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.
Premium indie bottler Whisky 1901 has expanded its portfolio with The Ledger Series, an intriguing new collection of single-cask Scotch whiskies that showcase the character, provenance and individuality of some of Scotland’s best-known distilleries. Founded as a cask investment business, Whisky 1901 is widening its orbit with a range of carefully selected age-statement releases, each…
Ad Gefrin, the Anglo-Saxon museum and distillery in Wooler, has released what it describes as the first legal Northumbrian single malt whisky of the modern era, ending a two-century absence of local single malt production. The debut bottling arrives as the Crǣft Series, a collection of three single cask whiskies that offer an early glimpse…
If you’re wondering what to give the dad on Father’s Day who claims he wants nothing, allow us to suggest something sincere, sophisticated, and soul-warming: whisky. Not socks, not a novelty mug, not a gadget that’ll sit untouched on a shelf, but a bottle of golden liquid crafted purely to delight the senses. In this…
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.
First pour: Whisky 1901 Ledger Series is a hand-picked single cask tour of key Scottish distilleries
Premium indie bottler Whisky 1901 has expanded its portfolio with The Ledger Series, an intriguing new collection of single-cask Scotch whiskies that showcase the character, provenance and individuality of some of Scotland’s best-known distilleries. Founded as a cask investment business, Whisky 1901 is widening its orbit with a range of carefully selected age-statement releases, each…
Ad Gefrin announces first Northumbrian single malt in 200 years, but there’s mystery in the launch
Ad Gefrin, the Anglo-Saxon museum and distillery in Wooler, has released what it describes as the first legal Northumbrian single malt whisky of the modern era, ending a two-century absence of local single malt production. The debut bottling arrives as the Crǣft Series, a collection of three single cask whiskies that offer an early glimpse…
The Best Father’s Day Whisky Guide 2026: 19 wonderful whiskies from budget to premium
If you’re wondering what to give the dad on Father’s Day who claims he wants nothing, allow us to suggest something sincere, sophisticated, and soul-warming: whisky. Not socks, not a novelty mug, not a gadget that’ll sit untouched on a shelf, but a bottle of golden liquid crafted purely to delight the senses. In this…
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