[Honestly...] Hachioji Whisky Street 2025 Event Report [YouTube Video]

Hachioji Whiskey Street 2025

The event was held on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, the day of the autumnal equinox.Hachioji Whiskey Street 2025”.

whiskey street

Hachioji Whiskey Street

www.hachiojiwhiskystreet.com

『Hachioji Whiskey Street” itself since 2023, so it will be the first time in about two years.

[Really held on the street!!] Hachioji Whiskey Street 2023 participation record

八王子ウイスキーストリート2023年10月28日（土）に開催された『八王子ウイスキーストリート』に参加してきました。ちなみに、関東に住み始めて10年近くが経とうとしていますが、初めて八王子を訪れました。。ウイスキー"ストリート&q...

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Participation fee

Advance tickets could be purchased from e-plus.

Tickets were also sold on the day.

Glasses, glass holders, 500ml plastic bottles of water, and 6 vouchers will be exchanged at the reception desk.

Introduction of brands sampled

Doors open at 11:30, so arrive around 11:30 and wait in line.

I was able to enter the venue around 11:40, but since the tasting started at 12:00, I had about 20 minutes to spare. .

It's tasting time, so let's start drinking.

Since the last Hachioji Whiskey Street 2024, we have adopted a voucher system, and at the time of tasting, you will exchange one voucher (ticket) for one drink.

Additional vouchers can be purchased for 6 pieces for 1,000 yen.

1st cup: ACORN Asaka 2020-2025

This is Asaka from ACRON's acorn label, which is scheduled to be released soon.

It was unveiled for the first time at the recently held Whiskey Collection Koriyama, and advance reservations, or rather advance lottery applications, were also available at Hachioji Whiskey Street.

Although there is an alcohol attack, this bottle has a fruity Asaka flavor with honey, pine, and passion fruit, and I thought it would be delicious if left for 3 to 5 years.

Anyway, I applied for the lottery.

2nd cup: Shinanoya Glen Keith 1993-2023 29 years

This is Glen Keith from Shinanoya, which was released the other day.

At best, it gives off the impression of a slightly ripe fruit and hints of tea leaves, but at worst, it gives the impression of a barrel-like taste and astringency.

I think it's a nice bottle that's typical of Keith, with the green apple flavor, but I think it's one that deviates from my personal tastes.

3rd glass: Rudder Secret Speyside 1999 25 Year Art Session Gold

This is a new series from Rudder and one from Art Session Gold.

Originally, there was an Art Session series, but this series is aimed at a higher price range and taste.

The first one is listed as Secret Speyside, but the contents are actually Glenlivet.

It had the riveting taste of brown sugar or ripe fruit, which is said to be over 18 years old.

To be honest, I don't like official 12 year old rivets, but as they get older than 18 years old, I start to like the flavor, and this one is my favorite flavor as well.

However, a rivet like this has quite a release. .

4th cup: Asaya Shoten Campbelltown Blended Malt 2017-2025 8 years

This bottle was selected by Asaya Shoten, bars in Kochi Prefecture, SHANTY TOWN, BEYOND, and Juka.

It's Campbelltown blended malt, so I think it's Glen Scotia-based teaspoon malt.

It had a hint of sweetness, citrus, and saltiness, but also had a creamy feel to it.

It's a delicious Campbelltown blend, with a mature feel considering it's 8 years old, but there are quite a few releases like this. .

It's based on Glen Scotia, so if you don't have Glen Scotia Single Cask or Campbelltown Blended, I think you can buy it.

However, I personally have something similar, so I decided to skip it this time. .

5th drink: Tamaniwa Liquor Store PB Ben Riach 2007 2016

This is a PB commemorating the 4th anniversary of Tamaniwa Liquor Store in Aichi Prefecture.

At first, the lines were thick and gave the impression of dashi soup or dried sardines.

After a little swirling, I started to get a fruity taste, picking up notes of citrus peel, papaya, tea leaves, and soy sauce.

It's aged for 16 years and costs 17,000 yen, so it feels like a bargain.

I think it will be delicious if you buy it and let it sit for 2-3 years.

6th cup: Mitake 2025

It had cream, chocolate, and raisins, and was sweet but also sour.

It's been said that it tastes like a sherry barrel, and it's amazing that it can come out so beautifully.

7th cup: Shinanoya Shindo 2022-2025 3rd year

I was able to sample Shindo, which will be released by Shinanoya in October.

I could feel peat and sweetness, yellow to reddish fruits, and a little cream and sourness.

The alcohol content is 55%, but water is added before putting it in the barrel, and no water is added after it is taken out of the barrel, so it can be stated as cask strength.

