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Want to gain entrance to this hidden Scotch sanctuary? Be male. And Japanese. And wearing an expensive suit. “Ultra-exclusive” barely describes owner Koichi Hiraiwa’s red-carpeted lounge—“cultlike” may be more appropriate (“Don’t write about us,” his manager told us). But if you do gain entrance, prepare yourself for an onslaught of exceptional single malts—over 300 rare bottles, to be more precise. And bring your black AmEx: A decent shot (that’s shot, not glass) will run you around $20, while a shot of Black Bowmore wins the prize at a whopping $800. Given the price tags, the door policy, and the décor—golf accessories hanging on the walls of a musty, windowless room—it’s no surprise that the crowd tends toward the older and wealthier.
— Melissa Lafsky

Gentlemen, don’t forget your jacket! The dress code is as strict as the door.