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BAR HOP SEED

Kyoto, Japan

After a beautiful and delicious dinner at Ponto restaurant, taking the time to relax and enjoy the atmosphere, we came here for a nightcap, Bar Hop Seed. I’d noticed this place earlier and saw they had a range of Japanese whiskies on their menu. Thought it would be a nice end to the night.

Small entrance, small place on the first floor, cosy, nice atmosphere and Japanese whiskies you’ve probably never heard of before. I didn’t know there were so many. I went for a whisky I’ve wanted to taste for a long time but never had, the Suntory Hibiki Japanese Harmony. If we weren’t getting up early the next day, I would’ve tasted at least a half dozen Japanese whiskies. Especially the small boutiques that don’t export. Another time. Géraldine tried one of their home-made rums, apple cinnamon. She loved it and I quite liked it as well actually. They serve tapas-like food here too, if you have the munchies. There were only a couple of people when we walked in but within half an hour all the tables and stools were taken. Mostly with tourists. We met a couple of Australians who were there for the Japanese whiskies too.

Anyway, we had a lovely night and if you’re ever in Kyoto, check this place out Bar Hop Seed.

28 mm, 1/80th second @ ƒ/2.8, ISO 3200

YAMAZAKI WHISKY

Yamazaki, Japan

So from Kobe we were heading back to Kyoto for two days. Along the way though, well, we had to stop by the Yamazaki Distillery. I would’ve liked to have done one of the tours but we got there too late in the afternoon. The museum and the tasting was still possible, though.

The museum is amazing and very interesting. You can learn so much just walking through it. Once you’ve gone through the museum, you come to the tasting bar. It’s a-la-carte so you choose the whiskies you want to taste-test. Just marvellous. A great idea except for the fact that you can not buy a bottle of whisky afterwards. They don’t even sell their own whiskies. Very disappointing.

Anyway, if you’d like to know what I tasted, check out my short blog post I published earlier. What a tasting. Yamazaki Distillery, well worth the visit if you’re a whisky lover or connoisseur. Next time I’ll do a tour.

75 mm, 1/640th second @ ƒ/2.8, ISO 1250