We have less than one month left in fiscal year 2022. December is the season for year-end parties. And when we say year-end party, we mean... yes, sake!
And now, Kurando Corporation, which operates the online sake store "Kurando", has sent us a "Sake Gacha Fukubukuro [Plum] Plan"! Thank you very much!
I will review the plan and be careful not to get drunk!
Review of "Sake Gacha Fukubukuro [Plum] Plan
The "Sake Gacha Fukubukuro [Plum] Plan" includes 4 bottles of sake, which you can choose from the following 7 genres when ordering.
- Sake
- Fruit wine
- Umeshu (plum wine)
- Liqueur
- Shochu
- Wine
- Premium Sour Base
It is good to be able to choose a sake that you do not like. Sake lovers can choose "more sweet", "more dry", or "leave it to luck" according to their own preferences. In addition, a bottle of a new winter product is included in the package, which is great for those who like new products. The editorial team chose "Sake (dry)," "Liqueur," "Shochu," and "Premium Sour Base.
Here is the lineup of the 4 bottles we actually received.
- Sake "Keen- Fukubuku wo yobu 2023" 4,900 yen (tax included)
- Coffee liqueur "Daytime ○○○○○○○ coffee liqueur" 1,790 yen (tax included)
- Shochu "OHITOYOSHIKUMA" 2,490 yen (tax included)
- Premium Sour Base "Apple and Honey" 3,490 yen (tax included)
The "Sake Gacha Fukubukuro [Plum] Plan" was priced at 11,000 yen (including tax), but actually contained 12,670 yen worth of sake (including tax). That's a bargain compared to buying each one individually!
And all of the sakes are ones I've never had... I can't help but be curious!
We procured snacks at 7-Eleven, mainly dry foods. I tend to choose only the ones that would go well with sake or shochu...
Premium Sour Base "Apple and Honey
First, the premium sour base "Apples and Honey", which seemed to be the easiest to drink. The red and yellow coloring and the honey dipper in the shape of an apple make for a cute label.
Pour the alcohol and serve.
Pour soda water.
Yes, a beautiful gradation. The ratio of 1 part liqueur to 3 parts soda water is recommended.
But it is not mixed, so mix it. I had always used disposable chopsticks to mix it, so I finally bought a muddler.
When I had enough for 4 people...
The smell of the drink attracted the attention of the editorial staff, all of whom loved to drink.
"Cheers! "
The fresh apple aroma and honey flavor spreads out. Despite the honey, the sweetness was surprisingly moderate. It can be drunk like a juice, so even those who don't like alcoholic beverages can easily drink it. It is perfect for chill time as well as a dessert drink. It would also be delicious mixed with yogurt beverages.
Liqueur "Daytime ○○○○○○○ coffee liqueur"
The second liqueur is the "○○○○○○○ coffee liqueur from daytime." The name has a great impact, but what does it taste like?
Fill a glass with ice and fill it halfway with the liqueur.
Then, you add a glass of good milk and drink it.
Stir thoroughly.
There is no sweetness or acidity, and I get the impression that it's all about the bitterness. Perhaps it is because of the bitterness, but the alcohol taste is considerably suppressed. If you add milk, it is coffee milk itself. However, it is not as sweet as Kahlua milk and is more refreshing. If you want more sweetness, you can add syrup. It can also be enjoyed hot.
The accompanying booklet contained a recipe for a cocktail called a "Coffee Float.
Fill a glass with ice and fill it about 70% with coffee liqueur.
This time, I'd like to put Super Cup Super Vanilla on top. It's hard to put the vanilla on the ice with a normal spoon...
It's just a regular coffee float! Despite the 8% alcohol content, I could hardly feel the alcohol taste. Be careful not to drink too much.
Shochu "OHITOYOSHIKUMA
The third bottle was "OHITOYOSHIKUMA. It is a rice shochu liqueur with a good-natured bear. You cannot imagine the taste from the label. It is served with salted fish.
First of all, it is served on the rocks.
It is very refreshing and easy to drink. You can feel the taste of rice.
Next, we will drink it with soda. The aroma is more pronounced than on the rocks. It is recommended as a food sake, just like a highball. Adding a little lemon will give it a more refreshing taste.
Next, we will have it with water. It is refreshing on the rocks, but if you find the alcohol content too strong, we recommend drinking it with water to make it milder.
Finally, it is served with hot water. I think the taste is more intense than when served with water. From now on, it will get colder as we head into winter. Warm yourself from the core with hot water. This may make it easier to drink...
Sake "Kiin-keen- Fuku wo yobu 2023
We will have it with hot water at the end.
The last one is "Kiin-keen- Fuku wo yobu 2023". It comes with gold leaf. This is a New Year's package of "Kiin-keen-" sake, and is perfect for gift-giving. The bottle design is also unique! I will have it with takowasato (octopus balls).
And then there is the gold leaf, which I couldn't help but notice. It says "pure gold.
The gold leaf is placed on the glass.
It gives it a luxurious and New Year's feeling.
The editorial staff has also finished, so we will have a toast for the last time today.
It has a fruity and powerful flavor, but has no peculiarities and a refreshing aftertaste. Although it is in the dry category, it is easy to drink because of its refreshing feeling. We recommend drinking a little at a time while eating snacks.
Let's enjoy a variety of sakes!
Even though you can choose the genre of sake to some extent, you will have to wait until you receive the package to see what is in it. If you find a sake you like, you will tend to drink only that. While getting a great deal on sake at the sake gacha, you might take this opportunity to try something you've never tried before and make a new discovery!
The "Sake Gacha Fukubukuro [Ume] Plan" will be on sale at the online sake store "KURAND" until 18:00 on Monday, January 23, 2023, so don't miss out!
During the year-end and New Year vacations, it seems like a good idea to play all the games you bought during the year-end sales while drinking the sake you got from the sake gacha.