Five years ago, Hiroyasu Kayama developed a fascination with absinthe. Shortly before opening his bar Ben Fiddich in July 2013, he took a pilgrimage to the famous absinthe-producing town of Pontarlier, which lies on the French border with Switzerland. Now, the 30-year-old mixologist wants to start an absinthe revolution in Japan.
¡°Absinthe is linked with art and culture,¡± he says. ¡°I want to get more people into it by showing them how delicious it can be.¡±
The famously bitter green drink captivated the imaginations of artists and writers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and, although the spirit has been enjoying a modest revival in countries across Europe and in the United States, the enthusiasm has yet to reach Asia. Located in Nishi-Shinjuku, Ben Fiddich is one of only four absinthe specialists in Tokyo. But in addition to stocking over 30 varieties of the liquor, Kayama also makes original absinthe-like botanical infusions and hopes to start his own distillery in Japan one day.
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