Christopher Pellegrini is a leading expert in shochu and awamori, a published author, acclaimed podcast host, and the founder of Honkaku Spirits, a company dedicated to introducing authentic, small-batch Japanese spirits to American consumers. Launched in March 2020, Honkaku Spirits focuses on artisanal koji-based spirits—including shochu, awamori, and koji whiskey—connecting centuries-old Japanese traditions with modern connoisseurs...
…Originally from Bristol, Vermont, Christopher holds a B.A. in Spanish from Wittenberg University and an M.A. in Language Education from University College London. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Bioresource Economics at Kagoshima National University in Japan, a region renowned for its shochu production. His career began in craft brewing at Otter Creek Brewing Company before transitioning to academia as a full-time professor at Waseda University in Tokyo.
Today, Christopher is a part-time lecturer at Waseda, while dedicating himself to the global promotion of Japanese spirits. His work is widely recognized: he is a certified Shochu Kikisakeshi (Sake Service Institute, Japan), a Shochu Advisor (Sake School of America), and serves as a judge for the Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition and the Spirits Selection by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles.
Christopher is also a contributor to the Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails, and author of “The Shochu Handbook”, the first non-Japanese book dedicated to the subject. He co-hosts two educational podcasts: Japan Distilled and Sake on Air, which explore the depth and diversity of Japanese alcoholic beverages.
Fluent in English and Japanese, and conversational in Spanish and Korean, Christopher continues to bridge cultures through his passion for spirits. A devoted Tokyo Swallows baseball fan, he also supports several philanthropic initiatives, including the Minga Foundation, Providence Saint Joseph Foundation, and the Ray Pellegrini ‘Reach for the Stars’ Scholarship.
W: https://honkakuspirits.com/
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherpellegrini/
FB: https://web.facebook.com/pellegrinichristopher/?_rdc=1&_rdr#
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