The year 2024 has entered November, and it is getting colder not only in the mornings and evenings but also during the daytime. As the year 2024 is drawing to a close, we are gradually hearing announcements of grab bags from companies and brands. Speaking of fukubukuro, while you can get a good price, you never know what you will find in the fukubukuro, or so-called "gacha," or "mess" factor. Speaking of gacha, the online liquor store " Kurando," which has been the talk of the town for its sake gacha, held a media presentation for its sake goody bag project, " Sake Gacha Fukubukuro 2025," and I attended!
Report on the "Sake Gacha Fukubukuro 2025" media presentation!
When I entered the venue, I was greeted by countless sake products!
The sake items were all so appealing that I would be happy to win any of them.
The basic plan of the "Sake Gacha Fukubukuro 2025" includes four types of sake.
- Sake Gacha Fukubukuro Plum
- Sake Gacha Fukubukuro Bamboo
- Sake Gacha Fukubukuro Pine
- Sake Gacha Fukubukuro Pine
The "Sake Gacha Fukubukuro 2025" will include 51 different commemorative products developed especially for the "Sake Gacha Fukubukuro 2025," including gold-leafed sake for the upcoming year-end and New Year's celebrations and new brands with lucky charms on them.
We were shown the contents of the most expensive of the sake gacha fukubukuro, priced at 55,000 yen (tax included). The "Sake Gacha Fukubukuro Matsukoku" contains 16 bottles of sake. If you purchase the super-early-bird plan, you will receive 8 bottles of the new products commemorating the goody bag, making this a very generous goody bag. Some of the sakes also come with pure gold leaf, which is appropriate for the celebration!
The sake gachas range in rarity from LR to R, the highest rarity level, but we hope to win the LR to gain momentum in 2025.
The new items for the Fukubukuro Commemorative Sake Gacha include "Hinode Fuji," "Lucky Plum Wine," "Science Brothers," and "Big Snake," all of which are associated with the year of the Snake, the Chinese zodiac sign for 2025! Considering that each bottle of sake is priced at 11,000 yen (including tax), this is quite a good deal.
Actual tasting of the new items commemorating the fukubukuro!
We had a chance to taste some of the new products included in the "Sake Gacha Fukubukuro 2025"!
Very Berry Happy New Year!
- Genre: Fruit wine
- Alcohol percentage: 7.0
- Manufacturer: KYOHO JAPAN
- Price: 5,800 yen (tax included)
Very Berry Happy New Year! " is a sparkling wine made from mellow blueberries and 100% "Amao". Strawberries, which will be in season from now on, and blueberries, which are characterized by their acidity and sweetness, are recommended as a pairing with mashed potatoes and cured ham melon. It is perfect for the upcoming Christmas, year-end and New Year's parties.
The sweet and sour taste of the berries enhanced the sweetness of the strawberries. Although it has a 7% alcohol content, even sake drinkers and weak drinkers can enjoy the taste.
New Year's Gift Umeshu
- Genre: Umeshu (plum wine)
- Alcohol percentage: 12.0%.
- Manufacturer: Ishikawa Shuzo
- Price: 4,600 yen (tax included)
This " New Year's Gift Umeshu " has a New Year's feeling that can be felt from the package. It is a plum wine that has been aged for five years, making it a perfect sake for New Year's celebrations.
When you put it in your mouth, it has a rich aroma like brown sugar. It has a mild sweetness rather than the full-bodied sweetness typical of plum wine. The taste was well-balanced, with a refreshing sourness to match.
Lucky Umeshu
- Genre: Umeshu
- Alcohol percentage: 20.0%.
- Manufacturer: Nakano BC
- Retail Price: 11,000 yen (tax included)
This " lucky plum wine " makes you imagine a scene like the first sunrise of the New Year. Nanko-ume plums grown in Wakayama Prefecture, which boasts the nation's largest production of plums, are added to this plum wine, which is a blend of plums of different ages. The recommended pairings are cream cheese, dried fruits, caprese, and marinated salmon.
Because it is made from Nanko ume, it has a great aroma and is sour yet fruity. The alcohol content is 20%, which is high compared to other sake, but it is so smooth and delicious that beginners and plum wine lovers alike will not feel the alcohol content!
HAPPY CARAMEL NEW YEAR
- Genre: Liqueur
- Alcohol percentage: 7.0
- Manufacturer: Nishiyama Shuzojo
- Retail Price: 4,600 yen (tax included)
HAPPY CARAMEL NEW YEAR " features a pre-dawn gradation package. HAPPY CARAMEL NEW YEAR" is a caramel chocolate liqueur. This product is perfect for desserts, as many New Year's meals tend to be salty! Furthermore, as a pairing, chestnut kinton is recommended to accompany Osechi dishes!
It has a caramel sweetness, but it is never too strong. It is like an adult caramel, and I liked the taste so much that I wanted to have another serving even if I do not like sweetened drinks. It was so delicious that even if you don't like sweetened drinks, you would want to have a second helping!
LaFrance and Honey -The Bright New Year
- Genre: Fruit Wine
- Alcohol percentage: 9.0
- Producer: Chikumanishiki Shuzo
- Price: 4,600 yen (tax included)
LaFrance and Honey -The Bright New Year- " is a fruit wine made from "LaFrance", the king of pears. The stylish package design makes it a perfect gift! It is also recommended to drink it over ice cream, so you can enjoy a mature sweet treat as a reward for your hard work during the year!
The sweet aroma of LaFrance is surrounded by the sweet smell of honey and fruit! From the taste of the drink, the sweetness of the honey spreads in your mouth, and the taste of LaFrance seems to come on quickly! It tasted so good that I couldn't stop drinking and ended up drinking too much.
The "Sake Gacha Fukubukuro 2025" is on sale for a limited time only!
The "Sake Gacha Fukubukuro 2025" from the online liquor store " KURAND " is now on sale for a limited time. The Super Early Bird Plan allows you to choose one new product of SSR or higher when you purchase the Fukubukuro, and includes more than half of the new products commemorated in the Fukubukuro! Also, don't miss the chance to win up to 500,000 yen worth of sake & snacks, with more than 1.5 times the chance of winning the lottery prize! The "Sake Gacha Fukubukuro 2025" will be on sale from Thursday, November 14, 2024 to Wednesday, January 15, 2025. With only about a month left until the year-end holidays, it is time to prepare your alcoholic beverages, so why not buy one as a reward for your hard work over the past year? For details, please check the Kurando special page!