Whisk(e)y Business

A kind of long time ago, on a mobile conference platform far, far away... In the first ever (released) locationally-challenged Whiskey Bitness: Uniqlo stores get EVEN smaller, HARK! a new Yoho Brewing release, boxers and turtles (or adulthood, for that matter) don't mix, "Sweet Potato, I shochu-choose you!" (and it has a picture of a train), drinking with (just barely) in-laws, and hear about our Whiskey Business Whiskey Wishlists for the near future. Happy Drinking! #whiskey #whiskeybusiness #japan #tokyo #yokohama #ibaraki #longdistance #videoconference #uniqlo #boxers #turtles #shochu #inlaws #whisklist

DROP AND GIVE ME 88! Minutes of podcast that is! Join the Business Lads as they delve into their first taste of 100% Corn Whiskey, their first non-glass bottle with Platte Valley., and their most pun-tacular title yet! In this episode we learn that Michael Crichton isn't for kids, the (likely, but not confirmed) origin story of Denny's, Fantasy Rogers is still a Human, Mel longs for the urban fields of his dreams, Karl lacks dixie band credentials of any kind, the Lads give you all a quick serenade, and Southern Cartman stops in to say 'ey!'. #whiskey #whiskeybusiness #cornwhiskey #plattevalley #japan #tokyo #yokohama #ibaraki #crock #corn #grain #dennys

A wild GUEST appears! The Business Lads use MAKE A SHORT EPISODE! It's not very effective... Join the Business Lads and Special Guest Ben Guest on what might be (really not too keen on going through to check) the longest episode we've ever produced! We'll get childish, wildish, occasionally mildish, and talk you through this episode's bottle "the non-creepy uncle" of one of our favorite whiskeys so far. Topics range from things you're allowed to have with soda water, Japanese company drink-driving policies, alcohol-free highballs, late night train debauchery, the differences between drinking alone in a pub versus a bar, poker and bluffing, cardomom, more movies that Rogers hasn't seen, animal plurals and collective nouns, a little bit on Japanese language and kanji, and comparisons to this week's bottle's, ummm, neice? Nephew? The book mentioned during the episode, 'Cash Crash Jubilee' by Eli K. P. William, is available on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Cash-Crash-Jubilee-Book-Cycle/dp/1940456622 #whiskey #whiskeybusiness #japan #tokyo #yokohama #ibaraki #nakameguro #mars #cosmo #greatexpectations #pubs #bars #highball #cardomom #plurals #moose #tokyotrains #sodawater

In the latest epsiode of Whiskey Business, the Business Lads encounter their deepest fear - a moral dilemma and a traitor in our midst! Listen in for the apparently perfect formula for a Takoyaki party, the WB Court of Justice (where roles appear to be in a constant state of flux), the creation of a new (and delicious, if at the time unwelcome) cocktail, baseball lows all-round for Tokyo, the genetic origin story of Karl's love of alcohol, and a bunch about TV shows (but surprisingly little about movies, for once). Rogers calls himself out, Karl just wants to escape so badly, and Mel gets put on creative probation. All this and much more! #whiskey #whiskeybusiness #kurayoshi #japan #tokyo #yokohama #ibaraki #takoyaki #takopa #parents #tonic #shock #baseball #gogoswallows #entourage #escapism #newcocktail #creativeprobation

Back after a pretty long absence, the Business Lads pop in to the Baird Beer Taproom Nakameguro to sample the 2017 edition of Hop Havoc. Mel finds that people expect more of him now that he has moved up an age rank, Rogers gets let outside after dark, and Karl learned that people really weren't making up that babies are great, despite outward appearances. #whiskeybusiness #beer #bairdbeer #nakameguro #hophavoc #memories #babies #age #brothers #creepyuncles #curfew #expectations #tokyo #yokohama #ibaraki

DING DING! Episode 11 sees the Business Lads step into the ring with the 58th, 59th, and 60th Prime Minister of Japan, the long-dead Hayato Ikeda! Join us as we sling verbal left crosses, uppercuts, and haymakers at our venerable opponent across topics such as cherry blossoms, the Kanda river, anime, whether or not to wash a lemon, the late and great Bill Paxton, banana spots and safety for tots, unpleasant medical procedures, coriander/cilantro speculation, Starburst flavours, Starship Troopers, everyone gets eaten by Space Worms, and some terrible Cockney accents get strewn about. The Lads say goodbye to a venue, Hayato Ikeda causes everyone a lot of trouble, Karl makes stuff up and passes it off as fact even more than usual, Mel gives an important Highball PSA and trips over his sentences even more than usual, and Rogers pitches one of the greatest curveballs in WB history. It's a Technical Knock Out! Also, fun fact: it turns out that Americans (incorrectly) say "COR jul", and Commonwealth folks say "COR dee ul". P.S. That was Amanda Bynes, not Miley Cyrus, apologies. #whiskey #whiskeybusiness #podcast #comedy #hayatoikeda #japan #tokyo #nakano #yokohama #nakameguro #history #anime #cowboybebop #spaceworm #billpaxton #highbrawl #yamazakura #kandagawa #sakura #coriander #cilantro #cordial

