The Grace of Japanese Bartending

When I went to Japan in the Fall of 2014 with my friend Chris Fu from Anchor Spirits (importer of Nikka to the U.S.), both of us were just completely taken aback by the bar experience. It's all we could talk about. Getting a cocktail in a high-end Tokyo bar was almost like getting a massage in how personal and intimate the exchange was. You didn't dare talk. Each drink was ceremonial. The bartenders were absolutely customer service oriented, on a level that Americans can never and could never (and will never) understand, and their elegance of movement was almost ballet-like. It's tough to explain if you haven't been there, but now I don't have to explain it. My buddy Alan Kropf (also from Anchor) just put together this little documentary on Japanese bartending that absolutely hits the nail on the head. Alan and I have an interesting relationship in that both of us seem to always be in awe of the other. But he's definitely the more talented one. His photographs and videography always inspire me to be better, and this little piece here is just another example of his prowess.

Check it out. And then book your next flight to Tokyo.

-David Driscoll