Japanese whisky bar culture comes to London this month, as Toki Whisky partners with Shoreditch cocktail bar Seed Library, to open the Toki Listening Bar, a celebration of Japan’s music club Highball culture.
Open now until November 30, visitors will be able to enjoy specially curated Japanese Toki whisky cocktails, alongside vinyl mixes from MAJ (My Analog Journal).
Sets have been selected to represent the decades of musical influence in Japan from the 1950s, to the present day. The event is part of the House of Suntory’s ongoing centenary celebrations.
Quintessentially Japanese, jazz kissa music bars entertain patrons with jazz inflected vinyl and a wide choice of whiskeys, most often enjoyed as a highball cocktail.
The Seed Library recreates this unique vibe, complete with vinyl record station, wood panelling and bespoke furniture – plus a delicious collection of Suntory cocktails.
Quintessentially Japanese, jazz kissa music bars entertain patrons with jazz inflected vinyl and a wide choice of whiskeys…
Every Thursday a new guest DJ will play at Seed Library alongside the MAJ artists. Here’s the upcoming schedule:
November 9 – MAJ spotlight – 8pm-12am: Shaqdi and Kay Suzuki
November 16 – MAJ spotlight – 8pm-12am: Ceylan Goksel and Mari* Kimura
November 23 – MAJ spotlight – 8pm-12am: Zag Erlat and Nina Yamada
November 30 – MAJ spotlight – 8pm-12am: Zag Erlat, Shaqdi and Ceylan Goksel
What’s more, on November 22 there will be an exclusive bar takeover by legendary Japanese bartender, Hidetsugu Ueno, from Bar High Five in Tokyo. On offer will be a bespoke Suntory highball menu, created by Ueno.
The Toki Listening Bar cocktail menu comprises: the High Five Highball (Toki whisky, cold soda, plus various garnish options, including apple, sweet potato whey and grape); the Shinjiro Daisy (Toki whisky, lemon, sunflower, pumpkin seed amazake and raspberry leaf bitters); the Red Ball Sazerac (Toki whisky, English currants, and white absinthe); Kazu Martini (Haku vodka, Kasu cured lemon and dry vermouth) and the Calamansi Mule (Roku gin, galangal, citrus and ginger beer).
The Luxe Review attended the opening night, and can recommend them all. We particularly relished the opportunity to experience a fully authentic Japanese Highball, which is uniquely refreshing.
Our verdict? The laid back atmosphere, superb cocktails and Japanese soundtrack make for a highly memorable night at the Toki Listening Bar. Visit while you can!
In honour of its centennial, the House of Suntory has released several limited-edition whiskies, including Yamazaki 18 Year Old Mizunara and Hakushu 18-Year-Old Peated Malt whiskies. Limited 100th anniversary labels of the flagship Yamazaki 12-Year-Old and Hakushu 12-Year-Old have also been released for the centennial.
The Whisky Exchange has dropped three new exclusive bottlings to mark the start of 2026, spanning Scotch whisky, American bourbon and Jamaican rum. The limited collection comprises an experimental single-cask Torabhaig from the Isle of Skye, a punchy single-barrel bourbon from Bardstown Bourbon Company, and a sherry-cask-aged Hampden Estate rum that leans fully into the…
Just in time for Burns Night, Orkney-based Highland Park has announced a limited-edition cask strength single malt whisky. The new release, Cask Strength: Heather, is made using 100 per cent Orkney peat-smoked barley, with peat sourced responsibly from Hobbister Moor, just a few miles from the distillery. Given Orkney’s northern latitude, trees struggle to grow,…
January may feel long and grey, but one undoubted bright spot is Burns Night, the annual celebration held on January 25, marking the birthday of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns. For whisky lovers, it’s one of the most convivial fixtures of the year: a night where poetry, food and Scotland’s greatest export meet in cheerful,…
The Luxe Review 
Japanese whisky bar culture comes to London this month, as Toki Whisky partners with Shoreditch cocktail bar Seed Library, to open the Toki Listening Bar, a celebration of Japan’s music club Highball culture.
Open now until November 30, visitors will be able to enjoy specially curated Japanese Toki whisky cocktails, alongside vinyl mixes from MAJ (My Analog Journal).
Sets have been selected to represent the decades of musical influence in Japan from the 1950s, to the present day. The event is part of the House of Suntory’s ongoing centenary celebrations.
Quintessentially Japanese, jazz kissa music bars entertain patrons with jazz inflected vinyl and a wide choice of whiskeys, most often enjoyed as a highball cocktail.
The Seed Library recreates this unique vibe, complete with vinyl record station, wood panelling and bespoke furniture – plus a delicious collection of Suntory cocktails.
Every Thursday a new guest DJ will play at Seed Library alongside the MAJ artists. Here’s the upcoming schedule:
What’s more, on November 22 there will be an exclusive bar takeover by legendary Japanese bartender, Hidetsugu Ueno, from Bar High Five in Tokyo. On offer will be a bespoke Suntory highball menu, created by Ueno.
The Toki Listening Bar cocktail menu comprises: the High Five Highball (Toki whisky, cold soda, plus various garnish options, including apple, sweet potato whey and grape); the Shinjiro Daisy (Toki whisky, lemon, sunflower, pumpkin seed amazake and raspberry leaf bitters); the Red Ball Sazerac (Toki whisky, English currants, and white absinthe); Kazu Martini (Haku vodka, Kasu cured lemon and dry vermouth) and the Calamansi Mule (Roku gin, galangal, citrus and ginger beer).
The Luxe Review attended the opening night, and can recommend them all. We particularly relished the opportunity to experience a fully authentic Japanese Highball, which is uniquely refreshing.
Our verdict? The laid back atmosphere, superb cocktails and Japanese soundtrack make for a highly memorable night at the Toki Listening Bar. Visit while you can!
In honour of its centennial, the House of Suntory has released several limited-edition whiskies, including Yamazaki 18 Year Old Mizunara and Hakushu 18-Year-Old Peated Malt whiskies. Limited 100th anniversary labels of the flagship Yamazaki 12-Year-Old and Hakushu 12-Year-Old have also been released for the centennial.
Drink in 2026 with these Jamaican sherried rum, peated whisky, and high-strength bourbon exclusives
The Whisky Exchange has dropped three new exclusive bottlings to mark the start of 2026, spanning Scotch whisky, American bourbon and Jamaican rum. The limited collection comprises an experimental single-cask Torabhaig from the Isle of Skye, a punchy single-barrel bourbon from Bardstown Bourbon Company, and a sherry-cask-aged Hampden Estate rum that leans fully into the…
New Cask Strength Highland Park whisky puts Orkney heather front and centre
Just in time for Burns Night, Orkney-based Highland Park has announced a limited-edition cask strength single malt whisky. The new release, Cask Strength: Heather, is made using 100 per cent Orkney peat-smoked barley, with peat sourced responsibly from Hobbister Moor, just a few miles from the distillery. Given Orkney’s northern latitude, trees struggle to grow,…
Toasting the Bard: Where to eat, drink and celebrate Burns Night 2026
January may feel long and grey, but one undoubted bright spot is Burns Night, the annual celebration held on January 25, marking the birthday of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns. For whisky lovers, it’s one of the most convivial fixtures of the year: a night where poetry, food and Scotland’s greatest export meet in cheerful,…
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