As an adult, don’t you sometimes want to take your time enjoying a drink while savoring the conversation and atmosphere of a place?
It would be cool to casually drop into a bar and enjoy a whisky or cocktail.
However, if you haven’t been to a bar very often, you might feel a little unsure.
At times like that, “Bar Dimple (Dimple),” tucked away in an alley in Tsurugata, Kurashiki City, is a great place to try.
Owner Miyauchi Hirotaka has taken care to create a comfortable space, making this a very approachable shot bar.
What’s more, Miyauchi is very friendly and easy to talk to.
Even if you’re new to bars, you can feel at ease chatting with him.
Carefully selected whiskies and cocktails, drinks made with fresh fruit that changes daily, delicious Spanish cured ham, and house-smoked foods.
Here’s a look at Bar Dimple, where you can enjoy everything from the drinks and food to the bar’s atmosphere.
The information presented was current when this article was published in October 2019. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Dimple is a hidden-gem shot bar where you can take your time enjoying whisky and cocktails
Dimple is in Tsurugata, an area southeast of JR Kurashiki Station.
It is in the northern part of Tsurugata Shopping Street.
▼Dimple is on the second floor of the building that houses “Taishu Kappo Tagosaku.”
▼Viewed from the front of the building, the stairs are at the far right.
They’re right beside the entrance to Tagosaku.
At the top of the stairs, Dimple’s door is on your left.
▼Open the door and the bar counter is right in front of you.
▼There are 10 seats at the counter.
▼Behind the counter, rows of bottles of whisky and other drinks create a classic bar atmosphere.
▼To the right as you enter, there’s a spacious area with tables.
There are two tables that seat four.
The counter’s lighting creates a beautiful atmosphere
The lighting at Dimple’s counter seats creates a stylish atmosphere.
▼When couples and others sit down, gentle lighting falls between them, creating a special ambiance.
Also, be sure to watch as owner Miyauchi prepares drinks such as whisky and cocktails.
▼Believe it or not, there’s a light beneath the glass he’s working with.
▼The glass, illuminated by the light, takes on a beautiful, dreamlike appearance.
Owner Miyauchi has thoughtfully arranged everything so guests can enjoy a relaxing time in an extraordinary atmosphere.
Whisky
At Dimple, they take their whisky seriously.
They have a wide selection of brands, which is sure to delight whisky lovers.
Even if the many brands leave you unsure what to choose, friendly owner Miyauchi will be happy to tell you about them, so you can relax.
“Dimple,” the bar’s namesake, is a historic British whisky brand
▼First, take a look at the brand named after the bar: Dimple.
Dimple is a Scotch whisky brand from Scotland, in the United Kingdom.
It is made by the long-established whisky distillery John Haig & Co.
The brand has a very long history and is popular around the world.
▼I tried Dimple 12 Year Old on the rocks.
Dimple has a soft, sweet flavor.
Its distinctive, rich whisky aroma lingers as it goes down.
I found it to be a very easy-drinking whisky.
“Yamazaki” is a whisky brand representing Japan
One of Japan’s leading whisky brands is Yamazaki.
This historic brand is made at Suntory’s distillery in the Yamazaki district of Shimamoto Town, Osaka Prefecture.
▼I tried Yamazaki 12 Year Old on the rocks.
The rich, unmistakably whisky-like flavor really stands out.
I enjoyed its deep, mellow aroma.
Then a fresh, fruity aroma wafts up through your nose.
Cocktails
Alongside whisky, Dimple also puts a lot of effort into its cocktails.
The menu features a wide selection of cocktails.
We can recommend a cocktail to suit your tastes. Tell us what flavors you like and whether you prefer a stronger or weaker drink.
There are so many kinds of cocktails that it’s fine even if you’re not sure what you want.
Just tell Miyauchi-san whether you prefer sweet or sour flavors, and whether you want something strong or mild, and they’ll choose a cocktail to suit you.
“Gin and tonic” is a classic cocktail
▼“Gin and tonic,” found at many bars.
Some cocktail enthusiasts even use a gin and tonic to gauge whether they’re a good match for a bar.
▼It’s also a popular classic cocktail at Dimple.
I’d always pictured the lime in a gin and tonic floating on top or resting on the rim of the glass.
▼At Dimple, the lime inside the glass really stands out.
The gin and tonic had a crisp, refreshing taste with a bright aroma.
“Fresh fruit cocktails” are daily specials made with fruit purchased that day
Dimple offers “fresh fruit cocktails.”
