Today felt like the arrival of spring, with the warmth making even a down jacket seem unnecessary. And White Day on March 14 is approaching. White Day is a unique celebration in Japan, where men return the favor by gifting sweets such as candies and marshmallows to the women who gave them chocolates on Valentine's Day. Interestingly, this anual event originated in Japan during the late Showa era.
Instead of the usual sweets, why not gift a sophisticated sake that can be enjoyed like a dessert? 🎉✨🍶🥂✨🧡
This time, I would like to introduce “afs Tachibana 2019 & 2009” which is also a perfect gift for White Day! The brand name “afs Tachibana” was created through a collaboration between Mr. Kenchi Tachibana, a performer of EXILE THE SECOND, and Kidoizumi Sake Brewery. This limited edition sake is based on 2019 sake made from Gohyakumangoku rice, a rice suitable for sake brewing produced in Chiba Prefecture, brewed in a unique high-temperature Yamahai brewing process, and blended with vintage aged sake brewed in 2009, the year Mr. Tachibana joined EXILE. 2019 sake was aged in a sherry cask. Sake vintage refers to old sake that has been aged for many years; if you open the bottle now, in 2025, you can savor the passage of more than 15 years in your glass. ⏳✨✨✨
afs Tachibana 2019 & 2009
Junmai-shu (Pure Rice Sake)
Ingredients: Rice, Rice malt（produced in Jaoan)
Rice Variety; Gohyakumangoku (Chiba Prefecture)
Polishing rate: 65 %
Alcohol content： 15%
Aging Cask: Sherry Cask (Oak)
Sake brewery Name: KIdoizumi Brewery (Isumi City, Chiba Prefecture)
📒Tasting Note
Appearance:
A beautifully deep amber hue, reminiscent of rich black tea. Swirling the glassreveals a slightly viscous texture, hinting at its depth of aging.
Aroma:
In the glas, the complex bouquet of roasted nuts, miso, and caramel unfolds, accompanied by a delicate undertone of bittersweet chocolate, elevating anticipation for the first sip.
Taste:
The first sip reveals a harmonious interplay of caramel and hazelnut,followed by a well-rounded acidity and refined sweetness. The subtle bitterness imparted by sherry cask aging lingers on the palate, much like the aftertaste of fine dark chocolate, leaving a long, sophisticated finish.
✨🥂🥂✨
It is a blend of 2019 aged sake and 2009 vintage, with the depth from aging and the nuances of sherry casks in perfect harmony.
Ideal as an after-dinner indulgence, it pairs beautifully with nuts, dried fruits, and cheese, making every sip an exquisite moment of luxury. ⏳🧡✨✨✨
