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.
Glen Scotia has turned to a mythical guardian for the fourth whisky in its Icons of Campbeltown series. The penultimate instalment in this five‑part annual release, inspired by the folklore carved into Campbeltown’s 14th‑century market cross, pays tribute to the Griffin, the half-eagle, half-lion creature said to have watched over Campbeltown’s harbour and protected its…
The UK’s smallest pub is packing its bags for Japan, with The Nutshell from Bury St Edmunds being recreated inside an Osaka department store this October. For two weeks, a little piece of Suffolk will be making an unlikely appearance in Japan. The Nutshell, widely recognised as the UK’s smallest pub, is being recreated inside…
Loch Maberry: Stories of Bladnoch, Chapter Three is the newest limited‑edition single malt from Scotland’s oldest privately owned distillery, and it arrives with a narrative rooted in connection and serendipity. The series celebrates individuals with a deep affinity for Bladnoch, and this chapter centres on Roddie and Elaine Burgess, a couple whose relationship began after…
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.
Glen Scotia releases 12 Year Old Icons No.4 whisky shaped by Vin Santo casks and Griffin guardian
Glen Scotia has turned to a mythical guardian for the fourth whisky in its Icons of Campbeltown series. The penultimate instalment in this five‑part annual release, inspired by the folklore carved into Campbeltown’s 14th‑century market cross, pays tribute to the Griffin, the half-eagle, half-lion creature said to have watched over Campbeltown’s harbour and protected its…
Why the UK’s smallest pub is being recreated inside a Japanese department store
The UK’s smallest pub is packing its bags for Japan, with The Nutshell from Bury St Edmunds being recreated inside an Osaka department store this October. For two weeks, a little piece of Suffolk will be making an unlikely appearance in Japan. The Nutshell, widely recognised as the UK’s smallest pub, is being recreated inside…
Bladnoch Loch Maberry Chapter Three is a Cognac cask whisky love affair
Loch Maberry: Stories of Bladnoch, Chapter Three is the newest limited‑edition single malt from Scotland’s oldest privately owned distillery, and it arrives with a narrative rooted in connection and serendipity. The series celebrates individuals with a deep affinity for Bladnoch, and this chapter centres on Roddie and Elaine Burgess, a couple whose relationship began after…
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