Kurosawa Junichiro has holed up at Hotel Cardinal in order to finish writing the manuscript for his next highly anticipated novel. Ryu decides to finally accept Taizo's offer, but he has one condition that must be fulfilled first.
Kase is temporarily discharged from the hospital for what will likely be the last time. He's determined to stand behind the counter one last time, and his proteges are willing to do everything in their power to make that happen.
Miwa continues to worry about Ryu and how he's coping with the death of one of his previous customers. Hayase receives another promotion that will put him in America for a few years, but when Rumi comes back to town, he hesitates to leave.
The Cocktail Award finals have come, and the bartenders have gathered to test their mettle. Each of the competitors brings not only their cocktails to compete but their stories as well.
In the wake of the trip to Yamazaki Distillery, Chen decides he wants to spend his life as a bartender. However, his father is still determined to make him his heir. Chen turns to Ryu for help.
Ryu, Kyoko, Yuri, Miwa, and Chen get together to visit the "holy ground of Japanese whisky," Yamazaki Distillery. While they're there, they learn about Chen's past and his relationship to the area.
Desperate to recruit a chef of French cuisine with unreasonable standards, Kamishima turns to Ryu for help. Kyoko returns to Edenhall for bartending advice once again. This time, Ryu takes her to a bar he visited as an apprentice.
Award-winning bartender Kuzuhara Ryuichi finds himself in an impromptu bartending competition with Sasakura Ryu at the prodding of Chairman Taizo. A young woman comes to Edenhall, determined to see how Ryu mixes a B&B.
Ryu encounters an impossibly difficult-to-please customer while he's helping out at another bar. When a foul-mouthed customer wanders into Edenhall, Ryu will have to think outside the box and even the bar to serve her.
The workers of the Business Planning Division for Hotel Cardinal are desperate to find a bartender. The chairman has declared that they must find someone capable of making the "Glass of God." This is no simple task when they have no idea what that means.