The weather feels like autumn, but with record-breaking heat still going on, you can't let your guard down.
So let's blow away the heat with some drinks!
I attended another media-exclusive new product tasting event hosted by KURAND this month.
I was able to enjoy everything from refreshing Japanese sake to a domestic makgeolli made in Japan!
I Tried Four Different Types of Drinks
This time I tasted 4 labels:
- SAKE-bambaspis
- Aozora ni Naru Osake
- PUMPKIN PIE
- Super Tasty Makgeolli
This time, a variety of different types of drinks were lined up.
SAKE-bambaspis
- Category: Japanese sake
- Alcohol content: 15%
- Distillery: Nakashima Jyozo (Gifu Prefecture)
- Retail price: 2,490 yen (tax included)
- Release date: Wednesday, September 11, 2024
A hot topic on social media!
The "SAKE-bambaspis" is based on an ancient fish said to have lived 450 million years ago.
It's a Japanese sake that's hard to resist and just as unforgettable as the indescribably surreal expression on its label.
This sake was created by a brewery in Mizunami City, Gifu Prefecture, which is also known as the city of fossils.
Using the sakamai (sake rice) Dewa Sansan and aging it at a low temperature for two years, they succeeded in achieving a balance between richness and a refreshing aftertaste.
This time, we once again had the cooperation of Kiyoaki (@kiyoaki_gohan), who is a regular on the YouTube channel "Kiyoaki Shokudo."
The aroma is very sweet, but the taste is definitely Japanese sake!
It's refreshing and easy to drink, so it seems like it will be loved by a wide range of people, from sake beginners to experts.
It has a fruity flavor that makes you want to keep drinking it, whether you're having it with a meal or as a nightcap!
Sacabambaspis and Kiyoaki seem to be feeling some kind of sympathy for each other.
Aozora ni Naru Osake
- Category: Liqueur
- Alcohol content: 7%
- Distillery: Yoshikubo Shuzo (Ibaraki Prefecture)
- Retail price: 1,690 yen (tax included)
- Release date: Friday, September 6, 2024
Next up is "Aozora ni Naru Osake" (The Drink that Becomes the Blue Sky).
It's a drink with a beautiful color that reminds you of a blue sky from a long time ago.
And the identity of this thick texture is agar-agar!
You can enjoy a refreshing aroma and that nostalgic sweetness along with a jelly-like texture.
This is the first time I've ever had jelly sake!
You vigorously shake the jelly-like drink and then drink it... no, it's more like eating it.
You can taste the sweetness of ramune (soda) and then a strong alcoholic flavor, so it has a satisfying kick.
It would definitely taste great mixed with ramune!
As he reminisced about the good old days...
His figure, as he drank the blue sky, was like that of a boy.
PUMPKIN PIE
- Category: Liqueur
- Alcohol content: 5%
- Distillery: Kitaoka Honten (Nara Prefecture)
- Retail price: 2,490 yen (tax included)
- Release date: Friday, September 27, 2024
The next drink is "PUMPKIN PIE."
This one completely changes the seasonal vibe and is a perfect drink for autumn and winter.
Made with a generous amount of domestic pumpkin paste, "PUMPKIN PIE" is characterized by its creamy and smooth melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Furthermore, authentic spices reminiscent of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg act as an accent to enhance its sweetness.
The spices bring out the flavor of the pumpkin, and it's like drinking an elegant chilled potage.
It's rich but has a refreshing sweetness that's addictive and makes you want to keep drinking.
It becomes even easier to drink when mixed with milk, so I hope people who don't usually drink sweet drinks will give it a try!
When mixed with milk, you can enjoy it like a dessert.
The rich pumpkin pie drink is so soothing...
Super Tasty Makgeolli
- Category: Liqueur
- Alcohol content: 5%
- Distillery: Yoshikubo Shuzo (Ibaraki Prefecture)
- Retail price: 1,990 yen (tax included)
- Release date: Monday, September 30, 2024
I wonder how many times this has happened now. Korean cultures are booming in Japan, and Korean restaurants are packed every day.
And what do you order there? Korean alcohol, of course.
But believe it or not, "Super Tasty Makgeolli" is a domestic makgeolli made by a brewery in Ibaraki Prefecture!
The logo on the label is Hangul... or is it Katakana that looks like it?!
This makgeolli is characterized by its gentle sweetness and tangy flavor.
It's a perfect match for spicy Korean food.
The label is cute and draws you into its world.
I was surprised that they are making makgeolli in Japan.
The aroma is similar to Japanese sake, and since it's smoother than authentic makgeolli, it gives me the impression of nigori-zake (cloudy sake).
But the taste is definitely sweet makgeolli!
I personally love nigori-zake, so it was delicious enough that I'd want to keep a bottle stocked at home!
It's Still a Great Season for Drinks
The weather has been unstable, where you might think it's chilly today and then it's as hot as summer the next day, but having a drink as a daily pleasure might help you get into a rhythm.
The online liquor store "KURAND" is holding the year's last big appreciation event, the "400,000 Commemorative Sake Gacha" from Friday, October 18, 2024, to Wednesday, November 13, 2024.
It's a super special sake gacha where you might win a dream set worth up to 400,000 yen, so whether you're a first-timer or a heavy user, be sure to give it a try!
㊗ #酒ガチャ 4⃣0⃣万回突破🎉
好評御礼、感謝を込めて大サービス！「40万回記念酒ガチャ」を公開します✨
・4本入り、9,900円、基本送料無料
・"超レア酒" が確定！種類も選べる
・豪華な "抽選ボーナス" チャンス
・全国送料無料！ (沖縄を除く)
✨詳細は→https://t.co/aBysuyP0td pic.twitter.com/AeNohjfwtu— 「クランド」クラフト酒のお店 (@KURAND_INFO) October 18, 2024
