Endo Kazutoshi’s name is all over London. It’s on Endo at the Rotunda (notoriously one of the city’s hardest-to-book restaurants); it’s on the top floor of Raffles at the OWO in the form of Kioku at Endo; and it’s more discreetly on the bill at Niju, a swanky Japanese spot in Mayfair.
And now, it’s on the label of a bottle of whiskey. Launched in early October, Silent Harmony is a limited edition expression from progressive whiskey brand Neit. Founded in Italy by brothers Luca and Francesco Fracassi, Neit is intent on capturing a younger breed of whiskey drinkers – with a focus on women drinkers, according to brand ambassador Nicola Battafarano at the London launch. Unlike more traditional labels, Neit is focused on where and how its spirits will be drunk, as opposed to diving too deep into the mechanics of how it is made.
That being said, the brand clearly has some weight behind its liquid: Silent Harmony is a single cask spirit, aged for 34 years in an ex-bourbon barrel. The distillery is unnamed, but this is a serious age statement for a young brand – especially for Irish whiskey.
The whiskey itself is bottled at 46% ABV. On the nose, it’s surprisingly floral, with a hint of green apple. The first sip has notes of stone fruit and a touch of mint. There’s a nice hint of spice, too. The brand is un-fussy so have no qualms recommending their spirits in cocktails either; try Silent Harmony in a boulevardier.
So, why Kazutoshi? Marketing power of a chef collab aside, the sushi master’s personal whisky collection is well documented, as is his love for craft. “What drew me to Neit was not just the whiskey, it was their philosophy,” Kazutoshi says. “In Japan, we say shokunin kishitsu – the spirit of the craftsman. For me, the whole process of omakase is about craft. Neit shares that spirit. It felt like we were speaking the same language, just through different materials: them through whiskey, me through sushi.”
With his name across the city, Kazutoshi is at risk of becoming thinly spread. But, “taking on new projects is an important part of development – as a craftsman I cannot be standing still,” he told Elite Traveler.
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“The important thing is to remember your core values and where they come from. For me, the center point is my sushi counter and the concept of omotenashi, meaning hospitality through empathy. Everything I do carries the same spirit of being present in the moment and giving it my all, whether that’s a new restaurant, a pop-up or a taste of whiskey. If it doesn’t have soul, it’s not me.”
Just 185 bottles are available globally, for an RRP of £2,995 (approx. $3,990), neit.io