WAKAZE, a sake brand with a brewery in Paris, France, is releasing "THE BARRLE LIMITED -CRONOS-", a unique French sake aged in cognac barrels and imbued with a rich aroma. It will be available in a limited quantity of 300 bottles from 7 PM on December 8 (Wed) and December 20 (Mon), 2021, via the official online store.

While I'll summarize the release information below, I (Editor T) had the valuable opportunity to taste this sake and will share my impressions first. It's a revelation that makes your spine tingle: "Sake can be this delicious!" I've recently been thinking how aged sake has a wonderful depth, perfect for sipping slowly with a pungent cheese like Époisses. But I was astonished at how much it could transform when aged with the fragrant aroma of cognac!.

It works well as an aperitif or digestif, but I personally prefer to engage with its flavor head-on. It's more sensual than simply sweet. Sipping it slowly while gazing at the midwinter night sky. It truly made me feel special. Sake is typically considered a food-pairing beverage, and discussions often revolve around pairing it with meals. However, the ultimate pairing for this particular sake is an intense, focused moment in time. The time and space dedicated to appreciating the sake itself is its finest companion. Much like whisky or brandy.

This is not an inexpensive bottle, and with only 300 available, it's certainly not for everyone. It's best to let those who truly desire it have it, without any pretense. WAKAZE offers other standard items that are more broadly appealing. Beginners should try "WAKAZE THE CLASSIC." It has a taste that makes you want to keep it stocked, and it's reasonably priced.

However, for those who are well-versed in sake and can appreciate the value of a rare bottle exceeding 10,000 yen, this is undoubtedly recommended. OPENERS will continue to keep a close eye on the burgeoning brand, WAKAZE. Now, let's move on to the product introduction.

From WAKAZE, a Japanese sake brand with breweries in both Japan and France that crafts highly innovative sake while utilizing traditional methods, comes "THE BARRLE LIMITED -CRONOS-", aged in cognac barrels and available in a limited run of 300 bottles.

Among brandies, Cognac is subject to strict production methods and geographical restrictions under the "AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée)" certification system. It is made from white grapes, exclusively in the Cognac region of western France, and aged for at least two years in French oak barrels. "THE BARRLE LIMITED -CRONOS-" is sake that has been aged for approximately 150 days in oak barrels previously used for Cognac. It is characterized by the fruity and caramel-like, rich and dense aroma of Cognac.

In its production process, to harmonize with the rich aroma of the cognac barrels, the sake itself is crafted for a dense flavor. A luxurious Kijoshu (double-fermented sake) method is employed, where half of the brewing water is replaced with sake. This brewing technique results in a taste that balances the rich aroma from the cognac barrels with a dense sweetness and a clean finish, creating a pleasant lingering aftertaste.