Japan makes some of the world’s best whiskies, so it is only fitting to raise a glass during the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Japan has suffered mightily during the pandemic, and while the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games went on, all the travelers and foreign visitors once expected were unable to attend. That is a shame for many reasons, one of which is that Japan is an awesome tourism destination, offering much more than the fascinating modern urban setting of Tokyo seen on television, with tons of natural wonders, beautiful scenery, ancient culture and amazing food. They also make some of the best whisky in the world — if not the best — and that at least is something you can still enjoy while watching the Games. If you are glued to the flatscreen for hours at time, the suggested libation would be the highball, Japan’s signature whisky cocktail, in the interest of moderation. Because Japan has never been a big wine consuming nation, the highball became popular as a beer alternative that went well with food, a cornerstone of Japanese culture. It was popularized by distillery and brewery giant Suntory, which created special draft machines with highly carbonated soda water and chilled beverages, allowing bars across the country ( and now around the world) to serve draught highballs as easily as beer, with perfect consistency. You can’t do that at home, but you can take advantage of Toki, the blended whisky Suntory created expressly for highballs, widely available here and one of the more affordable of Japan’s coveted whisky labels (around $40). For best results, mix with a high-quality club soda like Fever Tree and use oversized cube(s). Another good option for longer viewing sessions is Nikka Days, a relatively new addition (last year) to the lineup from Nikka, one of Japan’s big four producers. Nikka has more than 80 years of blending experience and created Days as a delicious everyday spirit that is very smooth with floral notes (around $50). Marketed as “A Vibrant Blended Whisky for Everyday Sipping,” the blend uses Nikka’s mellow and smooth Coffey Grain Whisky for structure, adding a touch of Coffey Malt Whisky and Nikka’s acclaimed Yoichi malts for sweetness and rich body. The result is a silky mouthfeel, with subdued fruity and floral flavors, best enjoyed on the rocks. If there is an event you are really excited to watch and want a celebratory step up while staying in a blend, I’m a believer that Hibiki is the world’s finest blended whisky (sorry Scotland).
