Hotel Highball⁣⁣
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2 oz @suntorywhisky Hakushu Single Malt⁣⁣
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4 oz soda water⁣⁣
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lemon twist if available⁣⁣
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I'm in Japan right now and making the best drinks I can with limited supplies. Lucky for me a lot of convenient stores here sell Suntory Chita, Hakushu and Yamazaki 180ml bottles. ⁣⁣
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The highball is to Japanese business men as the vodka soda is to sorority sisters or the Chardonnay is to suburban moms. However, the Japanese, having applied their stereotypical minimalist approach and dedication to tradition, technique, and detail, turned this simple mixed drink into a masterpiece.⁣⁣
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Over the last few years Japanese whisky has become the hot new thing in the world of high end whisky. 2013 saw Yamazaki win the award for world whisky of the year and led to an explosion in the popularity and price of Japanese whisky. Many of the top brands are now difficult to track down. Some dated products have been replaced with bottles lacking an age statement due to increased demand. The increased demand has also led to a number of "fake" japanese whisky distilleries. While these Japanese companies sell genuine whisky, their product is purchased from distilleries in Europe, then shipped to Japan where it is blended and bottled. ⁣⁣
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Many Japanese whiskys have the reputation for being well balanced, if a bit thin. They're often produced to align with domestic consumer tastes and so are distilled and blended with highballs in mind. ⁣⁣
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While this highball is far from the best one you can get in Japan, it's pretty good for being made in a hotel room with stuff I bought from @seven_eleven_japan . ⁣
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And remember, For relaxing times, make it Suntory time. ⁣⁣

Image and recipe courtesy of @thenickromancer.

@thenickromancer

Cocktails & Propaganda

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