ジャパニーズウイスキーの宝庫 : BAR HIROSE

I wanted to try Nagahama, but unfortunately, it was out tonight. So, I went for the first time with Kuju from Oita, served on the rocks. It's a blend of overseas and in-house malts, and my first impression was that it was slightly sweet with a refreshing finish, making it easy to drink. I heard that Green Dram has been updated, but the one I had this time was the previous version. I’d love to try the new version, which is now a world blended malt. Thank you for the wonderful experience! m(_ _)m

For our second visit, my husband and I went to a bar on a Saturday night. As before, the jazz from Studio Ghibli was playing in the background. My husband, a big fan of Ghibli, quickly searched for the soundtrack and bought it on the spot. This time we started with Sakurao since Nagahama was unavailable. The beautiful round ice was a highlight! ❣️ When I asked my husband if he wanted any food, he replied, "Raisin Butter." It's a mystery of marriage that, after 23 years together, we crave the same things. Since my husband is from Shiga, I really wanted him to try the whisky from Nagahama Distillery, so I ordered AMAHAGAN. With beautiful glasses, lovely round ice, and exquisite whisky, we enjoyed the jazz while strengthening our bond as a couple. It's a wonderful place, BAR HIROSE.

I stopped by this lovely whiskey bar on my way home after dining near Higobashi. The beautiful interior, infused with the scent of wood, made me think it was a new establishment, but it turns out it was founded in 2021. A young owner was there, and a female staff member joined later. There is a beautiful staircase leading to the second floor, which accommodates about 12 people and can host parties or gatherings. On the day of my visit, one group was holding a meeting upstairs. The bar played a pop-style arrangement of Ghibli music. When I asked the owner about it, he mentioned he switched from jazz to Ghibli music because people assumed he was a jazz expert. On the shelf behind the counter, there was an impressive selection of Japanese whiskey I'd never seen before—Akigase, Fuji, Shizuoka, Nagahama, Kanosuke, Rokko-san, and Sakuraho among them. I was surprised to learn that the owner’s family produces whiskey in Shiga! I tried Nagahama on the rocks. Using malt and peat malt from Germany and the UK, it's matured in the climate of Nagahama, which is suitable for whiskey making with the smallest pot still in Japan. Its flavor is balanced, gentle, and rich—exactly like a whiskey you'd want to share with your parents! When I ordered the raisin butter, it was served with thick-cut square pieces accompanied by Ritz crackers. What a sight! I noticed two intriguing bottles: a pitch-black one and a matte blue one. The black bottle, OCTOMORE from Bruichladdich distillery, is known as a super heavily peated whiskey, the world's peatiest. I enjoyed it on the rocks, with a salty taste hitting my lips and a mild peat aroma in my nose. The matte blue bottle is non-peated, simply named after the distillery as BRUICHLADDICH. I also had this one on the rocks, and it had a straightforward flavor. For my next pour, I tried Japan's Shin-sato at 43 degrees, a blend of Scotch blended whiskey and spirits based on awamori. Despite the awamori being just for aroma, its taste was surprisingly well-balanced, with a soft flavor that elicited a touch of nostalgia. High quality indeed! This bar offers unique whiskeys you won't find elsewhere, making it a fun place to explore. It's a clean establishment where you can enjoy Ghibli music while learning about whiskey—a highly recommended spot!