Posted September 18, 2015 by Jonelle Patrick7 Comments Bars

Because Who WOULDN’T Want A Cocktail Served In A Smoke-Filled Skull?

And that’s just the tip o’ the liquid nitrogen, flash-frozen iceberg at the Codename:Mixology bar! Because although no snozzberries were detected on the menu, this place definitely is to what-did-I-just drinks as Willy Wonka is to chocolate factories.

Blue Cheese Vodka Martini? Uh, huh. — Blue Cheese Vodka Martini? Check.

Happy-making libation that tastes exactly like Thai Tom Yum soup, only better? Yes, sir, I think I'll have another. — Happy-making libation that tastes like Thai Tom Yum soup, only better? Already standing in line for seconds.

Industrial centrifuge + fresh tomatoes + basil-infused gin = that's the kind of salad I'm talkin' about. — Industrial centrifuge + fresh tomatoes + basil-infused gin = that’s the kind of salad I’m talkin’ about.

This is the mythical Rotovaper! It distills flavors from all kinds of food, which are then blended with various alcohols to make them taste like everything from foie gras to bamboo leaf. — And this is the magical Rotovapor! It distills flavors from all kinds of unlikely sources to make spirits that taste like everything from foie gras to bamboo leaf.

A little liquid nitrogen is all in a day's work for the mixologist X mad scientists who craft cocktails that sometimes take the form of adults-only sorbet. — A little liquid nitrogen is all in a day’s work for the Mixologist X Mad Scientists who craft cocktails that occasionally take the form of adults-only sorbet.

And naturally, every technique is an art... — At this place, every technique is an art…

...and watching the bartender make your drink is nearly as much fun as drinking it. — …and watching the bartender make your drink is nearly as much fun as drinking it.

Sorry for the post-Blue Cheese-Martini photos, but here are a few of the temptations on offer. — Sorry for the post-Blue Cheese-Martini photos, but here are a few of the temptations on offer, so you can see just how ain’t-never-had-*that*-before these cocktails can be.

One of the things I especially like about this bar is that most of the cocktails don’t knock you under the table, so you can try (or share) more than one. They’re pretty pricey (¥1500 – ¥1800) but if you consider that the experience includes the entertainment of watching it made plus the pleasure of sitting in a really nice place drinking something you couldn’t get anywhere else in the world, it actually seems like kind of a bargain…

If you’d like to go to Codename:Mixology the next time you’re in Tokyo, maps to the Akasaka branch and the Yaesu mother ship are on my travel website, The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had.

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Read a novel set in Tokyo

The #1 hostboy at Club Nova makes a handsome living, whispering sweet nothings in the ears of women who pay him a fortune for the privilege. But the party’s over when Tokyo Detective Kenji Nakamura is assigned to investigate the death of one of Hoshi’s customers…*read more*

Jonelle Patrick View All

Writing mystery books set in Tokyo is mostly what I do, but I also blog about the odd stuff I see every day in Japan. I'm a graduate of Stanford University and the Sendagaya Japanese Institute in Tokyo, and a member of the International Thriller Writers, the Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters In Crime. When I'm not in Tokyo, I live in San Francisco. I also host a travel site called The Tokyo Guide I Wish I'd Had, so if you're headed to Japan and want to check out the places I take my friends when they're in town, take a look!

7 thoughts on “Because Who WOULDN’T Want A Cocktail Served In A Smoke-Filled Skull?” ›

I’m…uh…speechless. The salad sounds good, though. Much less chewing work.

Jonelle Patrick says:

September 18, 2015 at 3:12 pm

And so nutritious. (snort!)

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say no more: smoke-filled skull? I’m here, I’d love to try the bamboo leaf … maybe the grilled miso and chocolate martini too.

Jonelle Patrick says:

September 18, 2015 at 11:51 pm

Go with a few people, if you can! It’s kind of like Chinese food: when there are more people, you can order a lot of things and share! ^^;;

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- Mchan says:
  
  September 18, 2015 at 11:57 pm
  
  Yes but this year I’m staying at my friend in Tokyo and she’s not really into bars. She works a lot so I think at night we’ll have a cozy evening at home. During the day I’m with a group and it’s their first time in Japan, they want to see the main sights and IF POSSIBLE they want to DINE at places IN THE GUIDE!!! so places a bit different will have to be negociated or I’ll just take time for myself and do the crazy stuff.

OMG, one of each please… starting with the chocolate martini………..
I simply cannot wait to get to this crazy town.. 🙂

Jonelle Patrick says:

September 18, 2015 at 11:53 pm

You’ve got to try them! Although you know what’s strange? They were all delicious, but the ones that we ordered just to say we did (because they were made from really strange ingredients) were by far the best. I didn’t expect to love the tom yum soup one, but it was fantastic. And there was another one that was made from grated apple and foie gras vodka with black pepper on top that was my absolute favorite.

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