- Introduction to whiskey purchased in February 2025
- 1st bottle: Ardnam Luckan 10 years old
- 2nd bottle: Clerin Babar 2017 Ex Benriach Cask
- 3rd: Nikka Frontier
- 4th bottle: Glen Alahi 2005 2018 PX Sherry Puncheon for Shinanoya 95th Anniversary
- 5th and 6th bottles: Fuji Gotemba Distillery Single Cask Malt Grain
- 7th: Secret Orkney 2008-2023 15 years
- 8th bottle: Band Label Campbelltown Blended Malt 2016 8 years
- 9th: Asaka 2019-2025
- 10th: Tsunuki 2020-2024 Weizen Liquid East
- 11th: Kanosuke 2018-2025
- Closing Thoughts
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Introduction to whiskey purchased in February 2025
This time, I would like to introduce the whiskey I purchased in February 2025, as I do every month.
Introduction of whiskey purchased in January 2025 is “here』。
1st bottle: Ardnam Luckan 10 years old
Ardnam Luckan Distillery, which started operation in 2014, has been 10 years old, and to commemorate its 10th anniversary, Ardnam Luckan 10 Years has been released.
The wine is made using 100% non-peated distilled water from 2014, and is finished in 100% bourbon barrels, half of which are in Paul Launois Champagne barrels for one year.
It has quite a fruity element, is oily and nutty, which is typical of Ardnamrukkan, and I think it has a highly perfected taste as a bottle celebrating a milestone of 10 years.
Personally, I like Ardnam Luckan, especially the non-peated type.
Up until now, single casks have been available in non-peated types, but the official version has often been released with 50% non-peated and 50% peat, but this one was 100% non-peated and had the flavor I expected.
It's a book I can recommend, and one that makes me think I'll keep an eye on Ardnam Luckan in the future.
2nd bottle: Clerin Babar 2017 Ex Benriach Cask
It's not whiskey, it's rum.
To be more precise, it is a Haitian agricole rum, and the manufacturing method is a little special, and it is an interesting one that is further aged in Ben Riach barrels.
As for the taste, it has a strong adhesive/cemedine smell that people who don't like rum may notice, but behind that is a delicious tropical flavor and sweetness.
The price is just under 9,000 yen including tax, which is a relatively affordable price range, so I think it can be said to be a good value for money.
At first I was hesitant to buy it, but I drank it at a bar and it was delicious, so I decided to buy it.
I think this will be a hit for those who don't dislike the smell of rum's adhesive/cemedine.
3rd: Nikka Frontier
From April 2025, it will be changed to be used in restaurants, so there is a possibility that it will not be available for purchase in the future, so I bought it.
Personally, I felt like it was a degraded version of From the Barrel, so I wasn't impressed by it. .
Although there are various lectures like this, I bought it because it is fundamentally a mehha.
I think I'll leave it in the warehouse for a while.
4th bottle: Glen Alahi 2005 2018 PX Sherry Puncheon for Shinanoya 95th Anniversary
Glen Alahi was released to commemorate Shinanoya's 95th anniversary.
It's Billy Walker Select, it's an anniversary bottle, and it's PX, so I have three guarantees that it's delicious at this point.
The price is high if you just look at it, but it's fairly priced for an 18-year-old single cask of Glen Alahi, so if you're a fan of Alahi, you'll have no choice but to buy this bottle.
『Chichibu Whiskey Festival 2025”, and unlike the recent releases that have just a PX barrel taste, it had a beautiful sherry and stock flavor, and a strong taste of the original sake, so I think it was a good decision to buy this bottle.
I think you can still buy it for the price, so even if you don't buy it, I would like you to try it at an event or bar.
5th and 6th bottles: Fuji Gotemba Distillery Single Cask Malt Grain
In February 2025, “Fuji Gotemba Distillery” and purchased it there.
The malt is in American white oak barrels, distilled in May 2014 and bottled in December 2024, so it is aged for 10 years and has an alcohol content of 49%.
Grain is also American white oak barrel, distilled in April 2014 and bottled in December 2024, so it is aged for 10 years and has an alcohol content of 61%.
There's no guarantee that you'll be able to buy one if you go to a distillery, but they were selling both when I went, so naturally I bought both.
Although it is a limited edition item, I think that when it runs out, it will be replenished with a different distillation year and alcohol content.
It is quite rare to be able to buy a single cask from a major brand.
There is an express bus from Tokyo to Gotemba Station, and from there there is a distillery shuttle bus, so it's pretty easy to get to, so if you have something to do in the Shizuoka or Nagoya area, we recommend taking a detour.
7th: Secret Orkney 2008-2023 15 years
『Chichibu Whiskey Festival 2025” event limited bottle, commonly known as the festival bottle.
Among them is Secret Orkney.
Highland Park is inside.
As for the taste, I could definitely feel the heather honey and sweetness, and even when served blind, I decided to purchase it because I could tell it was Highland Park.
This is delicious, so if you don't have a good impression of the official version of Highland Park, I recommend drinking it at a bar.
8th bottle: Band Label Campbelltown Blended Malt 2016 8 years
This is also “Chichibu Whiskey Festival 2025” This is an event limited bottle.
It's a Campbelltown Blended, with Glen Scotia teaspoon malt inside and Springbank on the teaspoon side.
It's oily and buttery, but also fruity and salty, so even if served blind, I think it's easy to understand and say it's Campbeltown.
This is a common Campbelltown blended, so I'm not saying you should definitely drink it, but I think it's one that will appeal to those who like briny drinks.
9th: Asaka 2019-2025
This is also “Chichibu Whiskey Festival 2025” This is an event limited bottle.
This is a bottle where you can clearly feel the pink grapefruit mentioned in the official tasting comments.
This is a really nice bottle, and I think it's in my top 5, even though I've probably drunk over 20 different Asaka single casks.
If you like Asaka, this is one you should definitely try at a bar somewhere.
10th: Tsunuki 2020-2024 Weizen Liquid East
This is also “Chichibu Whiskey Festival 2025” This is an event limited bottle.
Normally, dry yeast is used in the whiskey fermentation process.
This Tsunuki uses liquid yeast, which allows you to enjoy a very fruity taste.
This is a bottle that I don't want you to drink, but that you should and must drink, so I recommend you go to a bar right now and drink it.
It was such a shocking book.
11th: Kanosuke 2018-2025
This is also “Chichibu Whiskey Festival 2025” This is an event limited bottle.
Medium peated and 25ppm.
It's hidden by beer, coffee, and peat, but I think there's fruit and citrus.
Personally, I didn't like it when I tasted it at a seminar, but I bought it in the hope that the original flavor would come out when I drank it a little after opening the bottle, when the peat had weakened.
Well, I don't think there's anyone who likes whiskey who wouldn't buy Kanosuke's single cask if they were told they could. .
Peated Kanosuke itself is rare, and medium peated is even rarer, so if you like Kanosuke, give it a try.
Closing Thoughts
I bought too much, but the festival bottle is completely to blame.
Festival bottles are usually purchased through a lottery.
However, if you are told that there is a sales quota for festival bottle seminar participants and you can buy these, then as a whiskey lover you have no choice but to buy them. .
I carefully selected 5 out of 10 bottles in total, and the festival bottles alone cost nearly 100,000 yen. .
I bought about the same amount in January, so I feel like I stepped on the accelerator too much in January and February. .
I'm not planning on participating in any whiskey events in March, so I'm hoping I can keep the purchase price down. .
I think I'll buy something, so I'd like to introduce it again.
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