神水の方針
Style
が花 - Core Portfolio
Reserved for the larger, safer bets. My overall portfolio with a set of rather secure, rare expressions at a higher price tag. Unlikely to rally, unlikely to collapse. I will look to sell these at a good price, but expect them to keep their value over time so will not rush them out.
月夜 - Satellite Portfolio
Investments in expressions to round out my portfolio, built around specific themes and expected trends for me to discuss. A set of short-to medium term riskier holdings, where I hope the majority of my earnings will come from.
気運 - Venture Portfolio
Fun bottles, new distilleries, interesting labels, or plays where I want to have a longer term exposure at high risk, with a lower price tag. For example the first bottling of a new distillery, bottles going up for awards shows, or bottles I think can appreciate over 5+ years.
Value at Purchase
$18940
$1410
$870
Representative Holdings
Hombo Shuzo
Japan’s third largest company in terms of whisky distilled! With a main distillery nestled deep in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture - the place chosen for its clear streams, blue skies, and high temperature differences - they have also recently started to branch out with new distilleries.
Suntory
The biggest and most well-known whisky producer in Japan by far! Key brands like Yamazaki (in Kyoto), Hakushu (Yamanashi Prefecture) and Hibiki (blended) are part of their repertoire. A must in any collector’s holdings!
Eigashima Distillery
Japan’s Oldest Distillery! Slightly out of the way in Hyogo Prefecture, right in proximity to Japan’s deep industrial heartland - and more importantly one of the few barley producing regions! Managed to snatch a small-batch special edition bottle out of an independent bottling!
月の剣 - New Distilleries Satellite
Only one bottle here at the moment, but I am waiting to do a feature on this. I am also eagerly awaiting new bottles for the satellite. More challenging though, it’s not really in a unique category I can easily write about before that feature!
Asaka Distillery
The Yamazakura brand of whiskies has gotten exposure globally, but only very recently has the company holding it - Sasonokawa Shuzo - started releasing single malts. As the oldest whisky distiller in Tohoku Prefecture, it’s a locally hard sell in Japan given 2011, also missing any famous name.
[TBA] - Blends
No, this is not a 鏡花水月 moment - you read that right. Japan is associated with blends, and due to cultural reasons I think blends will have a following in Japan. And the rarity will make them collectors items elsewhere. Here I am looking to find new likely master blenders over time.