Japanese whisky and Tajima wagyu share a philosophy: patience, precision and respect for a single ingredient. On Thursday 20th August 2026, Aragawa and the House of Suntory brought the two together for one evening in our Mayfair private dining room.
This is how the Highball Experience was designed, course by course, and what it shows about pairing Japanese whisky with wagyu.
An Evening With Aragawa x House of Suntory
- Date: Thursday 20th August 2026
- Guests: twelve seats
- Price: £165 per person
- Venue: Aragawa Private Dining Room, 38 Clarges Street, Mayfair
Four courses of Tajima beef were prepared over binchotan charcoal, each matched to a whisky serve crafted exclusively for the evening by Suntory's brand ambassador.
The Four Pairings
Arrival: Toki Highball
The House of Suntory's signature serve, alongside a smoked salmon crispy cup.
First pairing: Yamazaki Distiller's Reserve
Yamazaki Distiller's Reserve with umeshu, Maldon salt, soda and umeboshi, paired with aburi Tajima beef nigiri. The plum's sharpness meets the seared fat of the beef.
Second pairing: Hibiki Silk
Hibiki Japanese Harmony lengthened with coconut water, served with a Tajima beef taco with Japanese condiments.
Third pairing: Hakushu Forest
Hakushu Distiller's Reserve with soda and fresh mint, paired with an ichibo steak sando.
The Rare Finale
To close the evening, dessert was accompanied by a choice of Yamazaki 18 Year Old or Hibiki 21 Year Old, a 20ml pour included within the experience.
For guests wishing to go further, two collector's upgrades were offered:
- Collector's Finale: Hakushu 25 Year Old, 20ml (total experience £305 per guest)
- Ultimate Collector's Finale: Hibiki 30 Year Old, 20ml (total experience £365 per guest)
Why Japanese Whisky Works With Wagyu
Tajima wagyu is rich, and its marbling carries flavour across the palate. A highball, long and cold with soda, refreshes between bites without masking the beef. Older expressions such as Yamazaki 18 or Hibiki 21 are better kept for the end of a meal, when there is time to linger over a small pour.
Whisky has a long history at Aragawa. Read how we marked World Whisky Day with the House of Suntory.
Hosting Your Own Evening
Collaborations like this take place in our private dining room, which seats 8 to 14 guests. To plan a bespoke evening of your own, see private dining at Aragawa or our private wine experiences. Upcoming events are listed on What's On.
18+. Please drink responsibly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What whisky goes best with wagyu?+
Long, refreshing serves such as a highball suit rich wagyu during a meal, because the soda cuts through the fat. Older, more concentrated whiskies are best saved for the end.
Which whiskies were served at the Aragawa x House of Suntory evening?+
Toki, Yamazaki Distiller's Reserve, Hibiki Japanese Harmony and Hakushu Distiller's Reserve across the courses, with a finale choice of Yamazaki 18 Year Old or Hibiki 21 Year Old.
Can I book a private whisky dinner at Aragawa?+
Private evenings are arranged in our private dining room for 8 to 14 guests. Enquire through the private dining or private wine experiences pages.