Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Niche temptations at sake and whisky bar

Niche temptations at sake and whisky bar

Yumi Hasegawa (left) and behind-the-scenes partner Tomohiko Mita.
Yumi Hasegawa (left) and behind-the-scenes partner Tomohiko Mita. Athena Zelandonii

Niche temptations at sake and whisky bar

With her bob of auburn hair, Yumi Hasegawa springs up from behind a bar whose sheer variety of sakes and whiskies are evidence of her passion for the libations of her native Japan.

“The Chita Suntory whisky is my favourite,” she says, “because it has a light taste.”

Her partner, Tomohiko Mita, who works “behind the scenes,” prefers the Yamazaki 12-year-old single malt.

“It’s the goodness of Japan, and bars here don’t have it,” he says.

In late September, the dynamic pair opened Anew, which is easily missed among the many drinking spots in Bassac Lane, its unassuming exterior and minimalist interior a counterpoint to the peacocking of the other cocktail bars.

“We were tired of Japan,” Hasegawa says, explaining their move to Phnom Penh 18 months ago.

“We were seeking a new impetus,” Mita adds.

With the restoration of a 30-year-old Cambodian home at the back of the alley, the couple has started Anew.

Anew has no shortage of sakes or Japanese whiskies.
Anew has no shortage of sakes or Japanese whiskies. Athena Zelandonii

To accompany the hard stuff, Hasegawa offers up a plate of bacon bits that she’s smoked with sakura cherrywood, a detail which – for the better – gives you a new idea of how a snack works with a drink.

Knowing which of the vast array of Japanese spirits to pick is a daunting task to someone unversed in Japan’s alcohols.

“That is our challenge,” Mita says.

A glass of sake – a rice wine – comes in at $4 for the house selection, but it can reach $10 for a Junmaidaiginjou, which is made from the highest quality of polished rice. (The more polished the rice, they say, the better the sake.)

But it’s not just about choosing the sake; the vessel that you drink from varies how you experience it: a wide, delicate glass emphasizes the aroma; a shot-glass tightens the taste; and a traditional ceramic cup called an ochoko, which Post Weekend was offered for a glass of shouzan sake, brought out a sweet, floral flavour.

Whisky is a different ballgame. While the history of Japanese whisky production dates back to the 1920s, it gained international renown only in the past decade, when it surpassed Scottish whiskies in international competitions on several occasions.

For an introduction, Mita and Hasegawa propose a Kaku highball ($4), served with ice and unsweetened soda. (On the rocks or neat are your other options.)

What sets Anew apart is that it offers limited-edition whiskies as well as others that are typically available only in Japan. Exploring this unique selection is part and parcel of the experience, no matter how you take yours. And, in case you were wondering, Mita enjoys his Yamazaki on the rocks; Hasegawa prefers her Suntory with soda.

“It’s more gentle,” she says.

Anew is located at #M113B Street 308 (down Bassac Lane, just opposite Jack Saloon), and is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 8pm to 1am. Tel: 085 889 111.

MOST VIEWED

  • Joy as Koh Ker Temple registered by UNESCO

    Cambodia's Koh Ker Temple archaeological site has been officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 17. The ancient temple, also known as Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, is located in

  • Famed US collector family return artefacts to Cambodia

    In the latest repatriation of ancient artefacts from the US, a total of 33 pieces of Khmer cultural heritage will soon return home, according to the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. In a September 12 press statement, it said the US Attorney’s Office for the

  • Tina rebuffs ‘false claims’ over falling paddy price

    Agriculture minister Dith Tina has shed light on the trade of paddy rice in Battambang – Cambodia’s leading rice-producing province – in a bid to curb what he dubs a “social media fact distortion campaign” to destabilise the market. While acknowledging that the prices of paddy

  • Kampot curfew imposed to curb ‘gang’ violence

    Kampot provincial police have announced measures to contain a recent spike in antisocial behaviour by “unruly’ youth. Officials say the province has been plagued by recent violence among so-called “gang members”, who often fight with weapons such as knives and machetes. Several social observers have

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • PM outlines plans to discuss trade, policy during US visit

    Prime Minister Hun Manet is set to meet with senior US officials and business leaders during his upcoming visit to the US for the UN General Assembly (UNGA), scheduled for September 20. While addressing nearly 20,000 workers in Kampong Speu province, Manet said he aims to affirm