In our latest, most confusing and most fantastical episode yet, the Business Lads are confounded by some kind of magic wizard dude (or dudette) and placed under The Spell of Befuddlement! Join us as we stumble over the first two films in Simon Pegg and Nick Frost's Cornetto Trilogy, get surprised, fail miserably on Scottish and German pronunciation, like Pina Coladas, don't like getting caught in the rain (not actually referenced), learn about the Endocrine (maybe) system, give a big shout out to the newly released Tabisuru Hyouketsu Chu-hai series (Havana style is super great, FYI), talk horse-racing in Japan, time differences, fantasy football and fantasy not football, very much enjoy our first official fan mail, and much, much more! P.S. Hot Fuzz is set in Gloucestershire. #whiskey #whiskeybusiness #scotch #auchentoshan #hyouketsu #chuhai #tokyo #yokohama #nakameguro #nakano #horseracing #fantasy #magic #surprise #endocrinesystem

This time its Rog who gets abandoned as Mel and Karl head out in Shibuya to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. We settle in at Yamaga Kushiyaki for some tasty charbroiled chicken, highballs, and somewhat risqué discussion on cultural similarities, the potential of socks for canonization, and why everyone wants to be friends with Henry VIII. #whiskey #whiskeybusiness #tokyo #shibuya #yakitori #yamaga #chicken #parade #highballs #socks #nakameguro #yokohama #nakano #tgif #fridaynights #henryviii

On the latest Bitness installment, Mel joins Rog (and both of them totally betray Karl by recording without him) on a quick journey down memory lane at a Shibuya dive joint (not quite accurate but "ground floor joint" doesn't have the same panache) that tickles our sentimental hearts. Toriton Kitchen delivers all of what is needed in a great "Izakaya". Joined by two surprise(d) guests, one of whom may be turtle, human, or a winning combination of the two, we further expound on Karaoke Fascism. #whiskeybitness #whiskeybusiness #whiskey #podcast #tokyo #shibuya #yokohama #nakano #nakameguro #japan #karaoke #izakaya #toriton #fridaynights #betrayal #turtleorhuman

This time around the Business Lads try to reach the bottom shelf but come up a little short (tall?). Join us as we talk medicine vs. whiskey for children with a cold, which of the 3 Amigos each of us is, Che Guevara, Dune 2 for PC, karaoke drink choices, how to greet your whiskey (so many, many times with the same joke), and we learn that even the kind-hearted Mel has a shitlist. #whiskey #whiskeybusiness #comedy #nikka # hinikka #japan #tokyo #nakano #nakameguro #yokohama #dune #hottoddy #hottytoddy #cheguevara #chevychase #karaoke #medicine #greetings #fascism

In the latest installment of Whiskey Business, the Business Lads come up against their strongest foe yet - the whopping 105 proof Thirteen Colonies Southern Whiskey. Luckily, we brought a *friend* along to help us: the maniacal Krubeck. Still, 105 ain’t playin’ son. Listen to us talk about Christopher Lee, disturbing Japanese fashion trends, pretentious tequila infusions, and Station Rats return to wreak havoc once again. We all end up slurring our words a lot, Krubeck plugs the game he’s working on and his services as a writer, and Karl plugs his own urine. No, really. P.S. The plural for nemesis really isn’t ‘nemisi’. Please never try to use that. #whiskey #whiskeybusiness # 13colonies #southernwhiskey #christopherlee #tokyo #japan #fashion #sexyheat #tequila

In the latest installment of Whiskey Bitness, the Business Lads along with special guests Randal and Steve head to our beloved Watering Hole in Yoyogi for some delicious and rare craft beers, both imported and domestic. Mel tries and fails to talk about his landmark health check, and Karl and Rog lay out in no uncertain terms their feelings on certain canned goods and certain drinks before bedtime. #whiskey #craftbeer #wateringhole #tokyo #shibuya #yoyogi #spam #coffee

In our (somewhat) Halloween special, the Business Lads discuss uncles, scary movies (though thankfully not Scary Movies), pomegranates and pronunciation, the likely future effects of a no-longer quite so innocent Toonami on the coming generation, and somehow all manage to miss multiple joke opportunities based on the term 'hipster wood'. Listen to Rog display some uncharacteristic cynicism over the Golden Age of Television, Karl develop a speech impediment and get angry at Goosebumps, and find out why Mel doesn't want to be buried in the Pet Semen(?!)tary. Ewww. #whiskey #business #whiskeybusiness #comedy #tokyo #japan #halloween #hipsterwood #uncle

