Sake cocktails offered at event in Paris themed at Nagano Pref.; The aim is to increase brand awareness

NAGANO — Paris hosted Sake Cocktail Week from March 5 to 11, offering limited-edition cocktails made primarily with sake from Nagano Prefecture, this year’s theme.

The purpose of the event was to increase brand awareness of Nagano Prefecture using sake and other items produced there.

Sake Cocktail Week was organized by sake importers and others in Paris. It was the third in the event series, which introduces new ways to drink sake. The theme last time was Saga Prefecture.

The sake used in the cocktails were Masumi Kuro and Yuzu Liqueur from Miyasaka Brewing Co. in Suwa, and Chogen K91 from Miyajima Brewery Co. in Ina. Three types of cocktails, including gin and tonics made with Masumi, were served in seven restaurants in Paris. Nagano Prefecture is working to promote Shinshu brands in Europe, and Governor Shuichi Abe visited some European countries in October and November. Since December, chefs from the prefecture in Paris have been taking turns preparing special menus with ingredients from the prefecture in their restaurants.

It is hoped that the prefecture’s brand awareness will be increased through drinking and dining experiences, and that this will lead to foreigners visiting more and purchasing products from the area.

“Through the experience of eating and drinking Nagano products, we hope the event will become the first step in getting people to visit the prefecture and buy local goods,” said a prefecture government official in charge of the sale.