[Official Bottlings & Independent Bottlers] Best Releases of the First Half of 2025 [YouTube Video]

Best releases in the first half of 2025

This time, I would like to introduce the best releases of the first half of 2025 in my opinion.

Among the bottles released in the first half of the year, I would like to introduce three bottles from the official bottle that I think were especially good and delicious, and three bottles from bottlers and private bottles.

The selection includes not only bottles purchased, but also bottles consumed at bars or events.

First, I will introduce the official one.

Official 1st bottle: Niigata Kameda Distillery Zodiac Sign Series Pisces

I chose Niigata Kameda's first release as a single malt.

I'm from Niigata, and since my hometown is close to Kameda, I'm a fan of the Niigata Kameda Distillery, but I think it would have been better to ignore that preconception.

It has a taste that picks up the honey taste well, making it a delicious bottle that can be enjoyed straight or as a highball.

In the first half of 2025, the first releases of single malts from various distilleries continue, but to be honest, the young New Potty feel has not been completely removed. .

However, it costs about 15,000 yen, so I honestly think it's expensive.

Among them, I think Niigata Kameda is relatively easy to get your hands on because it doesn't have a New Potty feel and the price is around 10,000 yen.

I chose this one because it doesn't have the New Potty flavor and there is a difference in price.

I think Niigata Kameda's second release is coming up in the second half of 2025, and I think distilleries other than Niigata Kameda will also have second and third releases.

I don't think I can form an opinion unless I drink first, so I'm going to go to bars and events and try a variety of drinks.

Official 2nd bottle: The Y.A #04

I have not been able to purchase the bottle, but I chose Y.A #04.

It was delicious with the impression of peat and yellow fruit.

Y.A ages Komagatake and Tsunuki in the Yakushima aging cellar and vats them.

This is the fourth in the series, and the odd numbers #01 and #03 are mainly Komagatake, and the odd numbers have a stronger fruit flavor, while the even numbers #02 and #04 are mainly Tsunuki, and even numbers tend to have more fruit, but have a stronger peat flavor.

It has been more than 10 years since Komagatake restarted distilling in 2011, and Tsunuki and Yakushima Aging Cellar were opened in 2016, so it has also been nearly 10 years since then, so I think the range of unprocessed sake is increasing, or rather, there are more options.

Komagatake has been sold as a limited edition like the 2024 Edition, but perhaps that is why it will be released as a standard item in September.

I can feel Marth's ability as a flavor, so I'd like to keep an eye on him in the future.

Official 3rd bottle: Chichibu Distillery II

Although I was not able to purchase a bottle, I chose Chichibu Distillery II.

The single malt from Chichibu No. 2 Distillery, which began production in October 2019, has finally been released.

On the palate, it has an orange-ish citrus impression, with a slight tropical note in the second half, which I think is delicious.

During the 2024 Chichibu Whiskey Festival, the single malt from Chichibu No. 2 Distillery was unveiled for the first time, and as I thought when I drank it, I think the second one is delicious.

I think the second version will be released on PB etc., so I'm looking forward to it.

Official compilation

official edition had a lineup of Niigata Kameda, Y.A. #04, and Chichibu Distillery II.

All are Japanese whiskies.

In the first half of 2025, there were many first releases from emerging Japanese whiskey distilleries, and I think there were stable releases from long-established distilleries.

When I attend a whiskey event, I tend to drink Scotch bottlers, but I don't really drink official Scotch, and I tend to go to the Japanese whiskey booths that offer new products and constituent spirits. .

So, I often reach capacity just at the Japanese Whiskey booth and end up closing without being able to visit the Scotch booth.

Because of that, I tend to select a lot of Japanese whiskey, and I haven't been able to drink much official Scotch lately. .

I think the official Scotch brings out the characteristics of the house style and distillery, so I'm going to drink official Scotch at bars and whiskey events and learn more.

Next, we will introduce Bottler's Private Bottles.

Bottler's PB 1st bottle: Tsunuki Liquid East

I would like to introduce two bottles at once, but this is Tsunuki, which uses liquid yeast.

I think the two bottles currently on sale are the Chichibu Whiskey Festival 2025 event limited bottle and Rudder's Hyakuseifuma series.

Although it has not been released yet, it is said that liquid yeast will also be used in the event limited bottle of "Whiskey Talk Fukuoka 2025" in 2025 this year.

[An Amazing Event!!] Whisky Talk Fukuoka 2025 Report [YouTube Video Included]

ウイスキートーク福岡20252025年6月8日（日）に開催された『ウイスキートーク福岡2025』に参加してきましたので、その時の様子をご紹介していきます。会場はマリンメッセ福岡Bで、11:45～18:00で開催されました。参加費入場チケット...

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The taste is very fruity and tropical.

There are many whiskeys that have a tropical feel, such as old bottles and long-aged Scotch, but this whiskey is a little different from those with a fresh and lively fruit feel.

The fruitiness comes from the use of liquid yeast in the fermentation process.

It may be easier to imagine if you have made bread at home, but the normal fermentation process uses dry powdered yeast.

