" Sake FES," held on Saturday, June 20, 2026
The venue featured a lineup of over 150 unique types of sake sold by KURAND.
I went to cover this event—a real treat for sake lovers! It was for work!
"Sake FES," an offline event hosted by KURAND
Drinkers!
Drinker!
Kunyando!
...And so, I’ve arrived at the Sake FES, now in its second consecutive year!
It’s already bustling with lots of sake lovers.
I’m so happy we can bring our own snacks!
Right away, the place is buzzing with a festive party atmosphere.
First, I made my way around the venue and scored four drinks.
Cheers!
Here’s my first drink.
Many of KURAND’s diverse selection of drinks pair well with ice cream
- Category: Liqueur
- Alcohol Content: 6%
- Ingredients: Coffee (produced in Japan), distilled alcohol
- Base: Distilled alcohol
- Allergens/Ingredients: Coffee
- Carbonated: No
- Manufacturer: Nara Kasugayama Sake Brewery
- Volume: 720 ml
- Price: 2,990 yen (tax included)
I’m pairing it with “Liqueur from a Long-Established Coffee Shop’s Cold-Brew Coffee ” from the liqueur section.
This black coffee liqueur, made without added sugar, can apparently be enjoyed in a variety of ways.
Served over ice, it’s so smooth.
It tastes so much like coffee, you wouldn’t even realize it’s alcohol!
It’s light and refreshing and pairs well with vanilla flavors.
- Category: Liqueur
- Alcohol Content: 4%
- Ingredients: Honey (Domestic)
- Volume: 500ml
- Manufacturer: Dearlet Field Brewery
- Price: 9,800 yen (tax included)
Next up from the liqueur section is " Legend Mead "
This luxurious drink is made with 100% rare apple honey, which can only be harvested for a few days a year.
Already my favorite of the day!
It has a syrupy texture and a mellow mouthfeel.
It has a gentle honey sweetness and would also go well over ice.
- Category: Plum Liqueur
- Alcohol Content: 14%
- Ingredients: Plums (domestic), rice shochu, sugars, honey
- Base: Shochu
- Allergens/Ingredients: Honey, plums
- Carbonated: No
- Volume: 720 ml
- Manufacturer: Chikuma Nishiki Shuzo
- Price: 2,490 yen (tax included)
I spotted a cute bottle in the plum wine section.
It’s called “ Anmonyaito Plum Wine.”
It’s a plum wine made with apple blossom honey.
A classic umeshu that’s easy to drink.
The label is so cute and eye-catching that it makes the perfect gift for cat lovers.
- Category: Wine
- Alcohol Content: 11.5%
- Ingredients: Grapes (from Iwate Prefecture)/Antioxidant (sulfites)
- Allergens/Ingredients: Grapes
- Carbonation: Still
- Volume: 720 ml
- Manufacturer: Edelwein
- Selling Price: 2,490 yen (tax included)
From the Wine Area, this wine with its stylish label is " Ultra-Sweet Campbell "
It is an ultra-sweet red wine made from the "Campbell" grape variety grown in Iwate Prefecture.
True to its concept, it’s easy to drink—even people who don’t usually drink wine can enjoy it!
It’s completely free of astringency, and a soft, fruity aroma gently wafts up to your nose.
Everyone will also receive a free sample of “Nomukero,” sold by KURAND.
It comes in granule form, so you can pop it in your mouth and swallow it quickly without water, even while drinking.
Drink up and prevent a hangover!
Now that I’ve restocked on Nomukero, I’ve gone and grabbed four more drinks!
- Category: Craft Gin
- Alcohol Content: 40%
- Ingredients: Distilled alcohol, juniper berries, cacao nibs, orange peel
- Carbonated: No
- Volume: 500 ml
- Manufacturer: Mitsutake Shuzojo
- Price: 2,990 yen (tax included)
In the Whiskey, Craft Gin, and Rum section, we present “ Orangeat GIN - Sunset Cacao - ”
A craft gin that combines cacao and orange peel to create a flavor reminiscent of “orangeat.”
I had it on the rocks and really felt the alcohol kick in.
Now that’s gin!
It’s not sweet at all, and the aftertaste brings out notes of cacao and orange—a unique flavor I’ve never experienced before.
- Category: Shochu
- Alcohol Content: 25%
- Ingredients: Sweet potato (dried), rice koji (domestic rice)
- Carbonated: No
- Volume: 500 ml
- Manufacturer: Meiri Shurui
- Price: 1,690 yen (tax included)
" Mito Shochu ☆ Imo " from the Shochu Area is a spirit made from dried sweet potatoes at a distillery in Ibaraki Prefecture, which boasts the highest production of dried sweet potatoes in Japan.
The name and label alone are already a winner.
It tastes exactly like dried sweet potato!!
You can really tell it’s made from dried sweet potato, not just regular sweet potato.
Even for sweet potato shochu lovers, the difference from ordinary sweet potato shochu offers a fresh new experience.
