The Bellwood: Creative and Upscale Cocktails In Shibuya

When you do a simple google search to find the best bars in Tokyo, you will immediately stumble upon the famed name of “SG Club.” Led by the celebrity bartender Shingo Gokan, SG Club garnered a lot of international recognition and thus remains as one of the most coveted bars of Tokyo. What most people tend to miss out on, however, are the sister establishments of SG Club. Located in a quieter street of Shibuya, the Bellwood is a sister bar that serves well-crafted cocktails as expected, yet in a less hype-crazed and more intimate environment.

The Bellwood is not your usual bar in which you can find classic cocktails, nor is it a bar that is content with adding simple twists to classic recipes. Instead, the cocktail menu is separated into two parts: coffee or tea-based cocktails. There are around 8 cocktails in each category and all of them are original recipes that make you want to order everything. The curiosity and anticipation created by just a glance at the menu is the Bellwood’s most valuable asset. 

Most of the cocktails include one of the three SG Shochu crafted by Shingo Gokan. Among distilled beverages, shochu is notoriously difficult to work with when making cocktails due to its alcohol percentage. Averaging at 25%, it just does not provide the necessary body as a mixer. The SG Shochu, on the other hand, are specifically crafted to be used in cocktails. Each one hovering close to ABV 40%, SG Shochu has three kinds made from barley, sweet potato, or rice. They are utilized in many of the recipes in the Bellwood.

Upon the recommendation of the bartender who speaks perfect English, I start with “Moga’s Tea”,  a recipe that consists of Bacardi rum, jasmine tea, longan fruit, lemongrass, and raspberry. As expected, this is an incredibly fragrant cocktail. In the palate, it opens with sweet fruity notes from the raspberry and then gives way to a perfume-like finish whose fragrance lingers on. This is a delicious concoction that is easy to drink, although its perfumey aromas get a bit overwhelming after a couple sips.

Next up, I decide to order some bites along with a new cocktail. The food menu is limited to some simple snacks and a few more voluminous plates. Among the latter, I order the chili con carne nachos. Along with the food, my cocktail choice is “Miyako Fizz”: another tea cocktail that includes Zubrowka vodka, mulberry leaf, kombu (kelp), umeboshi, and soda. This turns out to be an excellent choice. A thoroughly refreshing cocktail with briny notes from the kombu. Slightly salty and full of umami at the same time. This makes an excellent pairing with fatty nachos. That said, the nachos themselves are quite underwhelming. A small portion that has some meat and cheese thrown into standard corn chips.

After gulping the nachos with the Miyako Fizz, it is time for a sweet ending. For that, I turn to the coffee page of the menu and choose what is known as this bar’s specialty: Au Lait Not Martini. This one is made with barley SG Shochu, Potosi coffee beans, and clarified milk. The clear reddish-brown cocktail is served with a glass that has miso powder sprinkled on its rims. This turns out to be a genius touch that elevates the cocktail, as the impact of the miso fascinates in every sip by accentuating the coffee notes. Meanwhile, the clarified milk results in a silky texture.

Ranging from 1600 to 2200 yen each, the cocktails of the Bellwood are not cheap. However, they are creative and well-crafted. It is worth to drop by to sample their original recipes, as I am sure you will find something that will impress.

Insider’s tip: Currently, the Bellwood has a private room attached to the bar in which you can enjoy a sushi omakase if you reserve through Instagram. The sushi is prepared by a young female chef in front of you, with each piece coming with unique toppings and sauces that draw influence from various countries. I thoroughly enjoyed this playful course that is of great value as well. It is a great way to start the night before jumping to the bar for cocktails.