Whisky galore

I guess my Scottish genes have kicked in with this one because I love whisky.

I love good Scotch, ideally from Islay, and Japanese whiskey, like Yoichi. With the Scotch, I favour a drop of water to open it up, with the Japanese, a cricket ball of ice, so-called onzaroku (say it out loud). My favourite dram is from Bowmore, which perfectly treads the line between heavy- and lightweight Islay malts.  The 15 year old finished in sherry casks is a triumph.

From Japan, I love the Yoichi 20 year old, which sells for £150 a bottle (!) and which famously became the first non-Scottish malt to win the coveted single malt award in an international competition run by Whisky Magazine, the main industry publication. It was praised by the judges for its “amazing mix of big smoke and sweet blackcurrant”, “explosive aroma” and “big, long and sweet finish”.  The decision to give the top prize to Yoichi followed a blind tasting of more than 200 of the world’s finest varieties by a panel of 16 of the world’s leading whisky expert.

And Suntory Hibiki (seen here) - the brand advertised by the washed-up actor played by Bill Murray in the film Lost in Translation - scooped the award for the world’s best blended whisky.

Which ties in nicely with the fact that this photo was taken by me on the 42nd floor of the Park Hyatt Tokyo, where Lost in Translation was filmed....