Tokyo Confidential creates baseball-inspired cocktails

Located in the capital of Japan, Tokyo Confidential took inspiration from baseball for its second cocktail menu.

Titled Second Base, the new drinks list comes with collectable cards, baseball puns, and special edition jerseys.

Holly Graham, Tokyo Confidential co-founder, said: “Before moving to Tokyo, I was on the road and listening to music – which is where I get some of my best ideas – and I just had this vision, almost like a hypothetical music video of a baseball bat, but instead of the ball it was smashing into cocktails. That’s where the idea first came about, and it grew from there.”

The traditionally American sport is a big part of culture in Asia, particularly in Japan. One of the bar’s bartenders, Kouki Taguchi, played semi-professionally before pursuing a career in the on-trade.

Cocktails on the new menu include Highball-style Katsuo Isono, made with gin, myoga (part of the ginger family), lychee, agricole rum and ponzu (a citrus-based sauce).

There is also the savoury Glizztini, designed to recreate the quintessential game-day hot dog in a beverage. It also uses gin, which is combined with mugi shochu, tomato, mezcal, onion brine and MSG. The garnish comprises red and yellow cacao butter in a nod to the tomato ketchup and mustard relishes often used on hot dogs.

The menu is presented as a wallet used to collect baseball cards. Each drink has a bespoke card, and features a player from Tokyo Confidential. Baseball-inspired snacks will also accompany the menu in due course.

Guests can also purchase a Tokyo Confidential baseball-style jersey, which will be available in limited quantities.

“As someone who lives abroad and has created new homes for myself when moving cities, the idea of community is super important to me and I love how that comes to life through baseball,” Graham added.

Tokyo Confidential first opened in October 2023.