokuto sugar shochu developed specifically for the US market.
Aug 28, 2024•54 min•Season 4Ep. 81
The SG Shochu (ep. 80)
In episode 80, our hosts take a deeper look at The SG Shochu from The SG Group, lead by internationally recognized bartender, Shingo Gokan.
Jul 23, 2024•29 min•Season 4Ep. 80
Gateway Shochu + Simple Serves (ep. 79)
In episode 79 our hosts are back in the studio to talk about gateway shochu brands and simple service styles to help introduce these spirits to unfamiliar drinkers.
Jul 09, 2024•44 min•Season 4Ep. 79
The Bartender's Pantry: a chat with Jim Meehan (ep. 78)
In episode 78 our host Stephen Lyman is joined by co-author of The Bartender's Pantry, bartender, bar owner, introvert, and writer Jim Meehan.
Jun 04, 2024•54 min•Season 4Ep. 78
The Death of the Soju Label Rule: a chat with Chef turned Lobbyist John McCarthy (ep. 77)
In episode 77 our host Stephen Lyman sits down to chat with lawyer turned chef turned lobbyist John McCarthy to discuss the end of the soju label rule for NY and CA. Of course, they also talk shochu, hospitality, and plenty else.
May 22, 2024•51 min•Season 4Ep. 77
The First Australian Shochu: interview with Hamish Nugent of Reed & Co. Distillery
In episode 76 our host Stephen Lyman sits down with chef turned distiller Hamish Nugent of Reed & Co. Distillery to talk trial and error, success, and the very first Australian Shochu.
Apr 30, 2024•46 min•Season 4Ep. 76
The Iconoclastic Chuko Distillery (ep. 75)
In episode 75 our hosts at long last profile the iconic and iconoclastic Chuko Distillery in Okinawa.
Apr 10, 2024•46 min•Season 4Ep. 75
Whisky Rising: a chat with author Stefan VanEycken (ep. 74)
In episode 74 our host Stephen Lyman sits down with author of Whisky Rising, Stefan VanEycken in Tokyo. They discuss Stefan's whisky journey, his book, and the state of Japanese whisky in 2024.
Mar 28, 2024•40 min•Season 4Ep. 74
Award Winning Aloha Whisky Bar: a chat with David Tsujimoto (ep. 73)
In episode 73 our host Stephen Lyman visits Aloha Whisky Bar in the Ikebukuro neighborhood of Tokyo. He and owner David Tsujimoto talk whisky discovery, the journey to bar ownership, and the state of Japanese whisky in 2024.
Mar 14, 2024•30 min•Season 4Ep. 73
Shochu Trends 2024 (ep. 72)
In episode 72 our hosts reflect on a massive increase in awareness for shochu in awamori overseas and wonder about what 2024 has in store.
Feb 28, 2024•38 min•Season 4Ep. 72
Koji and Agave Spirits: a chat with Emma Janzen on these beautiful traditions (ep. 71)
In episode 71 our host Stephen Lyman is joined by James Beard Award Winning Author and Journalist, Emma Janzen to talk about the similarities, differences, histories, and culture behind two of the world's most fascinating indigenous spirits traditions: agave spirits and koji spirits.
Jan 26, 2024•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 71
Succession Challenge(s): how to pass the baton (ep. 70)
In episode 70, Stephen reflects on succession challenges in small family distilleries on his first solo podcast for Japan Distilled.
Dec 14, 2023•28 min•Season 3Ep. 70
Imbibe in Kyushu: Interview with Paul Clarke (ep. 69)
In episode 69, Stephen chats with editor in chief of Imbibe Magazine , Paul Clarke, toward the end of their Imbibe in Kyushu Distillery Tour.
Nov 15, 2023•29 min•Season 3Ep. 69
What is that?! Spirits Evaluation (Ep. 68)
In episode 68 of the Japan Distilled podcast, Stephen puts Christopher on the spot with an impromptu spirits evaluation.
Oct 31, 2023•33 min•Season 3Ep. 68
Mizu Shochu: Japan's 1st Export Brand (ep. 67)
In episode 67, Stephen delves into the origins of Mizu Shochu with founder, Jesse Falowitz. Believed to be the 1st shochu ever developed specifically for the export market, Mizu has been a trendsetter for over a decade now.
Oct 17, 2023•55 min•Season 3Ep. 67
Yabai Chuhai & Wild Skateboards: interview with Jason Rogers (ep. 66)
In episode 66, Stephen chats with former professional skateboarder Jason Rogers, founder of Yabai Chuhai.
Sep 27, 2023•40 min•Season 3Ep. 66
Going Deep Inside the Pot Still (ep. 65)
In episode 65 of the Japan Distilled podcast, we discuss something that is often overlooked in discussions of distilled spirits production. What's happening inside the pot still?
Sep 13, 2023•44 min•Season 3Ep. 65
Denver Distillery Interview: makers of Kasutori Imo Shochu (ep. 64)
In episode 64, Stephen takes the show on the road and interviews Chris Anderson-Tarver of Denver Distillery in Colorado.
Aug 23, 2023•43 min•Season 3Ep. 64
Kampai Planet visits Japan Distilled (ep. 63)
In episode 63, Christopher Pellegrini takes the interviewer's chair as he welcomes his friend and fellow Tokyo Swallows fan, Mac Salman of Kanpai Planet.
Aug 11, 2023•44 min•Season 3Ep. 63
Sanwa Shurui: The World's Greatest Spirits Maker Nobody's Ever Heard Of? (ep. 62)
In episode 62, our hosts dive into our 2nd ever shochu distillery profile. This one for Sanwa Shurui, makers of iichiko shochu.
Jul 19, 2023•42 min•Season 3Ep. 62
Soba Shochu (ep. 61)
In the 61st episode of the Japan Distilled podcast, at long last your hosts dive into soba shochu.
Jul 12, 2023•33 min•Season 3Ep. 61
Koji Cocktails on the Rise (ep. 60)
In the 60th episode of the Japan Distilled podcast, your hosts take a long, hard look at koji cocktails. That is, cocktails made with koji based spirits.
Jun 20, 2023•44 min•Season 3Ep. 60
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