These bottles use liquid yeast instead.

I think these bottles teach us how important the process of fermentation is, so I think it may be difficult to obtain these bottles, but if you see one at a bar, give it a try, and if a bottle using liquid yeast is released in the future, be sure to check it out.

Bottler's PB 2nd bottle: Whiskey Age Bushmills 1991 32

Bushmills is located in Nagoya since Whiskey Age and caters to bar finches and non-peat fish.

This is a bottle distilled in 1991 and aged for 31 years.

I can taste the amazing mango and it's really delicious.

And Bushmills itself has a minty taste, so I don't know if it's available as a product, but it has a taste similar to mango-flavored mintia.

It's rare to find a bottle that tastes like mango or yellow tropical fruits in whiskey, but I think this is the first time I've tasted mango so clearly.

I felt that point was very impressive, so I chose it this time.

Long-ripened Irish bottles have been popping up here and there this year, and I think there are a lot of delicious bottles, so if I can buy one, I'd like to buy one.

Bottler's PB 3rd bottle: Three Rivers Shiki Imperial 1998 25 years

The third one is Imperial from the Shiki series from Three Rivers.

A bottle distilled in 1998 and aged for 25 years.

The taste is peach.

Peach juice.

It has a thick viscosity and a sweetness that makes you feel like you are drinking peach juice.

I think this is a bottle that anyone would enjoy drinking.

However, the price is 120,000 yen per bottle. .

The price of a half shot at a bar is roughly ÷20+α, so I think it will cost more than 6,000 yen per drink.

It costs a certain amount of money, but I think it's more impressive than that.

It was released around January 2025, so it may be out of stock in many bars, but if you see it, I'd like you to give it a try.

Bottler's PB Runner-up

I think there were a lot of good releases in the first half of 2025, and although they were delicious, I would like to introduce some bottles that I think are in the top 3, including some that were shocking.

KFWS Kanosuke 2020-2025 IPA Cask

Kyoto Fine Wine and Spirits' Kanosuke, IPA Cask.

It was a cup that had the hops, grapes, and creaminess derived from IPA, and the taste of Kanosuke's slightly sweet unprocessed sake and the IPA cask were perfectly fused.

Since you are out of the lottery, you cannot purchase it. . (crying)

Signatory Islay(LA) 34 1990-2025 for Wu Dram Clan

This is a secret Aira for Wu Dram Clan.

Although it is labeled Secret Islay, the contents are Laphroaig as you can tell from the LA on the label.

I have the impression that not only Laphroaig but also long-ripening Islay varieties, the peat becomes weaker and the fruit comes to the fore.

I thought this bottle was great in that it still had plenty of peat and you could really taste the fruit.

One bottle costs 100,000 yen, but I wish I had bought this bottle.

Cheers Party Laphroaig 1991-2025 33 years

This is Laphroaig from Cheers Party.

It's not Secret Islay, it's Laphroaig notation.

And the much talked about Laphroaig distilled on December 12, 1991.

Compared to the previous Laphroaig, the peat seems a little weak, but the fruit is strong and solid, making it an excellent bottle.

By the way, this one costs 140,000 yen. .

I think the fact that the name Laphroaig is properly written instead of Secret Islay is reflected in the price.

Shinanoya Glenfarclas 1990 29 Year Refill Sherry Hogshead

Glenfarclas from Shinanoya.

As for the taste, it has fruit and tropical elements that feel like an old bottle, and it is a cup where you can feel the nuances of brown sugar.

I think it's been aged for about 5 years since it was bottled, and I think it's probably the effect of aging in the bottle, but I learned that this kind of change can occur.

I'm thinking about storing unopened bottles that I've purchased and have an alcohol content of 50% or more before drinking them after storing them for 3 or 5 years.

Bottler's PB Summary

My impression is that there were a lot of good releases in the first half of 2025.

Although there were long-ripening Scotches from the early 90's and 80's, I was impressed by the way Tsunuki and Kanosuke were able to tap into the long-ripening Scotch by using fermentation methods, aging in IPA casks that have been used in recent years, and the production process to bring out the deliciousness.

There are a lot of long-aging releases, and the prices are commensurate with that, so I think there were bottles that cost not only over 50,000 yen per bottle, but also around 100,000 or 150,000 yen.

If you buy it, it will cost you that amount, but even if you drink it at a bar or at a whiskey event, it will cost a certain amount of money, so I think it was difficult to keep up with it.

We hope to see good releases in the second half of the year, both Scotch and Japanese.

Closing Thoughts

We chose 3 bottles from the official and 3 bottles from Bottler's PB for the delicious whiskeys for the first half of 2025.

I will continue to go to bars regularly in the second half of the year, and the current whiskey events are ``Hachioji Whiskey Street'' in September, ``Japanese Craft Whiskey Festival'' in October, and ``Whiskey Festival in Tokyo, and I'm also thinking of participating in any tasting events.

I'm looking forward to some good releases in the second half of the year, and I'm going to drink a lot of things.

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