I would be happy to introduce you if you participate in the event again.

Whiskey & Spirits Festival 2025 in Yokohama

“Whiskey & Spirits Festival 2025 in Yokohama” I would like to introduce you to the event.

Whisky Festival－ウイスキーフェスティバル

ウイスキーフェスティバルは国内最大級のウイスキーイベントです。

whiskyfestival.jp

Two sessions will be held each day.

The timing of the event varies each year, with the event held in August in 2023, February in 2024, and April in 2025.

In 2024, “Chichibu Whiskey Festival 2024”, and in 2025 it will be held the week before “Whiskey Harbor Kobe 2025'' will be held the following week, and the schedule is quite exciting for the participants and especially for the exhibiting companies.

[An Amazing Event!!] Chichibu Whisky Matsuri 2024 Report: Event Day

朝食〜イベント会場到着 本日は秩父ウイスキー祭りイベント当日です。 前夜祭などの前日の様子は『前日編』として、別途投稿しておりますので、ぜひまだの方はそちらからご覧ください。 今回は『ルートインホテル 西武秩父駅前』に宿泊しております。 ル

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Also, behind the scenes, overseas, but in Germany,Limburg Whisky Fair 2025” was being held, and some companies decided not to participate because they would be exhibiting here.

https://whiskyfair.de/limburg/

whiskyfair.de

Perhaps due to this influence, representative Japanese whiskey distilleries such as Chichibu, Mars, Akkeshi, Kanosuke, etc. will not be participating, and the exhibits will be a little lonely without the participation of bottlers and private brands such as Shinanoya and Rudder.

As the name Whisky & Spirits suggests, there were also many exhibitors offering distilled spirits other than whisky, such as gin and rum.

This time I participated in Part 3 (Sunday, December 8th, 10:00 – 13:30).

If the event is divided into several parts, some brands may be sold out and unavailable for purchase in the latest part, so we recommend participating in the earliest part if possible.

However, for those who are looking for limited edition bottles, the first part in particular may have a brutal atmosphere.

If you want to enjoy it leisurely, you may want to participate in a later session.

Also, Saturdays are attended by the general public, while on Sundays there are bars and liquor stores that are closed on Sundays, so people involved in alcoholic drinks such as bartenders and liquor stores often attend, so Sundays are said to be better manners-wise.

Participation fee

This time, since the lineup of exhibiting companies was lacking, I was able to purchase at the last minute on the opening day.

Depending on the lineup, we expect the tickets to sell out quickly, so we recommend purchasing tickets as soon as possible.

Introduction of brands sampled

I overslept this time and arrived at the venue around 11:00, so I was able to enter without having to wait in line.

Now, I would like to introduce all the brands that I sampled this time.

1st cup: Kusumi Distillery Single Malt THE FIRST

This is the first release single malt from Kusumi Distillery in Oita Prefecture, which began shipping to authorized stores from Wednesday, April 23rd.

It was fruity with hints of pine and orange, and the aftertaste was strongly nutty.

There is a slight alcohol attack, but overall I think the yellow to slightly red fruitiness is nice.

2nd cup: ACORN Chichibu 2017-2024

Chichibu distilled in 2017 and bottled in 2024.

It had a peat, cider, and glucose-like taste.

3rd cup: Asaya Shoten x Uohide Campbelltown Blended 2016 8 years

The two on the left in the photo

It had honey and lemon, and a slight hint of kelp, which I personally don't like.

4th glass: Asaya Shoten x Bar Bacchus Royal Black La 2015 9

The two on the right of the photo

It looks like raisins are exploding.

It has a rich, dark taste similar to dried fruit.

And there was no sherry-type sarcasm at all.

This is a good buy, or rather I bought it.

5th cup: yumarrest Ramune Gin

It's not whiskey, it's gin.

I received the ramune gin that I was interested in.

Although the botanicals are not disclosed, it really tastes like ramune.

There is a tangy alcohol taste on the tongue, but it tastes like the carbonated ramune and is delicious.

There was a mini bottle left and I was able to purchase it, so I bought it.

I was running out of the last few mini bottles.

This time, it will be released in advance and will be officially released in June 2025, so we are looking forward to it.

6th cup: Yumarrest Geisha Coffee

This is also not whiskey but gin.

Geisha is a variety of coffee beans that are used botanically.

When I put it in my mouth, it had a bean aroma and a slightly green taste, similar to when I first opened the container in which coffee beans are stored, and the aftertaste was coffee and a little milky, like a latte.

Jin is interesting after all.

7th cup: YUZA Signature Blend

Yusa Distillery is a distillery located in Yuza Town, Yamagata Prefecture.

I felt the fruitiness typical of Yusa, especially the pear flavor.

Since it's a blended drink, I wanted to experience a variety of flavors, but the coffee flavor from the previous gin remained in my mouth, so I couldn't get it right. .

You drank the drinks in the wrong order. .

8th Cup: Ruka Newborn 2024

Photo right, white label

Ruka is produced at the Susaki Distillery (Shinzato Sake Brewery) in Okinawa.

