Skip to main content

55-YEAR OLD YAMAZAKI WHISKY TASTING

The past couple of months have been exhilarating for really old whiskys.  Macallan announced their 71-year old and Glenlivet an 80-year old (right).  Now comes a Yamazaki 55-year old, a bottle which was found and auctioned for $795,000.  So Suntory decided to create a new 55-year old by blending three spirits from the 1960's.

Gold today costs $1807/ounce.  That Yamazaki was worth $31,000 per ounce.  This is getting absurd, but a 5-carat diamond, which weighs one gram, costs between $36,000 and $395,000.  This calculates into a range of $1272 to $14000/ounce.  So one ounce of that Yamazaki was more than double the cost of an equal weight of that more expensive diamond.

If you have nothing to do tonight, why not taste that new composite?  Watch a Hawaii News Now video on where and how to do this in Honolulu.  Bar Maze can be found in The Collection, a Kakaako condo across the street from SALT, and will provide the ultimate converse to Guy Hagi's cheap eats.  For only $25,000 you can taste an ounce of 55 year old Yamazaki.  25 customers will thus pay $625,000 for a $60,000 bottle.  This tasting will include a $125 omakase meal and other vintages of Yamazakis.  Also, $5000/person will go to the Hawaii Community Foundation and Aloha United Way.

To begin, only 100 bottles were filled, blending three Yamazakis from 1960, 1961 and 1964.  Cost?  As I noted above, $60,000 each.  A crystal bottle in mizunara wood coated in Suruga lacquer, washi paper and a Kyo-kumihimo cord from Kyoto, where Yamazaki is based.

The very first official tasting occurred last month in New York City.  This elixir was said to burst with aromas of mango and sandalwood, giving way to wet pine.  This only one dram (one-eighth of an ounce) potion was poured into a burgundy wine glass, for you nosing is most of the fun in this sort of experience.  The initial actual taste is said to be a shock, for the rum-like sweetness, transitions to a mildly bitter nuttiness with hints of smoked wood.  The sip dances with a standing ovation, like any statement whiskey.  Note that whisky can be spelled either way, depending on the country.

Before you actually head for Bar Maze at 604 Ala Moana Boulevard, best to call.  I'd indicate their phone number, but there is something mysterious about this bar restaurant, for I can't seem to find it.  Try RESY.

Finally, when is trick or treating in 2021?  Not tonight.  Always when night falls on October 31, which occurs on Sunday this year.  So to prepare you for tomorrow, here is a costume you can consider for your dog:

-

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

ON THE MATTER OF PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

Hawaii today celebrates King Kamehameha the First Day as a public holiday.  Next Monday, June 19, or  Juneteenth,  is a Federal holiday.  However, 22 states, including Hawaii, do not recognize this as a public holiday.  Four of these will begin to honor this day next year, not Hawaii.  Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery.  Here are the Hawaii holidays, and note three that only we have: New Year’s Day: 1st day in January Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: 3rd Monday in January Presidents’ Day: 3rd Monday in February Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Day: 26th day in March Good Friday: Friday before Easter Easter:   Calculating Easter Memorial Day: Last Monday in May King Kamehameha I Day: 11th day in June Independence Day: 4th day in July Statehood Day: 3rd Friday in August Labor Day: 1st Monday in September Veterans’ Day: 11th day in November Thanksgiving Day: 4th Thursday in November Christmas: 25th day in December There are  11 paid Fede...

THE ENIGMATIC PHIL SPECTOR

The first presidential debate of Donald Trump and Joe Biden ended up in a near tie.  Both lost.  However, it was an unmitigated disaster for Biden, who just might be too old to win this re-election. For Trump, it was a reinforcement of what he does all the the time, lie.   There will be significant calls for the Democratic Party to work out "something" to replace Biden as their presidential candidate.  Suddenly, Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom and Michelle Obama are added to the spotlight.  But what can "legally" occur at the August Democratic Convention? The situation is different on the Republican side, as Trump is the Republican Party, and no matter if he gets 4 years at his felony sentencing on July 9, or even if the Supreme Court determines he is not immune next week or later, he will be the presidential candidate. Trump is a damned boastful liar and convicted felon, but that is the only option for Republicans.  His vice-presidential choice now become...

THE TRUMP ENERGY PROGRAM

From  Time  magazine, I begin with a slew of Trump topics.  You can read the details. The unpopular Big Beautiful Bill is now in the House . The only truly effective anti-Trump person:  Elon Musk. The Trump Gaza ceasefire proposal . The July 4th Free American Anti-Trump Protest planned across the USA . This site began as a renewable energy and environment blog, and has evolved to just about any subject.  I try to keep Wednesdays for sci-tech, with perhaps a monthly focus on energy.  More recently, I've drawn from the  Energy Matters  info sent to me by the American Energy Society.  I'm inserting direct quotes this time to eliminate my predilections for more credibility. This service starts with some broad topics. - Fossil fuels: Helium is locked in a supply crunch, and prices are surging. - Renewables: Congress will probably pass new renewable fuel standards for 2026 and 2027. - Policy: President Trump is now focused on Califor...