The Japanese media was relentless, especially towards Connery. An article I read said that Connery decided he was done playing Bond when he was followed everywhere by Japanese photographers, even in a public bathroom. That and dissatisfaction with his Bond character and disputes with management over profits would lead to this being Connery's final turn as Bond...or so they thought. More on that on a later post. Back to the movie.
Before going to Japan, Bond is apparently murdered while on a "scouting mission" in Hong Kong with a lovely Chinese lady of the name of Ling. Knowing Commander Bond, it's no surprise that the night stand next to the bed has a bottle of Vodka though the brand isn't known.
Bond is apparently murdered in the next scene. We later find out that the murder is staged by MI-6 in order to take some heat off of Bond. No rest for the dead if you will, Bond is briefed by M and sent off to Japan to stop the skyjackings that have been happening in space that seem to be coming from somewhere in the Sea of Japan. Sayonara Moneypenny.
As Bond is making his way to the sumo tournament where he is to meet his contact, I spot on the wall a poster for what looks like a Suntory Japanese Whisky on the wall.
The ad is specifically for the Suntory Kakubin (square bottle) Blended Japanese Whisky which according to the Suntory Whisky history website this particular offering was the heart and soul of Japanese whisky and the country's No.1 seller. As per the label, it was created in 1937. For an in-depth review on the Suntory Kakubin Whisky, I recommend you read Best Shot Whisky Reviews and Tasting Notes post on the Suntory Kakubin from September 2015.
In a fun tidbit of information, Sean Connery would do a series of ads for Suntory Whiskey during the early 1990's. Here is one of those commercials:
After meeting his contact at the Sumo tournament, Bond is taken to meet British agent Henderson (Charles Gray) who in a side note plays Bond's nemesis and head of SPECTRE Ernst Stavro Blofeld in what would actually be Connery's last OFFICIAL Bond movie Diamonds Are Forever. But I digress.
As the two British agents are discussing what's going on, Henderson whips up a couple of drinks. While you can't make out the initial spirits, Henderson adds Martini dry vermouth and stirs.
A funny exchange happens next...
Bond, being the vodka connoisseur that he is, instantly recognizes it to be Russian vodka.
I guess the Cold War isn't so Cold in Japan since Henderson was able to get his hands on authentic Russian Vodka from the doorman at the Russian Embassy. All's well in Love, War and Vodka eh comrade 😉. Too bad this would be one of the last things Henderson would say before getting a dagger between the shoulder blades and Bond is off to the races to catch his killer.
Fast forward to the scene after Henderson is murdered, Bond infiltrates the headquarters of the Osato Corporation and gets into a brawl with the unnamed car driver (Peter Miavia who is the grandfather of wrestler and actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.) After the spirited fight ends, Bond finds the hidden bar. Here's what happens next.
Fast forward to the scene after Henderson is murdered, Bond infiltrates the headquarters of the Osato Corporation and gets into a brawl with the unnamed car driver (Peter Miavia who is the grandfather of wrestler and actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.) After the spirited fight ends, Bond finds the hidden bar. Here's what happens next.
To his dismay, Bond wets his whistle with Siamese Vodka. Bond's face is classic. Now, I'm not going to besmirch the fine vodka distillers in Thailand (formerly known as Siam.) I'm sure that there is a thriving craft distilling movement going on in Thailand today but I would take a guess that Siamese Vodka wasn't a highly regarded product back in the 1960's. Either that, or Bond is just a Vodka snob.
For the second part of this post, I'll cover the perfect temperature for warm Sake, the cultivation of Europeans as per Tiger, sparkles in the morning and another one of the Suntory Whisky brands.
Until Then Happy Drinking,
SiscoVanilla
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