This is a story of how I got into whiskey. Well, mainly bourbon whiskey.
September 15, 2017 – Look at this grenade shaped bottle with a horse on top. That’s nice.
My initiation into the world of bourbon occurred in an unexpected locale – my brother-in-law’s French restaurant.
During a trip to Tokyo for a WordCamp event (WordPress meetup), I took the opportunity to visit my brother-in-law’s establishment. He’s the proud proprietor of his own French restaurant, which now at this point, boasts two additional shops: NonTitle (Akasaka) & TitleH (Higashi-Azabu). Be sure to give them a look!
On that occasion, I settled in for dinner, and when the query arose about my choice of drink, I instinctively responded with “whiskey”.
Much to my surprise, the bottle he presented was a Blanton’s Single Barrel, but not just any regular variety. This was the Blanton’s Takara Red.
At that stage in my whiskey journey, the brand was unfamiliar to me. Had you asked me about it then, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you the first thing about this particular whiskey.
The fancy, eye-catching bottle intrigued me, though, and I was eager to sample the seemingly exquisite whiskey it contained.
Looking back, it’s clear the bottle was nearing its end, holding just enough for a single glass. I feel a sense of privilege having poured the last glass, thus bidding farewell to the Colonel in my own small way.
I know, I know. Indeed, this tator of a tale may sound a bit cliche, or even exaggerated, but it’s the honest chronicle of my inaugural encounter with bourbon, the very spark that ignited my exploration of this fine spirit.
November 5th 2018 – What are we drinking?
None other than the esteemed Weller 12.
Yet, in that moment, I was oblivious to the stature of this bottle. To me, it simply seemed like a high-end whiskey we were savoring in a festive spirit.
Back then, bourbon and whiskey weren’t really on my radar. My primary interest was in sharing enjoyable drinks in good company or unwinding after a long day.
Had you asked about my preferred drink during that phase, a craft beer would have been the prompt reply. That was my true beverage passion.
February 8th, 2019 – Hibiki. The first whisky I ever received as a gift.
For our anniversary, my wife presented me with a bottle of Hibiki Japanese Harmony. While I was aware that offerings from the Hibiki lineup were sought-after, I was unaware of the ongoing Japanese whisky shortage, making such a gift even more rare and special. Little did I know, spotting this on the shelves would soon become a rarity.
March 4th, 2019 – Yamazaki 12. The first whisky I ever bought for myself.
By chance, I spotted a bottle of Yamazaki 12 at our local supermarket. While I recognized the name, I was oblivious to its scarcity. Yet, an instinct urged me to purchase it. Priced at 7000 yen, in hindsight, it was a bargain for a whisky of such renown.
This serendipitous find coincided perfectly with the visit of my friend from the US. He and his wife, the same wonderful couple whose wedding I had attended back in the States, were now our guests in Japan. I eagerly anticipated sharing this special bottle with him.
March 9th, 2019 – What’s Blanton’s again?
On March 9th, 2019, I revisited the world of Blanton’s.
A friend, traveling from the US, presented me with a bottle of Blanton’s as a gracious gift. My ignorance regarding this bourbon’s legendary status and the likely hurdles he faced both in finding and acquiring it was evident. At that point, my primary interest was still in the shared experience of drinking whiskey.
While I was still a novice, unable to discern the subtle nuances of bourbons, there we were with Glencairns in hand. My friend patiently guided me through the rituals of nosing, tasting, and savoring the drink.
Yet, my appreciation for whiskey hadn’t fully blossomed.
By then, my collection had expanded to three eminent bottles: Hibiki Japanese Harmony, Yamazaki 12, and Blanton’s Single Barrel. All premium selections.
Perhaps it was destined that my first bourbon encounter would be with a bottle as prestigious as Blanton’s. It became my celebratory spirit, reserved for special occasions.
December 29, 2021 – Oh hey! I thought Blanton’s was supposed to be “allocated”, but here it is.
On December 29, 2021, an unexpected discovery at a local BIC Camera changed the course of my whiskey journey, and perhaps not entirely for the better.
While casually perusing the spirits section, a familiar label caught my eye, but with a twist I hadn’t encountered before: Blanton’s Takara Black.
