A world all of its own
Whisky Live Tokyo has just taken place.Dave Broom tries to make sense of it all
Day 1: Being allowed into Japan isnât like gaining entry to the United States where you get the notion that thereâs an orange jump suit in your size under the immigration officerâs desk. A quick change at the hotel as Iâve to go straight to Inter FMâs studio. The phone rings.
âReady?â
âSure am.â
âWearing your kilt?â
âEr... no...â
âOh...â Along silence.
âItâs radio,â I venture. âDoes it matter what I wear?â Maybe it does. After all, this is Japan. Radio is now probably being streamed into everyoneâs eyeballs.
The interview is good. Six drams drunk live. DJ Guy is so enthused that he forgets to ask his sidekick for the Japanese translation. It is she who has insisted on the kilt since sheâs intrigued by the underwear question. I demur and flash her my sporran cup.
That evening is a West Coast dinner with competition winners and MJ, Frank McHardy, Pete Currie, Gordon Mitchell and Richard Pato-san. The wood is polished, the carpets thick, the air respectful. Then the social lubricant starts its insidious work. Longrow 14 year old is voted best on show. Pato-san baptises the carpet, MJ steals Frankâs speech. Tell everyone Iâve sworn off sake this year. As a thank you Iâm given a two litre bottle... of sake. Bed.
Day 2: Itâs early. Yamada-san and I bullet train south west, destination Gotemba distillery.
Fuji hangs above us. Gotembaâs approach to heavy and light, grains and malts is unexpected.
âWe make real Japa.....
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By Dave Broom
Section : A dram with Dave Broom
Page number : 12