It was an interesting book.

8th cup: Fuji Single Grain 50th Anniversary Edition

A single grain commemorating Fuji's 50th anniversary released last year.

I've had it in the past, but it was so delicious that I decided to try it again.

It has a glue-like taste, but I felt the fruitiness of grapes and tart tropical fruits.

9th glass: M’s Tasting Room Blended Whiskey

M’s Tasting Room in Itabashi had a blended whiskey on display, so I tried it.

It was a delicious cup with apple and honey, sweetness and fruitiness.

I haven't been to the store recently, so I'm thinking of visiting next time.

10th glass: Maltmann Ardbeg 2007 16 Year Old Scotch Malt Sales 45th Anniversary Bottle

It was definitely a delicious Ardbeg with juicy Muscat, peat, sweetness and nuts.

However, one bottle costs about 65,000 yen. .

The recent Ardbeg bottlers are delicious, but too expensive. .

Every time I drink it, I think TEN is good for bourbon, and Ougadal is good for sherry.

11th cup: Igawa Distillery Peat Sherry Cask 2 years 1 month

I felt the sweetness and peat, but I also felt the New Potty flavor at full strength.

Well, it's a new born. .

Although there are some things that can't be helped. .

12th glass: Bologne

This is rum.

It tastes like grain and brown sugar, but I felt it wasn't aged enough.

13th glass: Maoi Distillery Myaoi Gin Very Bery

This is one for Gin Lab Japan, and it has recently been resold.

It was a delicious piece of gum that had the impression of being a berry or grape flavored gum, similar to Marukawa's bubble gum.

14th glass: Umaoi Distillery Gatto Libero Very Berry Gin Liqueur

Another one for Gin Lab Japan, but this time it's a liqueur.

I felt the sourness of the berries and the slight sweetness, and it seemed like it would be good to drink with soda or tonic.

15th cup: Maoi Distillery Nemoto Shoten PB Myaoi Gin wannabe

This is a PB for Nemoto Shoten in Sapporo, and is a curry-flavored gin.

It was a bottle that made me think that gin was interesting, with the soup stock and spice, and the nuances of soup curry and curry rice crackers.

16th Cup: Single Cask Miltonduff 2009 15 Years

It was a Milton Duff with a sweet and barrel feel, and a deep flavor.

My mistake was that I tasted it after drinking gin, so my mouth was in a state of confusion, and I couldn't tell exactly what it was. .

Impressions

It was nice to be able to try a variety of bottles, but I get the impression that releases from various companies are relatively slow from August to mid-November, so in that sense, I don't think there were any really great bottles.

Point I was concerned about ①: Voucher system

There are two points of concern.The first is that the system has been changed to a voucher system.

When I attended two years ago, the system was similar to other whiskey events: if you paid for the ticket, you got all-you-can-drink for the free tasting.

However, there are rumors that the government has pointed out that the all-you-can-drink system will result in a large number of drunk people, and the system has been changed to a voucher/ticket system from 2024 last year.

Vouchers can be used for standard brands and official products, and basically you can exchange 1 voucher for 1 drink.

At other events, tastings are free and all-you-can-drink, so you might want to try a new distillery or alcohol that you don't usually drink, but with the voucher system, you feel like you have to choose carefully and decide which to use your ticket for, rather than trying out a variety of things.

Also, since it comes in 6-piece units, if you buy more, you'll have to drink 6 cups, so you'll have to consult with your liver health care provider.

I had to constantly think about how to use the vouchers during the event. .

What I noticed ②: It's not a street.

Another thing that bothered me was that it was no longer held on the street.

As the event name suggests, Hachioji Whiskey Street, when I participated two years ago it was actually held in the middle of the street.

From last year, 2024, it has been held inside the venue, or rather, in the hall, so it is no longer held on the street.

I think there are some problems when it comes to street events, such as it being difficult to tell who is participating and who is not, but if it is held in a hall, this can be avoided, but I get the impression that the characteristics of a street event have been lost. .

Although the number of exhibitors was not small, it felt like it was a normal medium-sized whiskey event.

The weather was nice this time as well, and it was nice to drink a highball outside under the blue sky. .

Closing Thoughts

I am concerned about these two points, and I understand that there are problems with the administration and the level of civility of the participants, so it can't be helped. .

To be honest, I can't deny that the street event two years ago was more fun. .

It seems like you could buy tickets this time last minute, and there were also tickets on sale on the day, so next year I'd like to wait until the last minute to buy tickets, and if there's a release that interests me, I'll participate.

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