The intrigue was immediate.
My curiosity further intensified when a quick search on my phone revealed the exorbitant prices this bottle commanded overseas. The figures “$299.99” and “$133.90 to $1317.77” flashed on my screen. These appeared to be the allocated prices for the bottle in the US. At that moment, my limited knowledge didn’t register that allocation was predominantly a US concern.
My disbelief deepened when I looked back at the shelf tag: a mere 6580 yen (roughly $51 USD).
Was this for real? Such a steal was hard to pass up. I knew I had to seize this opportunity.
March 02, 2022 – Did I just find something I never thought I could find?
Another unexpected gem materialized before me: Blanton’s Gold.
By this point, one might say I had become a passenger on the Blanton’s express. Much of my journey was serendipitous, with these sought-after bottles popping up just when I least expected.
It’s curious, perhaps even a touch of the Baader–Meinhof effect at play, but every store I entered seemed to have a new Blanton’s variation awaiting my discovery. From Red to Black to the Original Single Barrel, and now the illustrious Gold.
It’s fascinating, even baffling, to see these prized bottles so readily available. And all of this far from Tokyo, in the chilly climes of Sapporo, in northern Japan!
March 10, 2022 – Vanilla, cinnamon, honey, oh my.
That fateful day saw me walk out of a store with not one, but four distinct whiskeys, each resonating with a unique allure. The fact that I didn’t think twice about purchasing all four speaks volumes about their value to me.
On my list were:
- Evan Williams 12 Year
- The Yamazaki Single Malt
- Hibiki Japanese Harmony
- Maker’s Mark
While my eyes were still set on Japanese whiskey, there was an undeniable pull towards expanding my bourbon palate. Having only ever truly known Blanton’s, I jokingly thought, “Could I be any more of a tater newbie?”
The recommendation for Evan Williams 12 Year came from social channels, and spotting it in-store at an appealing ￥4150JPY/$36USD made it a no-brainer. Maker’s Mark, ubiquitous as it is, had always been on my radar. Yet, not wanting to plunge in headfirst, I settled for one of those mini bottles as a teaser.
Come evening, I set the stage for a personal tasting gala. While the Hibiki was uncorked to relive past moments, the genuine excitement bubbled for the bourbons. And, oh, what a revelation they were!
The first sip of EW12, followed by Maker’s, felt like opening Pandora’s Box. The explosion of “classic” bourbon notes I’d often heard of – the sweet vanilla, caramel, and cinnamon – danced on my palate.
I can confidently say that evening was a turning point, nudging me from the shallow shores and plunging me deep into the mesmerizing world of bourbon.
Bourbon is not the answer. Bourbon is the question. “Yes” is the answer.
It dawned on me that I’d discovered my true libation. This was the spirited embrace I had unknowingly been seeking.
Everything about bourbon resonated. Its flavor profile was a match made in heaven with my palate’s preferences.
Contrast this with beer – my previous go-to. I adore beer; the chill of a craft brew on a sunny day is hard to beat. However, a recent medical revelation that I’m gluten intolerant meant a drastic reduction in my beer consumption. It was a hard pill to swallow, realizing I’d have to part ways with an old friend. Yet, every cloud has its silver lining. In avoiding gluten, I pivoted towards whiskey, a drink free from gluten’s grip.
Aside from the gluten angle, there was another reason for this shift. While a few beers set me off on repetitive restroom runs (I know, quite the image), whiskey allowed for leisurely sips without the bladder blitzkrieg. Perhaps a tad too much information, but there it is; we all have our beverage battles.
To my own astonishment, my collection now boasts x30 bottles of bourbon and x7 of Japanese whisky. This count reflects my current stash and not my cumulative acquisitions.
If you’ve journeyed this far down the page, you might infer that my whiskey whimsy isn’t just a passing phase.
And that brings us to this blog.
My aim? To offer glimpses into my bourbon escapades, highlight intriguing finds (especially around Sapporo, my home turf), and occasionally muse over “reviews” – though expect them to be candid rather than critical.
In essence, I’m merely a newfound bourbon enthusiast, navigating the realms of gluten-free indulgence, and chronicling this amber-tinted adventure one post at a time.
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