This article is about the popular whisky cocktail with dinner combination in Japan.
If you have a plan to go sightseeing or business trip to Japan, I recommend you to read this information.
I became hungry…
目次
What is the popular whisky cocktail in Japan?
First of all, I will introduce popular whisky cocktail in Japan.
Have you ever drank cocktail the name of which is ‘highball’ ?
It is one of the most famous whisky cocktail in Japan.
The recipe is very easy.
Whisky and soda, sometimes a slice of lemon is added.
The key point of good highball needs a good balance of whisky and soda.
The highball should be not too dry or too light.
The ratio of whisky to soda depends on the brand of whisky.
Why Japanese like ‘Highball’?
In my opinion, Japanese loves to drink alcohol with food. Especially, with dinner.
We like Sake, shochu. It is as same as Beer, wine.
We like drinking Sake at dinner.
However, Japanese culture doesn’t have ‘Digestif’.
For example, whisky, brandy, Grappa etc.
Generally speaking, whisky as digestif doesn’t fit Japanese culture although it depends on the person.
Japanese whisky company was struggling to sell whisky in Japan.
One of the answers was the promotion of ‘highball’ because it goes well with dinner as same as beer.
Finally, ‘highball’ was accepted widely by Japanese people.
Japanese whisky, especially not high price whisky is considered to taste of ‘highball’.
For example, non-aged “Taketsuru”, “Yamazaki”, “Hakushu”.
Although those whisky became ‘highball‘, the flavor can keep strong.
Would you like to drink highball? Good.
In the next section, I will recommend Japanese foods and highball combination.
1.Yakitori
Did you know yakitori which is grilled chiken.
It is a famous food in Japan.
Especially, It is a good combination with “highball”.
It is not so expensive. Taste is salt or soy sauce.
When I eat Yakitori, I would like to drink highball of ‘Yamazaki’.
Yamazaki is a sweet flavor.
Anyway, highball can refresh your tongue.
You can prepare to eat nest Yakitori.
I love this combination.
2.Sushi
I think I don’t need to explain it.
Japanese love Sushi. Sushi is cheaper than in other countries in Japan.
In this case, I drink highball of ‘Hakusyu’.
It is a lighter taste than another Japanese whisky.
Especially, I can feel a little bit of mint flavor.
I think It goes well with fish.
3.Sukiyaki
Sukiyaki may not be famous in the world.
I can see Sushi restaurants in the world, but I have never seen Sukiyaki restaurants.
However, it is one of the traditional foods in Japan.
I hope to explain briefly.
This is a pot of beef. Base taste is sweet soy sauce.
It is including Tofu, Shiitake mushroom, Shirataki which is kinds of noodle.
Normally it is shared with more than 2 people.
Normally, we use Japanese beef(Wagyu) for it.
Fatty meat is the key point of this pot. So, it has very rich flavor.
Especially, if you come to Japan as business travel, I recommend you to request Sukiyaki.
According to Japanese culture, Japanese takes you to a very traditional Sukiyaki restaurant if dinner is formal.
You may be scolded by Japanese…
Sukiyaki is rich and a little bit fatty especially high-quality one.
The taste of Taketsuru can refresh your tongue perfectly and you can not stop eating Sukiyaki.
I really love this combination.
Summary
I recommend following combinations in Japan.
1.Yakitori + highball of Yamazaki
2.Sushi + highball of Hakusyu
3.Sukiyaki + highball of Taketsuru
You can enjoy Japanese whisky without water or ice at the bar as well.
Well,,,, what whisky of cocktail would you like to drink today?
