Ukiyo Rice Vodka recently featured at “Graveyards, mourning & boozy burials”, an immersive tasting and talk hosted by Wet Ink x The Last Tuesday Society and led by acclaimed drinks journalist and author Millie Milliken.
The atmospheric event explored the fascinating relationship between spirits, ritual and death across cultures, examining the role that drinks have played in funeral traditions around the world.
As a supporting brand for the evening, Ukiyo Rice Vodka featured in a segment exploring Japanese mourning rituals and the longstanding cultural significance of rice. Dating back to the Yayoi period, rice has played an important role in Japanese burial traditions, used to appease deities while also representing wealth, sustenance and spiritual power.
The story provided a fitting backdrop for Ukiyo Rice Vodka, distilled from rice in Chiba, Japan, and inspired by the country's rich cultural heritage.
A bespoke Ukiyo Rice Vodka cocktail
To bring the theme to life in the glass, the team at Absinthe Parlour created a bespoke cocktail, On to the Next. Designed to reflect the idea of transition and the journey between worlds, the serve combined Ukiyo Rice Vodka with shochu, sushi rice milk cordial, lemon juice and orange bitters.
The result was a silky, layered cocktail with bright citrus notes, subtle sweetness and a delicate rice character, showcasing the versatility of Ukiyo Rice Vodka while connecting directly to the evening's exploration of Japanese culture and ritual.
The name Ukiyo, meaning “floating world”, offered an especially fitting connection to an event centred around transition, ritual and the journey between worlds.
We would like to thank Millie Milliken for curating such a thoughtful and atmospheric experience, and the team at Absinthe Parlour for bringing the concept to life through such a considered serve.
Photography: Eva Slusarek
Discover more about the event and the “Graveyards, mourning & boozy burials” here.