▼These original daily specials are made with fresh fruit purchased that day.
▼At the time of the visit, the cocktail was made with Pione grapes.
▼I thought its color was beautiful, and very much like Pione grapes.
When I took a sip, the fresh aroma of Pione grapes filled the air.
▼It was also a lovely touch that a Pione grape was served alongside, letting you enjoy the flavor of the fruit itself.
The Pione grape cocktail had a smooth, light texture and a gentle sweetness.
It’s very easy to drink.
“Darjeeling Cooler” is a cocktail of tea liqueur, raspberry liqueur, and ginger ale
The “Darjeeling Cooler” is a cocktail made with tea liqueur, raspberry liqueur, and ginger ale.
▼It was served in a stylish glass whose pattern shone beautifully in the light.
▼The Darjeeling Cooler is distinguished by its tea-like color.
The Darjeeling Cooler was very easy to drink, with an addictive flavor.
It’s also relatively low in alcohol, so it’s recommended for people who don’t drink much!
Non-alcoholic drinks and soft drinks
Dimple also offers non-alcoholic drinks and soft drinks so that people who don’t drink much can enjoy themselves.
The “Matcha Shake” is made in-house using a blender
▼Of the many non-alcoholic and soft drinks available, the one that caught my eye was the “Matcha Shake.”
I never thought you could get a shake at a bar—the kind of drink I associate with fast-food restaurants…
▼The matcha shake is made in-house.
▼The matcha cream piled on top looks delicious.
We can also make the matcha shake with alcohol, if you prefer.
The matcha shake isn’t too sweet, and the texture of the fresh cream and the gentle matcha flavor are perfectly balanced.
It’s truly a dessert drink for adults.
Food
Dimple also offers food to enjoy while drinking.
The food menu mainly consists of light snacks.
“Sliced Spanish cured ham” lets you savor its rich flavor
▼A popular food item is the “sliced Spanish cured ham.”
▼The ham was sliced thinly, but had a texture that felt dense and pleasantly chewy.
Its fairly strong saltiness and the savory flavor of the meat that emerges as you chew create an addictive taste.
The cured ham is sliced right here in the bar.
The cured ham is available in small and large portions.
All the smoked foods are homemade! Their smoky aroma whets the appetite
Alongside the cured ham, one of the most popular food items is smoked food.
There are four kinds of smoked food:
- Duck
- Smoked boiled egg
- Smoked cheese
- Takuan (pickled daikon)
And, amazingly, all the smoked foods are homemade.
I make all the smoked foods here at the restaurant!
We definitely recommend trying the smoked foods handmade by Miyauchi.
Smoked boiled egg
▼The egg white is springy and firm, with a fragrant, pleasantly smoky flavor.
▼The yolk is soft-boiled, with a rich, meltingly smooth texture.
▼Before being cut, the smoked boiled egg looks like this.
Smoked cheese
▼The smoked cheese had a soft, smooth texture.
▼It has a hint of sweetness and just the right amount of salt.
▼The surface of the cheese has turned brown.
It is wonderfully fragrant, with an irresistible smoky flavor unique to smoked food.
▼Before being cut, the smoked cheese has this distinctive appearance.
All the smoked foods have addictive aromas and flavors.
We hope you’ll enjoy them with a drink.
Dimple’s menu
Prices include consumption tax. Prices as of October 2019
Appetizer platter and drinks served at Harenomino Kurashiki 2019
Harenomino Kurashiki 2019 offered an appetizer platter and drinks (including wine by the glass and a selection of cocktails, including non-alcoholic options).
The planned appetizers for the platter were:
- Sliced Spanish cured ham
- Smoked boiled egg
- Smoked cheese
With stylish lighting, carefully selected whiskeys and cocktails, and homemade smoked foods, Bar Dimple has plenty to offer.
We interviewed the owner of Dimple, Hirotaka Miyauchi.
Bar Dimple data
| Name | Bar Dimple |
|---|---|
| Address | 2nd Floor, Sakamoto Building, 1-2-5 Tsurugata, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-427-5520 |
| Parking | None |
| Hours | 8:00 p.m.–3:00 a.m. the following day |
| Closed | Monday Also closed when Monday is a public holiday |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Accepted Reservations for seats only Reservations accepted by phone |
| Seating | 18 seats ・Counter: 10 stools ・Two tables seating four |
| Smoking | Smoking permitted |
| Restroom | Western-style toilet |
| Website | Official Facebook page |
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