[One of Japan's Largest!!] Whisky Festival 2025 in Tokyo Report

Igawa Distillery Single Malt Drawing Series Flora 2025

2nd cup: Niigata Kameda 2nd release

Image center (bottle with book written on the label)

This is the second release of Niigata Kameda's single malt to be released in December 2025.

The first version was non-peated, but the second one is peat.

The palate has tropical elements, with peat towards the middle and banana and peat on the finish with a hint of grilled banana.

There are many bottles of Shinko Distillery's single malts that have a noticeable New Potty flavor, but as with Niigata Kameda, the first one was the same, but this time too I don't feel much of a New Potty flavor.

I'm from Niigata and my favorite distillery is Niigata Kameda, but even without that bias, I can say that this is a delicious release.

3rd cup: Niigata Kameda Sherry Oloroso Mizunara Cask Finish

The bottle on the right of the image

This is a bottle that was sold on a trial basis, with 5 bottles of each part.

It seemed to be sold out quickly, so I only asked for a paid tasting.

This is a slightly perverted spec with Oloroso sherry and Mizunara cask finish.

In addition to the sweetness of sherry and the sourness similar to plums, it has the aroma of Quercus oak, and a slight woodiness and woodiness.

It has a strong flavor, so it seems like it would be popular overseas.

4th cup: Niigata Kameda VIN10

Bottle on the left in the image

It is a single malt that can be used for tasting for a fee.

I got the impression that it had a strong kelp and barrel feel, which I personally don't like.

5th cup: Niigata Kameda MB15

The black bottle on the right of the image

This is also a single malt that can be sampled for a fee.

It looks like a sherry barrel, but it's actually a bourbon barrel.

It seems that the charcoal on the surface has melted to give it this color.

It tastes like charcoal, a little kelp, and sweetness.

Although the appearance had an impact, the taste was lacking in impact.

6th cup: Maltyama Benromach 2014 11 years

Feels citrusy and smoky, with a powerful smokiness that leaves a lasting impression.

Personally, I prefer something a little more fruity.

7th cup: T&T TOYAMA Secret Aira 1991 30 years

It's a secret Islay, but the inside is said to be Laphroaig.

Tropical, yellow fruit, slightly peat, and creamy.

Compared to the many 91 rough releases I've had this year, the tropical flavor and yellow fruitiness were a little weaker, and the peat was weaker.

However, the other bottles didn't have the creaminess, so I think that's the characteristic.

I would be hesitant to buy it based on the taste, but considering that the price is 91 Lakh and the price is likely to rise in the future, I think it's a good idea.

8th cup: Rudder Bowmore 1997 25 years

Bowmore is known as 1997, the year of distillation.

There's still some strong peat, and a hint of fruit and lactic acidity.

It's a delicious bottle, but if you ask me if I should buy it, the price of 130,000 yen would be too much. .

9th bottle: Rudder Daruin 1995 30 years

This is one from the Art Session Gold Series, which is one step up from the Art Session Series.

This is a Daruin distilled for 95 years and aged for 30 years.

This is a bottle that has melon, melon, honey, and sweetness.

It's delicious, but the bottleneck is that it costs 60,000 yen per bottle. .

It's not too expensive in terms of market price, but I personally prefer Shinanoya's Wadaru Yuin, and I bought this one this year, so it's really rich.

10th bottle: CLUB QING Inchgower 1998 26 years

Inchigower distilled for 98 years and aged for 26 years.

A waxy, chemical, tropical fruit with a melon-like feel.

This bottle received good reviews, and it is certainly delicious.

The price was less than 50,000 yen, so I was glad I bought it.

11th bottle: Shinanoya Japonisme Strathaira 1989 35 years

Japonisme is released at the end of every year, and this year it is Strath Isla, distilled at 89 and aged for 35 years.

Feels like dead leaves, tea leaves, and tropical, especially pineapple.

It gives the impression of fruit tea and is definitely a delicious bottle.

The bottleneck is the price of 120,000 yen per bottle. .