- Category: Premium Sour Base
- Alcohol Content: 20%
- Ingredients: Peach puree (produced in Wakayama Prefecture), lemon, lemon puree, distilled alcohol, brandy, sugars, sugarcane
- Volume: 500 ml
- Manufacturer: Sekai Ichito
- Price: 6,990 yen (tax included)
Just from the name, “Orisai’s Lemon Sour ~Fragrant White Peach~ ” sounds delicious.
This drink combines lemon sour juice with high-quality “Arakawa peaches” from Wakayama Prefecture.
The rich aroma of coarsely ground peaches and the refreshing taste of lemon sour are a perfect match.
When mixed with carbonated water, it’s so light and crisp you’ll find yourself gulping it down!
- Category: Fruit Liqueur
- Alcohol Content: 10%
- Ingredients: Apples (from Tateshina Town, Nagano Prefecture)
- Carbonated: Yes
- Volume: 500 ml
- Manufacturer: Tateshina Apple Winery
- Price: 5,800 yen (tax included)
" King of Cider " from the fruit wine section is a luxurious, authentic dry sparkling cider made from 100% "Sun Fuji" apples—the "King of Apples."
It has a hint of acidity and a flavor profile suited for adults.
The crisp, effervescent finish is incredibly refreshing!
Learning from last year’s experience, we’ve prepared some ourselves.
Snacks!
There were also samples that seemed like they’d pair well with drinks.
Next, I picked up some drinks based on their vibrant colors.
- Category: Liqueur
- Alcohol Content: 14%
- Ingredients: Black tea, lavender, distilled alcohol, sugars (manufactured in Japan)/flavoring, food coloring (Red 106, Blue 1)
- Allergens: Flowers, black tea
- Carbonated: No
- Volume: 500 ml
- Manufacturer: Asahara Shuzo
- Price: 2,990 yen (tax included)
From the liqueur section: " Amethyst "
A purple liqueur inspired by the purple gemstone "amethyst."
It is said to be a black tea-based liqueur infused with the fragrance of "lavender," which gives it a pale purple hue.
The color is so beautiful—just looking at it is soothing.
With a light, sweet scent of lavender, this is a flavor that fans will find irresistible.
- Category: Umeshu
- Alcohol Content: 10%
- Ingredients: Plums (from Wakayama Prefecture), sugar, distilled alcohol
- Allergens: Plums
- Carbonated: No
- Volume: 500 ml
- Manufacturer: Nakano BC
Next up from the plum wine section is " mume Pink Torotoro "
This plum wine, created using a special brewing method that blends the fruit pulp of "Tsuyaki," is characterized by its deep pink color.
Its rich tartness fills your mouth!
The velvety texture, reminiscent of plum jam, is a refreshing experience.
- Category: Sake
- Alcohol Content: 16%
- Ingredients: Aya no Kizuna (from Saitama Prefecture)
- Polishing Ratio: 60%
- Sake Meter Value: 8.0
- Acidity: 1.6
- Carbonation: Non-carbonated
- Volume: 500 ml
- Producer: Matsuoka Brewery
- Price: 1,990 yen (tax included)
" Yan no Ka Step," discovered in the sake section
A bottle that offers a fresh, crisp taste while also delivering a hint of fruitiness.
Just like the cute kitten on the label, this is a bold and crisp sake.
It has a dry, refreshing flavor.
- Category: Liqueur
- Alcohol Content: 14%
- Ingredients: Black tea, lavender, distilled alcohol, sugars (manufactured in Japan)/flavoring, food coloring (Red 106, Blue 1)
- Allergens: Flowers, black tea
- Carbonated: No
- Volume: 500 ml
- Manufacturer: Asahara Shuzo
- Price: 2,990 yen (tax included)
Back from the liqueur section, the " Blue Topaz " from the Gem Series
The juicy, fruity flavor and refreshing sweetness of lychee perfectly complement its blue hue.
It has a rich, floral lychee aroma and flavor.
It’s easy to drink, so you can enjoy it in all sorts of ways!
Finally, back from the liqueur section: “ Star Sake ”
This sake has a sweet and refreshing aroma reminiscent of a blend of yuzu and muscat grapes.
It’s crisp yet has an apple-like sweetness—a perfect match for this apple lover.
The color is beautiful, and the fantastical name fits perfectly.
When I close my eyes, captivated by its refreshing sensation, I can almost see stars floating before me.
It goes down even better when enjoyed with friends.
Saiga NAK
The party was in full swing, and everyone was enjoying their favorite drinks.
The venue also featured a “real sake gacha” and merchandise sales!
You can take some home to enjoy the after-party.
I had plenty to eat and drink—thank you for the meal!
My personal ranking is...
- 1st Place: Legend Mead
- 2nd Place: Blue Topaz
- 3rd Place: Mito Shochu ☆ Sweet Potato
...and that's it!
It’s not often that you get to see this many different kinds of sake all in one place, so I was super excited!
So, I’m definitely looking forward to next year’s event.