This was a short weekend trip, so I couldn’t get around much. Here’s a record of the quick little rounds I made.
Gramercy Newyork in the basement of Takashimaya, Shinjuku
I heard they sell a cheesecake that’s only available here, so I queued up and bought one. I got there right when sales started, so I didn’t have to wait very long.
The whiskies at Shinanoya in Kabukicho, Shinjuku
A huge selection, and cheap too.
Almost every whisky I’d wondered if I could ever get hold of was right there in the display case.
There were a few bottles I’d been wanting, so I bought them. All that worrying about where on earth to find such rare stuff turned out to be for nothing.
This is what the entrance looks like.
It’s on the street in Kabukicho lined with host clubs. At night the atmosphere gets a little scary.
The cheesecake
We ate it at a friend’s place. Rich, slightly gooey, and really delicious. For 1,000 yen, that’s outstanding value for money.
Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or
I bought this because it was tasty and cheap, and it’s a big bottle too. But when I tried drinking it with my friend it was too strong, so we only managed a little. If this showed up at a foodie meetup back in Korea it would go down a storm, but everyone has their own style, so next time I’ll play it safe and bring wine.
This is Tanakaya, a single malt shop you’ll spot a short walk to the left after coming out of the Mejiro Station exit.
They had a wide range and lots of rare items, but nothing really grabbed me. Probably because I’d already been to BiG GINZA and Shinanoya. Not sure whether I’ll ever go back… I picked up a bottle of GlenDronach 15 Year Old.
Liquors Hasegawa, a single malt shop in the underground mall at Tokyo Station.
You can taste a huge range of whiskies for 100 or 150 yen. A glass like that would cost over 1,000 yen at a bar, so they’re charging little more than cost. The selection is great and prices are on the low side, so I’ll probably be back next time too.
There are a few well-known single malt shops around Tokyo, and I think I pretty much covered them all this time. It made for a bit of a punishing schedule, but it meant I came home with some really good whisky. Then again, after a few foodie meetups the whisky I bought ran out in no time… I’m already worried about how much I’ll need to bring back next time…