In this bumper-sized installment of Whiskey Business, the Business Lads went up against the formidable (read: STRONG) Bulleit Rye. As you might be able to tell towards the end of the episode, we came off second best. Your intrepid hosts tackle such topics as cookies, Wes Anderson movies, fat kids, SNL and Will Ferrel, the brutality and naming conventions of Australian children's games, and much, much, much more! Listen to Karl get angry at Anchorman quoters (and be wrong about A LOT of facts from word usage to various nuts, but not about Anchorman quoters), Mel get creepy (and borderline future blacklisted from Karl's apartment) and a little *too* creative in the kitchen, and Rog remains (at least comparatively) calm and classy, while showing potential as a future translator. And then listen again, not because you restarted the podcast, but because as this particular Bulleit passes through our bodies, minds, and hearts, things get a *little* repeaty. Ooops. But then again if you do want to repeat the podcast, hey thanks, we appreciate it! As always, enjoy your alcohol responsibly! #whiskey #whiskeybusiness #bulleit #rye #movies #anchorman #wesanderson #cookies #peachcobbler #tiggy

For Episode 005, we double (quadruple?) up with not only two bottles of whiskey, but also our first ever guest Business Lad! In the blue corner we have the slightly more expensive Akashi White Oak, in the red corner we have the scrappy, the feisty, the Akashi...Red. Tune in to see if cost has a direct correlation to enjoyment in obscure Japanese whiskeys, and what else the Lads have to say about baseball, reciting movies from front to back, and a lot (really a lot) more! Rogers goes toe-to-toe with our guest, Mel refuses to take geography corrections on board, and Karl has some fine suggestions for a post-Brexit Union Jack. As always, enjoy your alcohol responsibly! #whiskey #akashi #whiteoak #akashired #japan #whiskeybusiness #tokyo #baseball #hungover #brexit

Karl had had his eye on this one ever since we were shopping for our first bottle, though at the time we didn’t think it was special enough for our first outing. Upon closer look, Mel discovered some further details about it which sold him immediately. You can also learn how much we actually know about whiskey terminology. Karl makes a terribly received suggestion about the future of the podcast format, Mel displays his impressive vocal range, and Rog shows both a flare for the dramatic and that just because a person graduates college, doesn’t mean their taste in movies has to. As always, enjoy your alcohol responsibly!

The lads popped in to Nakameguro's Cock O' The Walk - a very fine establishment with a nice range of craft beer and cider available - to give a quick update on our status (which is no longer relevant since our move to the audioBoom platform). If you're ever in the neighbourhood, check this bar out, good drinks, food looks great, and the owner (pictured behind Karl) is a really cool guy. As always, enjoy your alcohol responsibly!

Old Grand-Dad Bourbon Rog and Mel were both hankering for a bourbon to follow the Japanese whiskey and Scotch, while Karl was a little apprehensive during the selection due to past bourbon experiences in his teens and early twenties. We finally elected to go with Old Grand-Dad Bourbon “The Head of the Bourbon Family”, which may or may not be an actual title. Mel makes the unwise move of insulting Danny Trejo, Karl makes the unwise move of insulting Steven Seagal, and Rog doesn't insult anyone because he's a nice young lad. We also learn a lot about balconies and verandahs, because education is important. As always, enjoy your alcohol responsibly!

For episode two, we decided to spend a little (a lot) less on our bottle, and found ourselves face-to-face with what is to date our greatest nemesis – The Highland Baron – destroyer of dreams, bane of bravery, crusher of courage, harbinger of…heaving. Mel accidentally (on purpose) spills, adulterates, and does all manner of things to his drinks, Karl has a slice of all-too-familiar humble pie and talks for a long time about evil billionaire Highland Barons, and Rog displays a deep knowledge of the band Goldfinger, a distinctly poor understanding of the difference between Corn Flakes and Rice Crispies, and barely makes it through the neat stage alive. Yes, the photo is taken next to Karl's sink full of the dirty dishes, but we totally promise that we drank the whole thing. Applying it to your sink instead might not be the worst idea though. As always, enjoy your alcohol responsibly!

For our first episode, we go big (in terms of price tag, by our standards) with The Chita by Suntory. Mel suggests that the whiskey might imbue us with magical mind powers, Karl gets incredulous about mammal abilities, and Rogers can't take a compliment on his eyelashes. As always, enjoy your alcohol responsibly! Image taken from http://www.suntory.com/brands/chitawhisky/