潮流 - Trends
An overall place for me to list the key trends I think are likely to occur in Asian whisky investing, as well as a place to list the key ideas behind my Satellite portfolio investments.
Trends Seen
Global Reach
A new set of whisky drinkers to come to the fore, especially in emerging markets, looking for statement whiskies. On top of this, an expectation for a more aggressive hunt for new distilleries globally. An additional angle is that this will create more parity between global trends and Japanese trends. Two satellites will be set up to play this opportunity given the size of the growing market.
Rediscovery
Both in the world discovering Japanese whiskies, and the Japanese discovering Japanese whiskies. As a result, the ensuing boom is leading to a lot of new distilleries coming up, but more importantly old distilleries being revived. This is dedicated a satellite which is one of the more interesting.
Blends
Blends are not given their full due. This has partly to do with Japan’s history of blending and how they have gone about labeling it which has been generally poorly received by the global whisky community. And part of it is probably just branding. The renaissance in Japanese whisky will likely create new opportunities for skilled blenders, branders and (ad)venturers alike!
Satellites
月の剣 New Distilleries
New distilleries coming to the fore, with plenty of time to round out their offering and good reasons why they would be likely to. Hence the kanji references the new moon.
穴場 Good Location
Where the place of the raw material, distillery, storage, or other key item offers special value to the expression, they will be kept here.
秘蔵 Cellar Gems
Bottles, distilleries, blenders and companies that subjectively are simply not given their due yet. Expressions will be picked up with the hope to see new opportunities develop and to have skin in the game along the journey.
Collections
Mars Collection
5 bottles spread between new and old expressions - award-winners and new distillery expressions alike.
Hibiki Collection
Arguably some of the most decorated bottles around in terms of the look of bottles and labelling, it is definitely a great look on any shelf. This is one for building out over time.
Eigashima IB Collection
Collection of Eigashima / Akashi holdings. Bottles from a smaller and experimental distillery with experience as well.