In October, the apple harvest gets into full swing in Aomori — Japan's top apple-producing prefecture and home of the fruit that defines a Tohoku autumn.
Ou Banquet has two drinks with the aroma of apples, perfect for the season.

"Ringo Pom Pom", a sake made without apples

Ringo Pom Pom (600 yen) is a sake brewed with a yeast that produces plenty of malic acid.
It contains no apple, yet it has a bright aroma and fresh acidity like biting into one, with a clean finish — a good first glass for those new to sake.

Apple wine, made since 1938

Apple wine (700 yen) is a long seller made since 1938: Japanese apple wine blended with apple brandy and aged in brandy casks.
Sweet apple aroma meets the mellowness of the cask — a drink to sip slowly after dinner.

With apple dishes

As a snack, try apple tempura (500 yen), apple fried in batter. Apple warmed to sweetness with an apple-scented drink is a pairing only this season brings.
To finish, refresh your palate with apple sherbet (400 yen) made with Aomori apples.