Nikka 12 Year Old Blended Japanese Whisky
The Nikka 12 Year Old Blended Japanese Whisky is the product of two distilleries (Yoichi and Miyagikyo). This is a well-balanced blend and the result of 'the art of blending and craftsmanship'. It's also awarded 'Best Blended 12 Year Old ' at the 2016 World Whiskies Awards.
Hakushu 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky
This wonderful peated Japanese single malt whisky hails from Hakushu distillery, owned by Suntory. The distillery resides in the forests of Mt. Kaikomagatake, with the original Hakushu distillery built in 1973. Rather fittingly, it boasts a fresh and foresty flavour profile. On the nose you’ll find toasted barley, chopped almonds and a little bit of barrel char. Hints of milk chocolate and dried grass bring sweetness. Much more fruit on the palate, but it's by no means a sweet whisky. Still rich, herbaceous and grassy, with a waft of smoke along the way. Nice expression here.
White Oak Akashi 6 Year Old White Wine Single Malt Japanese Whisky
For this limited release 6 Yar Old Single Malt, Akashi initially matured the whisky for five years in Cognac casks, before being finished in a single first-fill white wine cask for at least 10 months. Aromas of white fruits, heather, and jasmine are complemented by hints of oak, citrus, and fresh grass across the palate. Located in the city of Akashi in the Hyogo Prefecture, by the seaside of the Seto Island Sea is the White Oak Distillery. This distillery was founded in 1888 by Eigashima Shuzo and has been producing Sake and Shochu every since. In 1919, Eigashima Shuzo obtained a license to manufacture whisky and when the company moved to their current facilities in 1984, the White Oak Distillery was born.
Mars Distillery Tsunuki Single Malt Japanese Whisky ( Release)
Tsunuki Distillery is the second distillery of Mars Whisky and is in the Kagoshima Prefecture in the south of Japan and was built in 2016. The location of this distillery is also the birthplace of their business Hombo Shuzo Co. more than 100 years ago. The name tells you this single malt is distilled and matured at Tsunuki, and this is its 2nd release after Tsunuki The First. Beautiful pure water is used, and the natural environment with day and night-time temperature change has a considerable and unique influence on this whisky. This single malt was matured in bourbon barrels and is a showcase of peat character. It has shiny amber colour as a sign of age. The nose shows sweet scents like banana, honey and custard with gorgeous peat smokiness. Clean warm textured mouthfeel is followed by barley and crisp apple, and the finish is long and complex with peat and hints of yellow fruits. This whisky is non-chill filtered to keep all good flavours.
Akkeshi Taisho Blended Japanese Whisky ( Bottling)
Akkeshi began distilling in 2016, based in the Akkeshi District of Hokkaido, the concept of distilling and maturing single malt in Japan’s northern wilderness traces back to the very first plans of Masataka Taketsuru, a pioneer of the country’s early whisky production. Taisho is the 12th of the 24 Japanese solar terms. The hottest period of the year, this is a celebratory time with many festivals and fireworks. The indigo label is inspired by yukata, the light summer kimono worn during the warmer months. As always, the exact production details are difficult to pin down, but the key malt is 100% from Hokkaido aged in a variety of casks including Mizunara and Bourbon, alongside imported grain purchased as new make and aged completely in-house (nine separate components contributed to the blend) This is signature Akkeshi, with fresh yet savoury/saline peatiness positioned at the forefront. A hot-blooded blend, this changes constantly in the glass and is best without water. Secondary notes of spun sugar and tropical fruit are joined by deep citrus, burnt sage and green almond notes in the mouth. It finishes spicy, salty and long.
White Oak Akashi 3 Year Old Sake Single Malt Japanese Whisky
With this whisky, White Oak opted for a little twist in their aging process using ex Sake Casks to mature for three years. This provides a sweet and fruity profile. Full boded palate with deep sweetness, malt, and a very slight peat. Medium to long finish. Located in the city of Akashi in the Hyogo Prefecture, by the seaside of the Seto Island Sea is the White Oak Distillery. This distillery was founded in 1888 by Eigashima Shuzo and has been producing Sake and Shochu every since. In 1919, Eigashima Shuzo obtained a license to manufacture whisky and when the company moved to their current facilities in 1984, the White Oak Distillery was born.
White Oak Akashi 5 Year Old Red Wine Single Malt Japanese Whisky
For this limited release, White Oak has produced this Akashi 5 Year Old Single Malt aged in Cognac barrels for four and a half years before being finally refined in casks of red wine. The Japanese Single Malt was then bottled without cold filtration and without colouring. The resulting whisky is rich and refined style with fruity, tannic and woody notes. Located in the city of Akashi in the Hyogo Prefecture, by the seaside of the Seto Island Sea is the White Oak Distillery. This distillery was founded in 1888 by Eigashima Shuzo and has been producing Sake and Shochu every since. In 1919, Eigashima Shuzo obtained a license to manufacture whisky and when the company moved to their current facilities in 1984, the White Oak Distillery was born.
White Oak Akashi 5 Year Old White Wine Single Malt Japanese Whisky
This Single Malt from Akashi was aged 4 and a half years in cognac barrels followed by a further 10 month maturation white wine barrels from the Akashi vineyard located in Yamanashi county in Japan. The resulting whisky has floral and white fruit notes. No colouring or cold filtration. Located in the city of Akashi in the Hyogo Prefecture, by the seaside of the Seto Island Sea is the White Oak Distillery. This distillery was founded in 1888 by Eigashima Shuzo and has been producing Sake and Shochu every since. In 1919, Eigashima Shuzo obtained a license to manufacture whisky and when the company moved to their current facilities in 1984, the White Oak Distillery was born.
Mars Distillery Komagatake Voyager Estate Wine Finish Single Malt Japanese Whisky ( Release)
This is Mars Komagatake Single Malt ‘Wine Cask Finish’ was produced in collaboration with Voyager Estate from the famous Margaret River region located in Western Australia. Only 924 bottles have been produced. This is the 2nd collaboration and this special whisky is sold only in Australia and Japan. This Single Malt was distilled at Mars Shinshu Distillery in 2016 in Nagano Prefecture and matured in a bourbon barrel for more than 3 years. It was then aged for another 15 months in French Troncais oak. This oak cask was previously used to age Voyager Estate’s flagship red wine, their ‘MJW’ Cabernet Sauvignon, and was sent to Japan in early 2020 once the wine came out of the cask. This special whisky shows the harmony between the world of whisky and wine. The attractive pale red rose colour is evidenced from red wine cask, fruity notes on the aroma with grapes, berry, pomegranate. Elegant smooth mouthfeel with grape fruit character. The finish is long, viscous umami, and well balanced with sweetness.
Togouchi 15 Year Old Blended Japanese Whisky
Not strictly a Japanese whisky, Togouchi source grain whiskies from Scotland & Canada and aged them in Japan. This is a blend from Chugoku Jozo, who mature their whiskies in a tunnel rather than a warehouse. The temperature of the tunnel is always 15 degrees while the temperature of the cellar at the headquarters in Hatsukaichi city is a little higher than that. Nutty, spicy whisky with a lovely butterscotch mouth feel. On the palate it expresses vanilla sweetness and a fine peat iodine, with hazelnuts and chocolate on the finish. Almost feels like a whisky/bourbon hybrid.