At the Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan on Sunday, February 15, 2025, Kurand Sake FES was held.
Session 1 was held from 12:00 to 14:30, and Session 2 was held from 16:00 to 18:30, and the number of alcoholic beverages available for tasting was an incredible over 100 types!
The Saiga NAK Drinking Club covered this event, which featured a real sake gacha and tasting corners in addition to the samples, making it enjoyable from beginning to end! ...Did it as a duty!!
First, Get Your Tickets
The tickets received upon admission, 20 per person, served as exchange coupons for alcoholic beverage samples. The number of tickets required varied depending on the rank of the alcoholic beverage. The types available for tasting included...
- Sake
- Shochu
- Liqueur
- Fruit Wine
- Wine
...and more, over 100 types in total! It's also a great opportunity to try alcoholic beverages you don't usually drink.
Collecting Stamps at the Booths
At the event, you could participate in a stamp rally, and something very good happens if you collect 3 or more stamps! Details are at the end of the article!
Get Vanilla Ice Cream for 3 Tickets!
A highlight was the ice cream corner! You could get vanilla ice cream in a cup and combine it with your favorite liqueur. Mixers like ice and juice were also distributed for free.
Reika, who got the ice cream, carefully considered what to pour on it and decided on the chocolate liqueur "TOROCHOCO"! Ice cream and chocolate are a classic combination, creating an affogato! This is where the fun is! Well then, dig in!
The sweet vanilla ice cream pairs well with the slightly more adult chocolate liqueur, which has a gentle brandy aroma. Since you can enjoy it as a dessert and get a little tipsy, it was a perfect combination for a small indulgence.
Sake Gacha to Enjoy on a Big Screen!
Saiga NAK
A booth where you could experience a simulation of Kurand's specialty, the Sake Gacha, on a big screen! Since you could narrow it down by your favorite alcoholic beverage types or avoid flavors you didn't like, there was no chance of being disappointed by the gacha result!
Some of the selected products were available for tasting at this event, making it a perfect setup for those who are unsure what to drink.
酒ガチャでお馴染みオンライン酒屋「クランド(@KURAND_INFO)」が初のオフラインイベントを開催🎉
「クランドサケフェスティバル」で4連酒ガチャ（シミュレーション）を体験するれいか氏(@SoprettyGyudon)
本番のリアル酒ガチャはこれから...‼️#おつかれっ酒 pic.twitter.com/k6A541GmJo— Saiga NAK (@saiganak) February 15, 2025
Sake Tasting to Test Your Senses!
This was a booth where you could experience tasting three types of sake. The items this time were...
These sakes were poured into cups A, B, and C, and you had to figure out which item was which by looking at the hint sheet for taste and aroma. What's more, they poured a generous amount into the tasting cups! Cheers!
Game and alcohol enthusiast Reika couldn't stay silent about this. 'I have to get all the questions right!'
Reika's prediction was...
- A. Shirokuma Rock
- B. Chojin Swan
- C. PONKO
The result was...!!
- A. PONKO
- B. Chojin Swan
- C. Shirokuma Rock
'WHA...!?'
Reika, who confidently got it wrong while boasting about being an alcohol lover.
'...Well, everyone's sense of taste is different, right...'
This awkward situation... I wanted to drink the next sake quickly! However, when you drink sake, you just crave snacks, right...?
Of course, there was a snack corner at the venue! Also, on the 1st floor of the Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan, where the event was held, there were antenna shops and other stores, and reentry was possible, so some people brought snacks beforehand, some bought them at the booths, and some bought snacks partway through and came back.
This time, Reika was drawn to the Kochi Prefecture snacks sold at the booth and purchased some!
'Whale jerky and Kamu-kamu Karu seem to have a rich flavor and will definitely be delicious when paired with sake!'
'...This is delicious!'
Alcohol Trouble Consultation Room
This was a customer support section offering consultations related to alcoholic beverages, where bright and kind staff members listened to our concerns, such as 'recommended ways to drink' and 'how to store alcohol'.
Reika: 'Lately, my hangovers due to aging have been severe...'
Such a consultation utterly devoid of dreams...
Staff Member: 'As often said, you should drink the same amount of water as the alcohol you consumed!'
Reika (I guess drinking water isn't just being soft after all...)
All the staff members created a very approachable atmosphere, which made it easy and enjoyable to consult with them. Since Kurand's alcoholic beverages are very diverse, it seems like a good idea to consult with them about recommended drinks that suit your taste or for exploring new options!
Invitation from a Mysterious Liquor Store
A puzzle-solving event where you found hints at the venue and figured out the answer. You were supposed to figure out two words from the hints and come up with one answer related to alcoholic beverages, but it was a bit difficult, possibly due to having had some drinks.
This party, with an uncertain start, where 2 out of 3 people were drinkers and 1 was bad at riddles...
'Isn't this quite difficult...?'
It was indeed difficult... It's an event for adults, after all...
When you solve problems by working together, you get happy and end up drinking alcohol again, don't you! And somehow, the Saiga NAK Drinking Club also submitted their answer!
We received a Kurand original calendar!
The "Real Sake Gacha" Grand Finale
The very good thing you could do if you collected 3 or more stamps mentioned earlier was the 'Real Sake Gacha' experience! There was a long line of customers who participated in the stamp rally!
When we actually turned the gacha machine...
Inside the capsules were coupons that could be used at Kurand's online store and exchange tickets that could be redeemed on the spot.
And this time, we won a mini-sized "Rikei Kyoudai (Ariga Science Brothers)"!
We were truly grateful for Kurand's generosity!
Furthermore, as an admission bonus, all participants also received an original ochoko! We'll have to drink it again when we get home...!
Get Kurand's Alcoholic Beverages at the Online Store
As we finished exploring the event, closing time was approaching. Since there was time spent waiting in line at popular booths, the 2.5-hour event ended in the blink of an eye...
Since it was a huge success with the venue full of customers, we definitely hope they hold it regularly!
By the way, the Saiga NAK Drinking Club sampled around this many types. Well then, everyone, おつかれっ酒! (Have a nice SAKE!)
Purchase alcoholic beverages from the Kurand Official Online Store!
第二部も大盛況でした！たくさんのご参加ありがとうございました！ pic.twitter.com/qS0ZmXGjaT
— 「クランド」クラフト酒のお店 (@KURAND_INFO) February 15, 2025
