This time, we will introduce the best releases in the first half of 2024.
Among the whiskeys released from January to June 2024, this is the one I drank and thought was delicious.
In the first half of the year, the distillery has ``Fuji Gotemba Distillery』、『Gaia Flow Shizuoka Distillery』、『Eigashima Sake BreweryWe visited three distilleries.
When it comes to whiskey events, January's ``Whiskey Lovers Nagoya', February's 'Chichibu Whiskey Festival', April's 'Whiskey Harbor Kobe', May's 'Tokyo Internal Barshow', June's 'Whiskey Talk Fukuoka” and participated in 5 events.
Including tastings at other bars and liquor stores, I've tasted about 250 types in total, and I'd like to introduce three official and three bottled bottles.
- Official 1st bottle: Saburomaru IV The emperor Cask Strength
- Official 2nd: Ballindalloch Vintage Release 2015
- Official 3rd: Fuji Single Grain 50th Anniversary
- Bottler's first bottle: Blossoms Glen Moray 1995
- Bottler's 2nd bottle: GM Tormore 1999
- Bottler's 3rd bottle: Dornoch 2019-2024 5 Years Fresh Bourbon Barrel Chichibu Whiskey Festival 2024
- Best releases in the first half of 2024
- Closing Thoughts
Official 1st bottle: Saburomaru IV The emperor Cask Strength
Highland peat was used, and it was delicious with an earthy smoke and yellow fruit.
You can fully enjoy the goodness of the water-added type, but I personally prefer cask strength because the flavor is one level darker.
If possible, try drinking Cask Strength at a bar or event.
I think it would be possible to compare the water-added version of IV and the cask strength at a whiskey event held by the Saburomaru Distillery, and at a bar, I think it would be possible to compare the drinks of Ira Peat III and IV, which I think would be interesting.
I think there were various releases from Shinko Distillery in Japan in the first half of the year, but if you exclude the PB single cask type, I think this one was the most delicious among Shinko Distillery.
Official 2nd: Ballindalloch Vintage Release 2015
I had a drink at the bar and it was much better than I expected.
Banana, fruit, citrus, and the latter half is nutty, and it feels a little young, but I think it was good.
It was distilled in 2015, so I think it has been aged for about 8 years, but it is delicious, so I will keep an eye out for future releases.
The price is a little high at around 17-18,000 yen, so I think it would be a good idea to try it at a bar instead of buying it.
Speaking of official Scotch releases, there was also a release from Ardnahoe, a new distillery on Islay.
Personally, I felt it was young, but had an earthy and weak peat feel, making it a weaker version of Ardbeg's 3 year old.
There was also a first release from Strathearn, but I haven't been able to drink it yet, so I'd like to try it somewhere.
The one thing they all have in common is the price.
Official prices for Scotch from Shinko Distillery range from 15,000 yen to 20,000 yen.
I think there will be more releases in the future, but it's hard to get your hands on it at this price range. .
Official 3rd: Fuji Single Grain 50th Anniversary
May's ``Tokyo Internal BarshowI tasted it at the event,I think it was a bottle packed with the goodness of long-ripened grains such as vanilla.
When you think of Fuji, you have a strong impression of grain, so I think this is one that is filled with the goodness and charm of Fuji.
I really wanted to buy it, but I didn't win the online lottery, and I think I could go to Fuji Gotemba Distillery to buy it, but since I went there in January, I haven't had the energy to go yet, so I haven't been able to buy it yet. .
Fuji 50th Anniversary was released as single malt, blended, and grain, but personally I think blended is the best, followed by grain.
If you go to a distillery, you can drink it without buying it, and I think you can also drink it at whiskey events, so please give it a try.
Bottler's first bottle: Blossoms Glen Moray 1995
This is a 28-year aged bottle from Glen Moray's 1995 distillation from the popular Blossoms series.
I think the fruitiness and floweriness of Glen Moray will come out in color, and a tea-like element will come out.
I drank it at a bar and it was so delicious that I managed to find a liquor store and buy it.
I think it will be difficult to buy it from now on, but if you see it at a bar, please give it a try.
Bottler's 2nd bottle: GM Tormore 1999
This is the much-talked-about GM Tormore released by Komaspi.
This bottle was distilled in 1998 and aged for 25 years in first-fill bourbon barrels.
It's extremely fruity and I think it has a taste reminiscent of 96 Ben Nevis, so it's definitely in the lineup.
I drank it at a bar and it was delicious, so I knew I wanted it, and I managed to win a fast-buying competition and was able to purchase it.
It may be difficult to purchase from now on, and it's so popular that many bars have already sold out, but if you see it, give it a try.
Bottler's 3rd bottle: Dornoch 2019-2024 5 Years Fresh Bourbon Barrel Chichibu Whiskey Festival 2024
Image far left
『Chichibu Whiskey FestivalThis is an event-limited bottle of Dornoch.
This one hasn't been released yet. . I chose it because it was scheduled to be released.
It was originally scheduled to be released in May 2024, but due to shipping delays, the lottery and release will be held in August 2024.
Why was it selected as a delicious bottle even though it has not been released yet?Chichibu Whiskey Festival Seminar” and had the opportunity to sample it in advance.
All of the event-limited bottles were delicious, but I think Dornoch was by far the most delicious.
It was delicious with spices such as cumin and ginger, sweetness like lemon and a little honey, and a strong passion fruit in the aftertaste.
As of the time I posted this blog, the lottery has not yet taken place, so this is one I would really like to win.
Best releases in the first half of 2024
The most delicious and best release of the first half of 2024 is ``Dornoch''.
However, although I sampled it in the first half of the year, it hasn't technically been released, so if I were to name one that was released, I think it would be Tormore.
By the way, the most delicious bottle in 2023 last year was ``Kyoto Fine Wine and Spirits Ben Nevis 1996-2023 Refill Hogshead”.
I think it was released around April 2023, but it was exceptionally delicious, and when I drank it, I thought it was the best bottle of the year.
There were some delicious bottles this year, but I don't think there was one that was exceptionally delicious.
We look forward to the release in the second half of the year.
Closing Thoughts
This year, to avoid buying too much, I have been trying to drink at bars and whisky events whenever possible and only buy bottles that I find delicious.
Before starting this initiative, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to buy the popular bottles.
However, I get the impression that it's surprisingly easy to buy because you can taste it at an event and pre-order it on the spot, or you can put it in a bar first and set up a tasting period, and then go on sale to the general public at a later date.
So, I am able to purchase the bottle that I think is the best release.
I will continue to buy in this way in the second half of the year, and I would like to continue drinking various types of whiskey at events and bars.
Also, I hope to be able to post the second half of the year around the end of the year or the beginning of the new year, so please look forward to it.
