Why do Japanese people like to drink Whiskey with Soda?
Whiskey is a strong alcoholic drink made from fermented and distilled grains, with an alcohol content of 40 to 50 degrees. Whiskey originated from Scotland, but has been popularized and developed in many other countries, including Japan. Japanese whiskey is considered one of the highest quality whiskies in the world, with a distinctive flavor and style. Japanese whiskey is the result of the combination of traditional art and modern technology, as well as the respect and perfectionism of the Japanese.
One of the most popular ways to drink whiskey in Japan is to drink whiskey with soda, also known as highball (ハイボール). Highball is a simple cocktail, consisting of whiskey and soda (soda water), mixed in a ratio of 1:3 or 1:4, depending on the preference of each person. Highball is usually drunk in tall and narrow glasses, with or without ice. So why do Japanese people like to drink whiskey with soda?
There are many reasons to explain this preference, but three main reasons can be mentioned as follows:
- First, drinking whiskey with soda reduces the alcohol and intensity of whiskey, creating a light and pleasant flavor. This suits the taste of many Japanese people, especially women and beginners of whiskey. Drinking whiskey with soda also helps drinkers not get drunk quickly and can drink more glasses.
- Second, drinking whiskey with soda is a traditional way of drinking whiskey in Japan, dating back to World War II. At that time, due to the limited supply of whiskey, Japanese people diluted whiskey with soda to save and increase the volume. Later, when the economy developed and whiskey became more abundant, drinking whiskey with soda became a part of the culture and lifestyle of Japanese people.
- Third, drinking whiskey with soda is a flexible and diverse way of drinking whiskey. Japanese people can use different types of whiskey to make highball, from famous whiskey lines of Suntory such as Yamazaki, Hakushu, Hibiki to cheaper whiskey lines such as Kakubin, Torys. Japanese people can also add other ingredients to highball such as lemon, grapefruit, apple, ginger, honey, dried fruits to create new and attractive flavors.
Thus, drinking whiskey with soda is a popular and favorite way of drinking whiskey in Japan. Drinking whiskey with soda gives drinkers a light and pleasant flavor, a tradition and a style, as well as a flexibility and diversity. Drinking whiskey with soda is a refined art of Japanese people.
Ref: bing.com
