New Series | Bar OPENERS, Episode 1: "Sweet Duke Ellington for a Dry Bourbon"

New Series | Bar OPENERS

“For Dry Bourbon, Sweet Duke Ellington” (1)

This is “Bar OPENERS,” a fictional bar that exists only on the web. A rare place where adults who enjoy liquor, music, and the atmosphere of a bar can find relaxation. The proprietor is Hiroyuki Kobayashi, who actually runs his own bar. In this series, he will share his unpretentious, OPENERS-style approach to enjoying a bar, along with witty anecdotes about liquor and music that you can use tonight.

Text by KOBAYASHI HiroyukiPhotographs by ITO Yuji (OPENERS)

Where Liquor and Music Intersect

Nice to meet you. My name is Kobayashi, and I will be the proprietor of “Bar OPENERS.”

Let me state this upfront: I used to dislike alcohol. It wasn't due to any trauma, like having alcoholic parents or a bartender stealing my beloved. I simply didn't have a taste for it. Yet, back then, I drank purely to appear cool to women (a misconception, as I later realized).

But isn't that how most young men are? Looking back, I think my desire to become a bartender was the catalyst for my eventual fondness for alcohol. However, alcohol isn't something one can instantly love.

Bar OPENERS - Cheers to You, the Night, and the Music

I believe that one cannot truly understand alcohol until they've reached a certain level of maturity, both financially and in terms of life experience. Of course, in youth, one might be treated to expensive drinks by generous older gentlemen or alluring, mysterious women. But even while drinking, one doesn't truly comprehend it. Isn't alcohol a world that can only be understood through personal experience and by becoming an adult?

However, if one remains a 'grass-eater,' avoiding alcohol and lacking dreams, they can never step into the realm where it can be truly enjoyed. In life, experiences that seem to serve no purpose can prove invaluable at crucial moments. Therefore, I keep in mind, as I slice my daily fruit, that all experiences, not just those with alcohol, should be cherished.

One of the reasons I chose to live as a denizen of the night was music, particularly jazz. In my bar, unnoticed by anyone, I pair music that complements the drinks, savoring the small joys that arise. Though my knowledge is still shallow, when liquor and music fit together perfectly, I can't help but feel a silent, triumphant fist pump beneath the counter, or at least a smug smile in my heart.

A Sweet and Dry Marriage, Much Like Life

New Series | Bar OPENERS

“For Dry Bourbon, Sweet Duke Ellington” (2)

So, what kind of marriage shall we have tonight?

To answer that, I must first ask about your image of liquor at a bar.

Whiskey, perhaps. A tough, masculine bourbon? Yet, the spelling 'bourbon' can also be read as 'Bourbon,' can't it? Have you ever found that curious? I always have. The connection between bourbon, a spirit from rural America, and the elegant French Bourbon dynasty is, in fact, quite strong. But I'll save that explanation for another day.

With that said, the drink I recommend for tonight is “114 Old Grand-Dad.” Simply put, it's a man's drink (though I find it rather charming when a woman drinks such a masculine spirit).

The “114” refers to American proof, which translates to 57% alcohol by volume when converted to Japanese standards. It's a bit strong, but its quality is solid, making it very well-balanced. Plus, the number 114 sounds like 'ii yo' (it's good) in Japanese, evoking the image of a grandfather with a sunny smile who agrees with everything his grandchild says, which is quite lovely.

Paired with this bourbon is the granddad of jazz, Duke Ellington. There's a maternal quality to his charisma. Well, this great figure likely possessed a gender-fluid sensibility...

To accompany this drink, the album I'm introducing today is "The Queen's Suite," dedicated to Queen Elizabeth II. Inspired by nature and birdsong, much like the composer and genius Olivier Messiaen, the pieces here gently envelop the sharpness of “114 Old Grand-Dad,” creating a truly wonderful harmony.

Tonight, we have “114 Old Grand-Dad” and Duke Ellington. Reflecting on these two grandfathers, you might enjoy the chocolate-like sweetness that follows the initial dryness, or perhaps gaze at the amber liquid, conjuring memories of your own grandfather and enjoying a nostalgic drink. Please try this marriage, sweet and dry, much like life itself.

Cheers to you, the night, and the music.