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Factory, a Cocktail & Single Malt Bar in Hongdae

I come here so often now that I can’t even be bothered to explain it. It’s near the far end of the alley off Hongdae’s Parking Lot Street.

A big Echire cookie I brought along that day

factory, cocktail bar

Honestly I didn’t expect much, but it’s Echire, so of course it was delicious. If the timing works out, I’ll pick one up myself next time.

Yamazaki Sherry Cask

factory, cocktail bar

This isn’t from the bar; I brought it myself. It’s a limited edition, sweet enough that it just slips down. If you were trying to win someone over with whisky you could call it a seduction drink, but I doubt you’ll meet many women who can be won over with whisky. Also, people who want a strong punch might not like it much.

Yamazaki cask strength

factory, cocktail bar

Another whisky I brought. It tasted great, but this one’s proof is so high that it was a bit much to just sip casually. It seemed to open up the aroma more on the rocks.

Cognac you warm up before drinking

factory, cocktail bar

Apparently it’s a way to bring out the aroma. I’ll have to try it with a better cognac next time.

The Echire cookie, unwrapped

factory, cocktail bar

About the size of someone’s head… Beautifully made. It felt like a shame to break it, but you can’t eat it otherwise. I went to some trouble carrying it all the way from Japan without it breaking.

Snacks…

factory, cocktail bar

The complimentary snacks here are always the best.

Yamazaki side by side

factory, cocktail bar

Pierre Hermé pâtes de fruits to go with the drinks

factory, cocktail bar

They’re fruit jellies with a short shelf life, so you have to eat them fast. Such a pity…

The beer… I ordered it wondering how it would work as a boilermaker.

factory, cocktail bar

Suntory beer plus Suntory whisky, so I figured they’d somehow go together. But the result was awful… I’m never trying that again.

SMWS “Teriyaki beef”

factory, cocktail bar

As far as I remember it was a Bowmore. Fun name, right? It tastes good too, but being cask strength it tends to be a bit fierce.

This one I think I drank at 2chef…

factory, cocktail bar

Or was this one the Bowmore… my memory… -_- I’ve been drinking a lot of whisky around town lately, and they all have their own character. After trying so many, I think I’m finally starting to figure out my own taste.

Glenfarclas 21 Year Old

factory, cocktail bar

Back to Factory =_= This was a different day. It’s a well-reviewed whisky so I gave it a try, and I can see why. But the flavour felt a bit too standard… I think a slightly more modern style suits me better.

Bruichladdich

factory, cocktail bar

A single malt aged in casks from Latour, or was it Lafite. It’s pretty decent.

SMWS Macallan

factory, cocktail bar

Is that right? I should probably double-check… My memory’s hazy, but anyway it was a special experience. Now that I’ve more or less worked out my taste, I don’t think I need to keep drinking this and that for practice. I’ll focus on the whiskies I like.

I often bring my own whisky to drink at Factory, but of course you have to get the bar’s permission first. And you can’t bring something they sell there. I’m already a pain of a customer as it is, so I have to be at least that considerate. Still, I really do end up going a lot. It’s definitely a bar with real charm.

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