12th bottle: Shinanoya Kildalton 2003 22 Years

This is a collaboration bottle with Cheers Party.

The inside is Ardbeg, as it says in Kildalton.

It tasted like pine was strong, but the lactic acid and peat were weak.

If you ask me if it's like Ardbeg, it's not. . That's my honest opinion.

13th bottle: Igawa Distillery Single Malt Drawing Series Flora 2025

This is the third single malt from Igawa Distillery.

Although it had a New Potty taste, it was clear that the sweetness and astringency derived from sherry were accentuated.

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14th bottle: Wild Turkey Master's Keep Triumph

Bottle on the left in the image

I was able to receive a bottle that cost over 30,000 yen for free.

You can feel the vanilla, creaminess, and grapeiness of a high-quality bourbon.

Regardless of whether it's worth the price, there's no doubt that it's a delicious bottle.

Wild Turkey Masters Keep Triumph

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15th bottle: Wild Turkey Master's Keep Beacon

The bottle on the right of the image

It has a strong sweetness like vanilla and brown sugar.

Generally I don't like bourbon, but this class is really delicious.

This one costs over 40,000 yen, so I'm grateful to be able to get it for free.

Wild Turkey Master's Keep Beacon

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Yoshida Denzai Distillery Single Grain 1 Year Aged 2nd

16th glass: Chinese Whiskey

Several craft whiskey distilleries have begun to open in China, and rather than individual distilleries, several distilleries are opening jointly.

Among them, I received one that was recommended.

You can feel the caramel-like sweetness and soup stock.

Maybe a barrel would be better.

17th glass: Chinese Whiskey Sherry

It's Chinese whiskey from a different distillery than the previous one, and this time it's in sherry barrels.

You can really feel the sweetness and acidity of sherry.

Although it doesn't taste like whiskey, it has a barrel taste, but you can tell that good quality barrels were used.

There are cases where wealthy whiskey lovers open distilleries as a hobby, and I think their capital is much stronger than that of Japanese distilleries.

I think Japanese whiskey will be at a disadvantage in terms of barrel procurement and price competition, so I think we will have to pay close attention to the availability and information of Chinese whiskey and other countries' whiskey.

18th glass: Silver Seal Chichibu 2016-2024

This Chichibu was distilled in 2016, bottled in 2024, and aged for 7 or 8 years in 2nd fill Sherry Hogshead.

It was a good Chichibu with the sweetness of sherry, apricot, and creaminess, and was a fusion of fruit and sherry, but since it was a 2nd fill, the sherry wasn't too strong.

19th glass: Asaya Shoten Highland Single Malt 2011 14 Years 1st Phil Amontillado Quarter Cask

The name is hidden as Highland Single Malt, but the inside is Macallan.

It's commonly known as Wakkaran.

The taste is exactly as the label says, with a hint of berry, chocolate, and ginger and cinnamon spice.

I think it's worth buying if it tastes like Wakkaran Katsuko.

20th Cup: Glenfarclas Family Cask 1977

Tropical, barley, with a nutty aftertaste.

It's listed as a 4th fill hogshead, but I think it's probably a sherry cask.

However, since it's a 4th fill, it doesn't feel like a solid sherry, but almost feels like a bourbon barrel.

Personally, I don't like Glenfarclas bourbon barrels because they have a strong thorniness and alcohol attack, but I personally like the 3rd and 4th fill bottles because they give off not just sherry, but barley and unblended whiskey.

By the way, the bottle price is listed in small print, but it is said to be 680,000 yen per bottle.

Even Far Class, which has been aged for around 10 years, is now priced at 30,000 to 40,000 yen, but the price of Family Cask also seems to have gone up significantly over the last year.

21st Cup: Glenfarclas Family Cask 1982

This is also a 4th Phil hogshead, and is probably a sherry cask.

Tropical and barley are the same, but the vanilla flavor is strong, and I personally prefer this one.

One bottle costs 820,000 yen. .

22nd Cup: Denzai Yoshida Second Release

The first release had a strong charred impression, but the second release had a strong grain feel.

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