Bartenders Find Inspiration in Japanese Aesthetics and Techniques

It’s impossible to talk about American cocktails today without considering the influence of Japanese bars. The cocktail, an American invention, made its way to Japan during the Meiji era, and bartenders there set about perfecting bartending techniques and classic drinks. When Prohibition brought American cocktail culture to a halt, it continued on, unimpeded, in Japan. In recent decades, that influence has come back to the U.S. in a resounding way—the...