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Blue Jays Pitcher Yusei Kikuchi Has Started An Incredible Tradition With His Teammates Involving $3,000 Whisky

#Yusei Kikuchi
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Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi and Yamazaki whisky bottle

Getty Image / R.J. Johnston / Toronto Star / Suntory / Yamazaki


Japanese-born pitcher Yusei Kikuchi has started an incredible tradition with his Toronto Blue Jays teammates involving a rare Japanese single malt whisky.

The Blue Jays starting pitcher isn’t a big drinker, at least not during the season, according to his recent remarks to Jays commentator Hazel Mae who shared Yusei Kikuchi‘s tradition on Tuesday’s broadcast as Toronto beat the Yankees 5-4 and Kikuchi picked up the win, his first of the season.

This new drinking ritual in Toronto takes place anytime Yusei Kikuchi is on the mount *and* picks up the win. In those instances, he busts out a bottle of his favorite Japanese whisky: the Yamazaki Tsukuriwake Selection Spanish Oak 2022 edition.

To Kikuchi, this Tsukuriwake selection holds special significance because 2022 is the year he signed his 3-year, $36,000,000 contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. And yes, all baseball contracts are fully guaranteed unlike some of the other major sports so that’s $12 million per year for three years with the Blue Jays, also making this his final season under contract with Toronto.

What Makes Yusei Kikuchi’s Favorite Yamazaki Japanese Single Malt Whisky So Special

This bottle was one of four Tsukuriwake special selections in 2022 and while the initial retail price was $450 these bottles sell for $3,000 each now. The four Tsukuriwake special selections of Yamazaki in 2022 were this SPanish Oak edition, Mizunara Edition, Puncheon Edition, and the Peated Malt Edition.

This special edition Yamazaki expression is comprised of “meticulously selected malt whiskies matured in the highest quality oak casks from Northern Spain.” It is 48% ABV, has a dark color that’s almost coffee-like in appearance, and The Whiskey Wash describes the nose as “extremely rich like mahogany, rich leather with soft port wine.”

$3,000 a bottle is STEEP. But honestly, it’s Yamazaki and it is probably 100% worth it. I accidentally ordered a pour of the Yamazaki 18 a few years ago at the Brandy Library in TriBeCa. I’d pointed to the Yamazaki 12 on the menu, the bartender saw me point to the 18 and poured the drink. I started drinking without looking at the bottle which he left for me to look at but the label was turned around. I want to say it was a $110 2oz pour and worth every penny.

So I cannot imagine how incredible this Yamazaki Tsukuriwake Selection Spanish Oak 2022 edition chosen by Yusei Kikuchi… And while $3,000 is a lot, it’s got NOTHING on this Yamazaki bottle that sold for $300,000.