Happy New Year 2017!

Happy New Year to all of you! *The photo of Mount Fuji taken last year upon returning from Scotland. Last year, with high-quality sherry casks centered around the Foynes bottle appearing one after another at year-end, and personally having a strong attachment to 2016 defined by Lagavulin's Bicentenary, it feels like the impression of that year has been overwritten. However, particularly the strong impression left by Farclas 1989 remains vivid. In recent years, as exemplified by this bottle, there has been a strong impression of exceptional single casks specially selected for specific partners such as Mézard Whisky, Whisky Exchange, Beyra Flour, Scottish liquor stores, and in Japan, JIS and Shin'noya. I hope that this year will bring more exciting malts into Japan. If a full cask could be imported to Japan, it would naturally eliminate the need for personal imports from abroad and allow many enthusiasts to enjoy them. I had planned to visit Scotland, and was already excited from New Year's Day, but this year, or at least for the near future, it doesn't seem feasible. As a replacement, I've received requests for new whisky-related work, and it seems that my whisky-related tasks will increase from what was previously one-off projects. If you're reading this niche blog, you might notice other things elsewhere, but please do continue supporting me. Additionally, this is entirely personal, but due to a job transfer, I will be moving in March. I was previously stationed in Tokyo but am returning to Kanagawa, where I lived seven years ago. While it's honestly unpleasant to leave the convenient environment of Ginza and Yaesu, there was a time when I spent over an hour each week commuting, so it feels like returning to the past. However, moving a large number of bottles stored in warehouses and at home will likely require significant effort and cost, which is already a heavy burden to consider... Despite these changes in circumstances, I will continue diligently drinking and updating this blog throughout 2017, so please continue to support it. With new releases and more enjoyable content increasing, I'm looking forward to this year with brighter expectations than last year. May it be a year filled with many wonderful malts for all of you. T. Matsuki