When it comes to the best place to buy liquor in Tokyo, the first one that comes to mind is Shinanoya in Kabukicho, Shinjuku. Prices are lower than at other shops, and the selection is absolutely enormous. It is not that other specialty shops have nothing good, but if you need to stock up in one go, there is no way around stopping here.
The entrance
This is not the front door but the back entrance. The range of liqueurs they carry is beyond imagination.
What I bought this time
I went for a sherry-cask cask strength (a GlenDronach), and I am curious how it will taste. I should bring it to the next get-together. The only pity is that these days there are not many gatherings to bring a single malt to.
After buying some liquor in Shinjuku, we moved over to a friend’s place to drink.
Beer
I have been into beer lately, so I picked up a few different ones. Stone’s Sublimely Self-Righteous was incredibly powerful. Bitter and high in alcohol, so the impact is strong, but it was not really my kind of taste. Mikkeller’s Amarillo and BrewDog’s Hardcore, on the other hand, were surprisingly refreshing, quite unlike what the names suggest. They go down so easily it is hard to believe they are 9 percent.
This is I HARDCORE YOU, a beer brewed as a collaboration between Mikkeller and BrewDog.
The label is a bit hardcore too, but the taste, unlike the name, is a fruit bomb. The aroma and the flavor are almost like some kind of juice. I had no idea a bottled beer could taste like this. I wanted to buy a whole case, but held back because of the weight. It is probably hard to find back in Korea.
Sachertorte from Demel
I was craving a rich cake, so I bought one, and it is as good as ever. What I did not expect is that when you buy it at Demel, it comes in a wooden box. Who knew it would feel this fancy. Demel has become really famous by now, but eaten once in a while it really is excellent.
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