Spirits importer and distributor Bacchus is no stranger to the city’s Japanese restaurants and izakayas. The company has been acting as purveyor, importer and distributor of premium Japanese spirits for years and has introduced Bangkok to some of the best palate-pleasing, head-numbing whisky and sake the island country can provide. Now, Bacchus has made it easier for Sukhumvit tipplers to access their bottles with the launch of a stylish watering hole that, curiously enough, is backed by a French-sounding name.
Tucked in Sukhumvit 39 (an area regularly packed with Japanese expats) Salon du Japonisant, at first glance, looks a tad like those earth-toned townhouses that dot upscale residential neighborhoods in Tokyo. Step in and you’ll find yourself in an achingly cool drinking room that will please Japanophiles. The walls are decked with colorful sake labels, setting a playful vibe for a comfy room that blasts slick-as-hell hip hop tunes.
Your journey into Japanese spirits begins with the exploration of a wide range of whiskey selections from distilleries like Suntory, Mars Shinshu and Chichibu. Our go-to choice was the Hakushu single malt whiskey served highball in a stylish Kimura glass. You can also find rare selections like Suntory Whiskey Century 2001, Suntory Whiskey “Imperial” and Suntory Crest 12 Years. For those who prefer sake, Salon stocks up on a variation of rice wines such as Born Junmai Daiginjo “Gold”, which has a complex flavor but is not too difficult to drink, and Ohnime Junmai Daigingo, which is brewed from a sacred spring in the Yamaguchi prefecture. Savvy staff can recommend a drink to suit your preference and introduce you to a wide selection of shochu and umechu.
For those who prefer a bit more sweetness in their drinks, the bartender has come up with cocktails that use Japanese spirits as a base. Easy favorites include the Japanese Mojito, which combines mint-infused shochu, soda, syrup and lime (and over-the-top mint garnishing, B380) and the Sake Margarita, which mixes Ohnime Junmai Daigingo sake with lychee, Mascut grape, lemon juice and homemade syrup (B380).