I can feel the plum-like elements typical of Newborn, but that is masked to some extent by the sherry and barrel feel.

If you're going to buy a cheap sherry bottler that's around 10,000 to 20,000 yen, I think this one would be better.

9th Cup: Ruka 2024

Photo left, black label

This is a single malt.

It has a hint of brown sugar and a nutty lingering finish, with a stronger acidity than Newborn, but the youthfulness is masked by the sherry and oak.

This one also had a delicious taste that I think if you're going to buy from a bad bottler, this is the one to go for.

10th Glass: Tsunuki 2018-2023 Y's Cask

This is the heavily peated Tsunuki that was released on the occasion of the 6th anniversary of Likaman Ginza 777 store last year in 2024.

Tsunuki's heavy peat is relatively rare, and it tasted delicious with a greenish, slightly blue fruit.

I was told that I could buy it, so I bought it.

11th cup: BOSO Rhum Agricole blanc Soleil -Taiyo- 2024

Photo right, light yellow label

This year in 2025 “Whiskey Lovers Nagoya 2025” event limited edition bottle called Saburomaru Blended Boso Rum Cask Finish, and this was the first time I learned about the existence of this distillery.

[First Event of 2025!!] Whisky Lovers Nagoya 2025 Report [YouTube Video Included]

ウイスキーラバーズ名古屋2025 今回は2025年1発目のウイスキーイベントのウイスキーラバーズ名古屋2025に参加してきましたので、その様子をご紹介していきます。 イベントは2025年1月26日（日）に開催されました。 参加費 前売り券：

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First, I received the standard brand.

I felt a seaweed-like impression and sweetness.

Honestly, I don't drink unripe white rum, so I don't have much experience with it, so I honestly don't know. .

12th Cup: BOSO Rhum Mer -Sea- Cuvee spesiale ESTRY2024

black label in the center of the photo

I was wondering how long it would be since it has ester in the name, but it does have a strong adhesive and Cemedine smell.

It had one of the best adhesive tastes of any rum I've ever had, and personally it stung me quite a bit.

I like rum, so I can drink it because I have a tolerance for it, but I think people who try it for the first time may be surprised, or even find it difficult to drink.

13th cup: Igawa Distillery Newborn Bourbon Barrel Peated

Although the second release, which will be released in late May, was not available this time, we were able to receive a Newborn with similar specs.

It had banana, peat, nuts, and a peanut buttery aftertaste, and it was a cup that made me think that Igawa is really good.

14th cup: Shindo Distillery Newborn Bourbon Barrel

This is Shindo Distillery in Fukuoka Prefecture, which will have its first release in June.

As expected, there was no first release provided, and the local “Whiskey Talk Fukuoka 2025It is said that it will be unveiled for the first time at ``.

This time I received a bourbon barrel that was close to the first release.

I've had Newborn from a bourbon barrel before, and I could still feel the same banana flavor.

If this continues after the first release, I have great expectations.

15th cup: Shindo Distillery Newborn Chestnut Cask

Next, we had the chestnut cask.

I also felt the banana in the front, but there was also a sour and plum-like impression.

I don't have much experience with chestnut casks, so I need to learn more.

16th glass: Chichibu Reiwa Shokai Blended Scotch Whiskey

Photo right

A blended Scotch whiskey bottled for festival bottles.

I could feel Pete in the front, but I got the impression that his youth wasn't fully masked.

17th Cup: Chichibu Reiwa Shokai Zodiac Bottle Snake Ardmore 14 Years 2009-2024

Center of photo

Although the label is strong, there was a sherry-like taste reminiscent of peat and brown sugar, and a slightly unpleasant kelp taste, but I think it was tolerable and overall delicious.

I'm pretty drunk, but I can still taste it, so I think it would be delicious if I drank it on a normal day.

18th cup: BBR Glenrothes 1990 28 years

Photo left

It had a slightly grassy nuance, but it also had the cold fruitiness and brown sugar that you would expect from an old whisky.

It's quite cheap that you can drink this for 600 yen.

Probably because I overslept and didn't have breakfast, I started to get drunk quickly. .

I don't drink much, but this is how I left. .

To avoid getting sick, you need to eat well beforehand. .

Impressions

I've been saying this for a while now, but I felt a little lonely among the exhibiting companies. .

I think there are quite a few people who decided not to participate because of this.

Due to the small number of participants and the venue, Pacifico Yokohama, being large enough to be used as a live venue, the third part was quite empty and I was able to walk around comfortably.

From what I heard, it seems that the first and second sections were crowded with people looking to sell their products. .

Whiskey events will continue almost every week from now on, but it's hard for us to participate every week, and I think it's especially hard for the exhibiting companies. .

I'm happy that so many whiskey events are being held, but I'm starting to wonder if there are too many. .

Having said that, it is my nature as a whiskey lover to participate if it is held.

I would be happy to introduce you if you participate in the event again.

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