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Abroad in Japan · Thursday, July 30, 2026

Pete Donaldson Recalls Experience with "Teakwood" Drink at Bar

Pete Donaldson shared an anecdote about being in his favorite spot, Barcolic, and ordering a Calpis soda. He was then offered a tequila by the bartender, which he accepted. He humorously notes that he felt like he had tricked himself into buying a drink he didn't really want.

personPete DonaldsoncompanyBarcolic

The tape

1 quote
I was in, um, my favorite spot, uh, Barcolic at the bar, I was just having a quiet drink by myself and, um, on the last trip. And, uh, I was drinking like a Calpis soda kind of, um, bloody delicious, really good stuff. Um, a real great, uh, addition to any drink. And the, uh, the bars, they were, there were a few kind of like quite loud people, you know, but you know, not, not Japanese people, but like, you know, people, you know, yelling around. Anyway, one of them went, "Ah, they're all just Tequilas." And the barman, sort of apologetically went, "They're all Tequilas, do you want a Tequila?" And I was like, "Yeah, fine, yeah, fine, I'll take a Tequila." And, um, and then he accepted me paying for the Tequila. And I'm like, "I'm not, like, I've just been pranking myself into buying myself a Tequila. I didn't want."
Pete Donaldson
Heard on Abroad in Japan — “The Mayor Who Shocked Japan!, published Thursday, July 30, 2026. Heardvine summarizes and quotes with attribution and timestamps, and links to the original everywhere.
Transcribed via Gemini audio transcription · $0.05
Pete Donaldson Recalls Experience with "Teakwood" Drink at Bar — Heardvine