He created a special box for Valentine's Day that combines the connection between the Japanese experience and the Japanese flavors in your home.
Chef Ben Naria/Amir Yacoubi
Usually, when we think of whisky, our imagination takes us on a journey through the valleys and hills of Scotland, where we find old and traditional distilleries.
The images that come to mind include ancient wooden barrels and storage halls filled with the rich and deep aroma of the whiskey aging inside.
Our stomachs are already preparing themselves for the juicy piece of sirloin on the way, or if we fancy something more delicate, then a carpaccio.
If we conduct a short and unscientific street survey, probably very few people will say that the country that comes to their mind next to the word "whisky" is Japan.
Sake?
Yes, definitely Japan.
Excellent quality fresh fish that are especially suitable for raw fish recipes?
Absolutely Japan.
But whiskey?
The Glenmorangie Distillery, located in the northeast of the Scottish Highlands, has been producing quality single malt whiskey for more than 180 years.
To the 6 million liters that are distilled there every year, a new whiskey has now been added - TALE OF TOKYO, but how exactly is the capital of Japan related to whiskey?
"The flavors of the whiskey are crazy, contradictory and surprising, like Japan itself"/Amir Yacovi
Such an unusual whiskey must be wrapped in packaging like you have never seen before/Amir Yacovi
A whiskey born from an obsession
The master blender of the Scottish distillery, Dr. Bill Lumsden, known simply as Dr. Bill, likes to tell a story through whiskey.
In 2020, the A TALE OF series was launched for the first time, which tells a different story every year.
That year we got A TALE OF CAKE, in 2021 we warmed up with A TALE OF WINTER, 2022 brought us A TALE OF THE FOREST, and this year Dr. Bill's creative mind takes us to Tokyo. We're not sure yet where he'll take us next year Next, but we do know that the whiskey world is waiting for the annual launch of this fine single malt.
And back to Tokyo. Dr. Bill has a tremendous passion for the rich Japanese culture, tradition and food.
Out of that obsession, he searched for about ten years for ways to give new flavors to the old drink.
At the end of a decade of research and searching, he finally found the answer - barrels that are made from one of the most sought-after woods, mizonara oak, which can be found almost exclusively in Japan.
"This liquid is crazy," Dr. Bill testifies about his creation. "The flavors of the whiskey are crazy, contradictory and surprising, like Japan itself," he says of the whiskey that comes in a reddish-bronze color, just like the rising sun of Japan. When you open the bottle A spicy and herbal aroma emerges, with touches of incense and sweet toffee, beeswax, wood resin and hints of cedar wood. And the taste? A peppery combination of oak wood, fennel, ground white pepper, spicy oranges, bitter cherries, almonds, toffee, raisins and wood resin.
Chef Ben Naria explains that he chose to collaborate with TALE OF TOKYO because, just like him, they also place a huge emphasis on the raw materials and their quality/Amir Yacovi
A Japanese legend of
unusual whiskey design like this must be wrapped in packaging like you've never seen before, and for that the Glenmorangie distillery enlisted the Japanese artist Akira Yamaguchi, who presented solo exhibitions in his country and even designed the poster for the Paralympic Games in Tokyo 2020. Yamaguchi, known for his paintings of cities From the bird's eye view in a Japanese painting style combined with western techniques, he designed a highly contrasting illustration of Tokyo inspired by those contradictory flavors that settle down on all the taste buds.
He illustrated daily pictures of the city that run between the past and the present, and if you strain your eyes a little, you can even see the transport of Japanese oak barrels.
All this goodness comes in a limited edition of just 1,300 bottles, so if you want to be part of a limited number of whiskey lovers to taste Glenmorangie's TALE OF TOKYO, you'll have to hurry.
And for the experience to be truly extraordinary, the brand teamed up with chef Yuval Ben Naria, and together they created a special package for Valentine's Day that combines the connection between the Japanese experience and the Japanese flavors at home.
Chef Ben Naria explains that he chose to collaborate with TALE OF TOKYO because, just like him, they also put a huge emphasis on the raw materials and their quality, until everything comes together in a very precise product.
"This character produces other aromas," says Ben Naria, "and we combine this special food with whiskey."
Ben Naria also admits that at first thought such a combination of whiskey with fish does not come to mind.
"However, since this is an emphasis on Tokyo," says Ben Naria, "full harmony is allowed here with the correct use of soy and the correct algae, and it totally works."
The luxury case contains several fish dishes based on the purity of Japanese Asian cuisine and of course a bottle of Glenmorangie's YOTALE OF TOK.
In addition, there is a cocktail base (mixer) that blends perfectly with the whiskey, and preparation instructions for Highball whiskey, which is one of the most common drinks in Japan.
The case also includes a pair of glasses so you don't have to check what exactly you have in the kitchen cupboard, and everything is in line with drinking whiskey that goes great with the winter weather and the romantic atmosphere of Valentine's Day.
A particularly delicious collaboration/Amir Yacoubi
Chef Yuval Ben Naria's tips
Ben Naria opened Yama last year, a boutique butchery for fish dishes like we had not seen in Israel until then.
The chef's culinary world removes the cliché from the use of the word "meticulous" and pours into it a real essence, starting with transparency regarding the origin of the fish and its freshness, through respect for the raw materials, attention to sustainability, and precise rationing of the fish.
The result: the customers leave with dishes to be served at home at the level of fine dining.
Chef Ben Naria also has tips on how to serve the dishes in the Valentine's atmosphere: if you want sashimi, buy from a place you can trust and knows what it's doing.
And don't forget, the plate is important!
Use an oblong plate that knows how to hold the sauce at its edges.
And that's it, if you like whiskey, raw fish, Tokyo and Japan, and you have someone to love - this case sets up your evening.
For more details on the festive case, click here>>
In partnership with Glenmorangie
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