FCCJ Unveils World’s “Most Costly” Sake
What is believed to be the world’s most expensive sake was unveiled at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan (FCCJ) on September 6 in the annual Sake Tasting Night hosted by longtime FCCJ Associate Member Atsuhide Kato, the 11th generation owner of Born Sake Brewery in Fukui Prefecture.
But if you are thinking of investing in the Born: Chogin Vintage brand—which can surely only increase in value as the vintage further improves in taste and aroma—you will be disappointed to hear that it is already sold out ahead of its global launch in October.
Only 200 bottles were made, priced at ¥1.1 million per bottle in Japan and expected to retail at up to ¥3 million in places such as Dubai, and at wine and liquor connoisseur destinations around the world. By labeling it as vintage, Born aims to enhance the rarity and value of Chogin, which has been aged and carefully managed in cold storage since 2012.
Observers say fusing tradition and innovation is a bold strategy to carve out a niche in the high-end local and global market, which will be closely watching how this sake appeals to the palates of connoisseurs and judges.
Mr Kato said: “I often meet our contracted farmers, probably every one or two months, face-to-face and travel to the countries we sell the sake in a lot – I think that’s so important to maintain the trust in and the credibility of our sake.”
Mr Kato points out there is a growing market for special liquors, including sake, in a market that is becoming extremely fastidious about quality. Media reports suggest that, while vintage wines and whiskies have been traded for millions of yen, the price of vintage sake remains relatively low, at several hundred thousand yen.
Guests at the FCCJ were told beforehand that, due to the extremely limited production volume of the sake made with highly-polished rice, Chogin Vintage won’t be available for tasting at the event. But organizers announced to the delighted 50-plus audience that one bottle will be opened for a surprise tasting.
Although I was unsuccessful in the draw to be among 20 lucky tasters of the ultra-premium sake, I was pleased to be given a small sample by one of the winners. The nose was pleasantly aromatic, it looked light and clear in the glass and the taste was elegant and slightly fruity.
Born has won several international sake competitions, such as the 1988 Grand Prix at the International Sake Festival in Canada, and the 2011 Champion Sake competition at the International Wine Challenge.
