Blog
Stories from behind the bar: cocktails, ramen, Japanese culture, and life on the Lower East Side.
WhiskyJan 27, 2026Hibiki Japanese Harmony: Three Distilleries, Five Casks, Twenty-Four FacetsSuntory's flagship blend draws malt from Yamazaki and Hakushu and grain from Chita, across five cask types including mizunara. The bottle has 24 sides for a reason.FoodJan 23, 2026Brown Butter Miso Ramen: The Bowl I Made to Get Through a COVID WinterOur most popular ramen started as something I made for myself while standing outside in the cold, when we weren't allowed to seat anyone indoors.WhiskyJan 20, 2026Jim Beam Distiller's Masterpiece: The One Finished in PX SherryExtra-aged Kentucky straight bourbon at 100 proof, hand-selected by Fred Noe and finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks.BeerJan 16, 2026Iwate Kura Oyster Stout: A Japanese Stout Brewed With Real Oyster ShellsA stout from Sekinoichi Shuzo in Iwate, brewed with oyster shells from Sanriku's Hirota Bay, reviving an old British style in northern Japan.ShochuJan 13, 2026Ikikko Koji Whisky: Barley Shochu Technique, Eight Years in OlorosoFrom Iki Island, the birthplace of barley shochu. Two-thirds unmalted barley, one-third white koji rice, single distilled, then eight years in ex-Oloroso casks.WhiskyJan 9, 2026MUWA Bourbon Barrel Aged Junmai: The Sake for People Who Drink WhiskyAn 18% ABV junmai from Takara Sake USA in Berkeley, aged in bourbon barrels. Oak, baking spice, and vanilla over a rich rice base, and it takes heat beautifully.WhiskyJan 6, 2026Old Carter: The Couple Who Revived Kentucky Owl, Then Started OverMark and Sherri Carter blend very small batch straight bourbon at barrel strength, numbered rather than aged, so no two batches are the same.SakeJan 2, 2026Hakkaisan Junmai Daiginjo 45: Niigata's Clean, Dry Style in One BottleA Junmai Daiginjo polished to 45% from the brewery at the foot of Mount Hakkai, made with snowmelt water so soft it defines how the whole region's sake tastes.ShochuDec 31, 2025Tantakatan: A Red Shiso Shochu From HokkaidoMade in Asahikawa from red shiso grown in Shiranuka, with a name borrowed from Ainu. It's the most floral, easiest thing on our shochu list.BeerDec 26, 2025Kizakura Kyoto Beer: Uji Matcha IPA and Lucky Dog Session IPAA Fushimi sake brewery founded in 1925 that started making beer in 1995, including an Imperial IPA brewed with matcha from Uji.WhiskyDec 23, 2025Eagle Rare 10: The Buffalo Trace Bourbon That Kept Its Age StatementA low-rye Kentucky bourbon aged at least ten years and bottled at 90 proof, made at a distillery that has run continuously since Prohibition.
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