I would like to introduce the whiskey purchased in April 2024.
- 1st bottle: Niigata Kameda Distillery No.20 CASK STRENGTH
- 2nd bottle: Niigata Kameda Distillery NONPEAT 2024Edition
- 3rd bottle: Niigata Kameda Distillery PEATED 2024Edition
- 4th bottle: Niigata Kameda Distillery SWEET&PEATED
- 5th: Williamson 2006 17 Year Barrel for ASAYA & SHINANOYA
- 6th bottle: Eigashima Sake Brewery distillery limited bottle
- 7th bottle: Boutique Whiskey Speyside #4 Batch 1 24 years
- Closing Thoughts
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1st bottle: Niigata Kameda Distillery No.20 CASK STRENGTH
It's not limited to events, but you can only purchase it if Niigata Kameda Distillery is exhibiting at an event.Whiskey Harbor Kobe 2024I bought it when I participated in the event.
This bottle was awarded Category Winner Gold at the World Whiskey Awards (WWA) and was aged in a much-talked-about container.
Although it is a new born, it has a very distinct barrel feel.
It has a woody, vanilla, and bitter impression, and I think you can also pick up some bourbon-like nuances.
By the way, it seems that container aging has a very high angel share.
2nd bottle: Niigata Kameda Distillery NONPEAT 2024Edition
I also purchased this at Whiskey Harbor Kobe.
It's weaker than the previous No. 20, but you can definitely feel the barrel.
It had a plum flavor, a yogurt-like lactic acidity, and a rich body.
3rd bottle: Niigata Kameda Distillery PEATED 2024Edition
I also purchased this at Whiskey Harbor Kobe.
I think it's one that has a meaty and bacon-like feel to it.
4th bottle: Niigata Kameda Distillery SWEET&PEATED
I also purchased this at Whiskey Harbor Kobe.
You can feel the nuances of sweetness, smokiness, and honey bacon.
It is said that it is aged in maple syrup barrels.
5th: Williamson 2006 17 Year Barrel for ASAYA & SHINANOYA
I bought something big.
This is Williamson from Asaya Shoten and Shinanoya PB in Chichibu.
Williamson means Laphroaig.
I had an advance tasting at Whiskey Harbor Kobe, and it was a delicious Laphroaig, so I decided to purchase it on the spot.
Although 17 years is not a short ripening period, it is not a long ripening period.
As for the taste, this is a bottle where you can feel both the strong peat and iodine feel of a younger Laphroaig that has been aged in the single digits, and the yellow fruitiness of a long-ripened Laphroaig.
This is the reason I decided to purchase it.
Williamson is a blended malt, which is a teaspoon of whiskey mixed with another distillery.
This is listed as Williamson, but it appears to be 100% Laphroaig.
It seems that the Laphroaig notation was OK up until the middle, but halfway through it was rejected and the product was sold under the Williamson name.
He said he bought it when 1 pound was 180 yen, and at the time of writing this blog (late May 2024), 1 pound was about 200 yen.
Although it depends on the future exchange rate of the yen, if things continue as they are, it may be difficult to offer products with the same specs at a similar price.
This means that the price may rise in the future.
When you hear that 17-year-aged Laphroaig costs 55,000 yen, you might think it's expensive, but after hearing the story, it makes sense, and I think the taste is worth the price.
However, since the price is the price, I think it would be better to try it at a bar or other place and then buy it if you like it.
6th bottle: Eigashima Sake Brewery distillery limited bottle
The day after Whiskey Harbor Kobe,Eigashima Sake BreweryI was able to make a reservation for a tour of ``, so I went to see it and purchased some items at that time.
It seems that the wine has been aged for 5 years in Oloroso sherry, with a little vatting in bourbon barrels.
It's 200ml, but the price is cheap, so I think it's a good idea to buy it when you go on a distillery tour.
7th bottle: Boutique Whiskey Speyside #4 Batch 1 24 years
Korosue Shoten” I purchased it from.
Korosue Shoten allows you to sample before purchasing, so I sampled it first.
I bought this bottle because it was filled with all the good things about Glenlivet: it had a very strong apple flavor and no kelp aftertaste.
Official prices are increasing rapidly, but bottlers are also increasing their prices as well.
There are various ways to respond to price increases, such as purchasing whiskey that hasn't been raised yet, but I think one option for bottlers is boutique whisky.
First of all, the size is 500ml, so the price is often relatively affordable.
Also, although it has been aged for 24 years, the price is 20,000 yen, and even if you convert it to 700ml and multiply it by 1.4, I think it is still cheap at about 28,000 yen.
This bottle was released a while ago. .
Boutique whiskeys are often not made in single cask, so this is something to keep in mind, but I've been paying particular attention to boutique whiskies, especially these days as prices have been going up a lot.
Closing Thoughts
I didn't have much time to visit liquor stores in April, so basically all I bought was when I participated in Whiskey Harbor Kobe and when I visited Kobe and Eigashima Sake Brewery.
Having said that, I bought a large item, so I spent a considerable amount of money on it. .
Recently (especially since April when the price was raised), in order to avoid over-purchasing, I have made a rule that I only buy bottles that I feel are delicious.
This purchasing method makes it difficult to purchase popular bottles, but I plan to attend events and sample them in advance, and even if I can't buy them, I'll be able to drink them at a bar somewhere.
I think I will purchase something in May 2024, so I would like to introduce it to you once I have purchased it.
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