Izakaya Naru’s Awamori

Izakaya Naru is a hidden gem on South King Street. Upon entering, you’re transported into a cozy dining room with dim lighting, small tables and a bar seating no more than 10.

Immediately, Izakaya Naru staff greets you with a loud “Irrashaimase,” and then proceeds to ask whether your party has reservations, as the small establishment usually is fully booked at night. If your party is small, you may be able to snag a spot at the bar if you’re there before 7 p.m. — or perhaps I was lucky when I wandered in without calling ahead.

After taking my place at the bar, my server recommended food choices along with homemade awamori beverages, which were in clear jars near the bartender. The server explained that awamori is an alcoholic Okinawan drink distilled from rice. I was intrigued.

On the menu, there are six flavors of awamori: Kona coffee, shiso (herb plant associated with pickled plums), black sugar, ukon, pineapple and special (rose). I asked for the most popular, and a cup of pineapple appeared in front of me.

The first sip went down so smoothly that I was unable to taste any alcohol. Was this just pineapple juice? But about halfway through my glass, the effects hit me at once.

“Whoa,” I told my friend. “This is really strong.”

Awamori is served on ice with a little water to help calm the bite: The alcohol makes up anywhere from 30 to 40 percent, which explains how quickly I became intoxicated. Word of advice for awamori drinkers: Sip, do not gulp, no matter how delicious it is.

I wanted to taste more flavors (and was in party mode), so I ordered a sampler of three: Kona coffee, ukon and rose. (I didn’t feel too bad about my indulgence: Ukon, or turmeric, supposedly is good for your health.)

Each of the three had very pungent smells: The coffee smelled of dirt, ukon of bourbon and rose of pink champagne. The Kona coffee was my least favorite because it was similar to drinking cold Folgers, but it might be appreciated by coffee fanatics. The rose was the best for its slight sweetness.

At the end of my night, I concluded that awamori was not a drink I normally would order, but, I was glad I had the experience. For anyone who wants a taste of Okinawan alcohol with all the flavors and benefits sans the bite, I highly recommend Izakaya Naru’s homemade awamori.

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