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October 6, 2015
Series | Bar OPENERS, Episode 6: "A Fleeting Glance, a Dazzling Spark"
Series | Bar OPENERS
“A Glimpse, Then a Grand Sparkle” (1)
Welcome to “Bar OPENERS,” a fictional bar that exists only online. It’s a rare haven where adults can find solace, enjoying spirits, music, and the unique atmosphere of a bar. The proprietor is Hiroyuki Kobayashi, who actually runs his own bar. In this series, he’ll share his relaxed, OPENERS-style approach to enjoying bars, along with witty anecdotes about drinks and music that you can use tonight.
Text by KOBAYASHI HiroyukiPhotographs by ITO Yuji (OPENERS)
Welcome, how are you tonight?
Speaking of which, gentlemen, do you have a sweet tooth? In today's terms, should I call it 'sweets'?
Good evening, once again. I'm Kobayashi, the bartender who aspires to be a man of sweets.
There was a time when admitting a liking for cake or chocolate might have been seen as uncool, even childish for men. But times change, and recently, the term 'sweets男子' (sweets danshi, or men who love sweets) has gained social acceptance, so openly declaring a fondness for sweets isn't met with quite so many sideways glances.
There was also a prevailing notion that 'men shouldn't cry,' but that's changed considerably too, hasn't it? Of course, a man who cries all the time, everywhere, might still be a bit much, but compared to the past, there's more leniency, wouldn't you say? Society has become more accepting.
One might argue that a certain amount of stress is beneficial for life, but it's known that extreme, malicious, and unreasonable stress is detrimental to health. Crying is said to be effective for stress relief, essentially for mental care. Perhaps the longer lifespan of women globally is partly related to this.
Since we are all born crying, men and women alike, perhaps we don't need to hold back our tears so much.
A Gentle Yet Strong Dessert Cocktail for Men
As usual, I've strayed from the topic, but at a bar, there are many sweet, dessert-like alcoholic beverages and cocktails that both women and men can order without hesitation, and that perfectly complement a meal's end.
Among them, today I'd like to introduce the cocktail, Rusty Nail.
The recipe calls for Scotch whisky and Drambuie.
The standard Rusty Nail is a cocktail finished in a rocks style, using a blend of Scotches as its base, combined with Drambuie, a liqueur sweetened with herbs, spices, and honey gathered from heather flowers. Tonight, in true Bar OPENERS fashion, we'll offer a slight variation.
There used to be a variation of Drambuie called Drambuie Cream, and I considered making a cream version of the Rusty Nail with it. However, that liqueur was discontinued several years ago. So, this time, we'll use Edradour Cream, a liqueur made with cream and Edradour single malt.
Considering the flavor profile, it would likely pair well if the base whisky were also Edradour. But let's not take the easy route; we'll add another twist.
We'll choose Talisker for the whisky.
Among whiskies, Talisker is robust. It falls into the smoky, hard category, with a clinging sea breeze that feels like it's appraising something on a coastal highway.
When Talisker meets this liqueur, it creates a dessert cocktail for grown men: unrefined and perhaps clumsy like a seafarer heading out to sea, yet with a subtle, hard-to-pin-down tenderness, like a fleeting glimpse of affection. This warmth slowly heats the core of the heart, its glow lingering long within. It's gentle, yet not weak.
Sweetness or Melancholy Hidden in the Music?
Series | Bar OPENERS
“A Glimpse, Then a Grand Sparkle” (2)
Sweetness or Melancholy Hidden in the Music?
For our pairing with the Rusty Nail tonight, we have the song “FEELING OF BEGINNING” from Smappies' album 『Smappies Ⅱ』.
This song possesses a nocturnal allure and sensuality. Like the cocktail, it's not about ostentatious charm, but rather a subtle melancholy hidden beneath a sweetness, underpinned by the conviction unique to mature men. It's a scent you can only catch a quiet glimpse of.
This, too, is a form of 'glimpse,' isn't it?
By the way, do you all know SMAP? Forgive me, that was a foolish question (laughs).
Many jazz fans might already be aware, but several years ago, SMAP's albums featured numerous highly skilled jazz musicians. While the vocals and songs themselves are superb, the musicianship is particularly impressive.
Just looking at this track alone, we have Omar Hakim, John Patitucci, Phil Woods, Albert Menendez, and James Taylor.
To put it perhaps controversially, these are members with such captivating charisma that I suspect the album could have sold well even without SMAP's involvement.
My apologies to SMAP fans. This is by no means a criticism. From their debut to the present, SMAP has been a rare idol group, captivating two generations and representing Japan.
However, it seems my feelings, and perhaps those of others who feel the same, were heard, leading to the release of 『Smappies』. This is an album featuring SMAP's backing musicians arranging and performing without the group. And indeed, the arrangements and performances are exceptionally cool.
At the time, I didn't notice, but upon closer inspection of the liner notes, the composition of “FEELING OF BEGINNING” is credited to 'Tsuru Taneyama'.
What Appears on 『Smappies Ⅱ』 But Not on SMAP's Albums
I had met this musician a few times during their debut period through an acquaintance. They debuted at a remarkably young age as a singer-songwriter. With Hiroshi Sato producing their debut album, I was drawn to it. Sato's arrangements were superb, complementing Tsuru Taneyama's elegantly husky, slightly raspy voice and abundant songwriting talent.
After releasing two or three more albums and providing songs for artists like Anri, I checked SMAP's albums but couldn't find this particular track.
My speculation is that perhaps it wasn't included on SMAP's albums, but Smappies picked it up and recorded it. It's a song with a slightly mysterious and unusual backstory.
If you don't have an adverse reaction to SMAP or Smappies, please give it a listen. While they may not be actively producing much music lately, several of their early and recent songs seem to be available on YouTube.
The small, fleeting moments of peace in the world, when accumulated, can become mountains, oceans, even the universe. I have a feeling they must.
Perhaps none of us can achieve grand feats, but as long as our loved ones are enjoying their favorite music and drinks, we want to protect them from anything.
To you, the night, and the music. Cheers.