Overwhelming Pre-Launch Buzz! 300 Bottles Only! Exclusive Preview Event for 'Blue Highball & Blue Shaved Ice' in Shinjuku! Master Bartender Teams Up with 100-Year-Old Ice Artisan for an Adult Summer Festival

Pop-up Event: 'Blue Highball Experience! Summer Festival' - Saturday, July 4, 2026, 14:00–17:30

The Plinius (The Plinius), a private bottlers brand operated by Royal Mile Co., Ltd. (Shinjuku, Tokyo; CEO: Kazunori Shizuya), will host a pop-up event titled 'Blue Highball Experience! Summer Festival' on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at BAR Shinjuku Whisky Salon, commemorating the release of its 100% Japanese-made liqueur, 'Purinusu Hyakkei: Shirahama Iriezu Blue Curaçao' (launch date: July 1, 2026).

Registration link here

The event will feature a non-sweet 'Blue Highball' that fuses the drinking culture of Curaçao Island with Japan’s iconic highball tradition. Additionally, a next-generation frozen cocktail called 'Blue Shaved Ice' will be served, crafted with premium pure ice from 'Kuramoto Ice Industry,' a legacy ice manufacturer founded in 1923. This 'adult summer festival' promises a multisensory cool-down experience in the heart of the city.

Event Highlights: Two 'Blue' Cocktail Experiences

The Non-Sweet 'Blue Highball' to Quench Summer Thirst

This innovative highball blends Japan’s highball culture with the everyday liqueur-drinking habits of Curaçao. The vibrant citrus aroma and sharp bitterness of 'Aodaidai' (a citrus fruit from Izu) burst through with effervescent carbonation. With a high alcohol content of 30%, the drink maintains a solid structure even when mixed with ice and soda, delivering a crisp, refreshing taste without excessive sweetness. This special summer cocktail is curated by Master of Whisky Kazunori Shizuya.

Features of the Purinusu Hyakkei: Shirahama Iriezu Blue Curaçao 'Blue Highball'

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The ice used is 'Kanazawa Hyōshitsu,' the in-house brand of Kuramoto Ice Industry, a century-old innovator based in Kanazawa, Ishikawa. The ice is slowly frozen over 48–72 hours at -8 to -10°C, removing impurities to produce ultra-clear, slow-melting, high-purity ice.

Next-Generation Frozen Cocktail: 'Blue Shaved Ice'

Shaved ice served at BAR Shinjuku Whisky Salon

Instead of using blended crushed ice, this innovative frozen cocktail is made by pouring the cocktail directly over fluffy, finely shaved ice—similar to traditional kakigori—offering a new style of premium frozen drink.

The ice is slowly frozen, making it resistant to melting, and is shaved to a soft, cloud-like texture using professional-grade equipment.

Pop-up Event Overview

Event Name: Blue Highball Experience! Summer Festival

Date & Time: Saturday, July 4, 2026, 14:00–17:30

Venue: BAR Shinjuku Whisky Salon

Access: Google Map, 3F, Sato Building, 3-12-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0022

Event Details & Registration: https://lp.royalmile.tokyo/plinius_bluehighball

Inquiries: 03-3354-2229

Product Information: Purinusu Hyakkei: Shirahama Iriezu Blue Curaçao

Supervised by Kazunori Shizuya, Japan Bartender Champion and the youngest-ever Master of Whisky at the time of certification. This next-generation liqueur maximizes the unique character of Japanese citrus, embodying uncompromising 'Wa' (Japanese) quality. Reflecting The Plinius’ concept of 'the fusion of intellectual curiosity and art,' the label features a ukiyo-e style depiction of Shimoda, Izu. The philosophy is that 'viewing the label becomes a pairing experience,' allowing guests to enjoy complex flavors alongside art.

Press Release Link

Purinusu Hyakkei: Shirahama Iriezu Blue Curaçao

Product Name: Purinusu Hyakkei: Shirahama Iriezu Blue Curaçao

Brand Name: The Plinius

Limited Quantity: 300 bottles

Release Date: Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Price: ¥5,000 (excluding tax)

Volume / Alcohol Content: 500ml / 30%

Manufacturer: Shirahama Distillery, Fame's Co., Ltd. (Shirahama, Shimoda City, Shizuoka Prefecture)

Limited Quantity: 300 bottles

Release Date: Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Purchase Method: Nationwide liquor stores and Royal Mile’s online store

Venue: BAR Shinjuku Whisky Salon

BAR Shinjuku Whisky Salon

Opened in 2019 in Shinjuku as a sister bar to BAR LIVET, this bar is operated by Kazunori Shizuya, holder of the 'Master of Whisky' title.

It specializes in domestic whisky, covering nearly all active Japanese distilleries, and offers over 700 types of spirits including Scotch. It serves over 100 types of whisky-based cocktails ('Whisktails'). The bar has pioneered over 10 variations each of globally popular classics like 'Whisky Sour' and 'Old Fashioned,' featured annually in The World’s Best-Selling Classic Cocktails.

The bar has won numerous prestigious awards, including the inaugural 'The Bar World of Tomorrow' Grand Prix at Time Out Tokyo’s award for sustainable and innovative bars in Tokyo. It has been selected as one of 'Tokyo’s 10 Best Bars in the World' and is internationally recognized.

BAR Shinjuku Whisky Salon

3F, Sato Building, 3-12-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0022 Google Map

Opening Hours: 15:00–26:00

Kazunori Shizuya, Representative Director, Royal Mile Co., Ltd.

Kazunori Shizuya, Representative Director, Royal Mile Co., Ltd.

Current Positions & Public Roles

• Owned Bars: 'BAR LIVET,' 'BAR Shinjuku Whisky Salon,' 'BAR Tokyo Bourbon Club,' 'BAR LAST WORD'

• Industry Associations: Deputy Technical Director, Tokyo Chapter, Japan Bartenders Association (N.B.A.) / Council Member, Japanese Whisky Renaissance Association

• Official Roles: Official Taster, Whisky Galore / Judge & Chairman, Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition (TWSC)

• Production & Management: Producer, SAKI Glass series / Director, Taiki Cosmic Glen Distillery

Expertise & Accolades: Unmatched Professional Knowledge

Driven by relentless curiosity for whisky, Shizuya achieved the unprecedented feat of ranking first in Japan across all three levels (1st, 2nd, 3rd grade) of the Whisky Aptitude Test. His precise palate has been proven by consecutive wins in blind tasting competitions.

He also holds professional wine qualifications and possesses deep expertise across all alcoholic beverages. A staunch advocate of fieldwork, he has visited nearly 100 distilleries worldwide.

In 2019, he became the youngest person at the time to earn the 'Master of Whisky' title, the highest certification awarded by the Whisky Culture Research Institute.