Ichiro's Malt & Grain World Blended Whisky
Ichiro Akuto's most voluminous and accessible Whisky is, as it says on the label, a blend of Malt and Grain Whiskies. While the exact source of the material is not published, it's known it's a blend of Japanese distilled material vatted with Whiskies sourced from around the world. In addition to whisky from his own stocks--including, potentially, Hanyu and Karuizawa, as well as his own Chichibu--the blend contains spirits from Canada, the United States, Ireland and Scotland. The imported Whiskeys are 3-5-years-old, aged in their country of origin before being carefully blended with local Japanese material and matured a further 1-3 years at Chichibu. The Whisky is vatted in 2 x 5,000-litre wooden barrels built by French cooper Taransaud. Non-chill filtered, non-coloured, Chichibu Ichiro's Malt & Grain World Blended Whisky is a pure example of Akuto's whisky making expertise.
The Shin Blended Japanese Whisky
The Shin Blended Whisky is crafted by Mr. Ken Usami, the master blender of Shinobu Distillery who selected finest malt whiskies and finished them in casks made of Japanese Oak, Mizunara Wood. “Shin” stands for “Integrity”, one of the core principles of Samurai tradition.The blended expression contains 50% malt and 50% grain. The result is a unique fusion of flavours and dynamic explosion in palate yet so smooth and easy to drink. Subtle chocolate and hazelnuts teamed with soft citrus notes. All natural with no colouring.Elegant balance of smooth malt and harmonious mix of sweet spices. With a hint of vanilla, caramel, and delicate fruity flavour note. The palate displays subtle sweetness, with toasted bread flavour and hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. Woody aftertaste with oriental sandalwood aroma on the finish.
Nagahama Roman Blended 8 Year Old Japanese Whisky
Ki No Bi Kyoto Dry Gin
Ki No Bi Kyoto Dry Gin is a uniquely Japanese expression of the classic English spirit. Master Distiller Alex Davies of the Kyoto Distillery uses a spirit base distilled from rice and adds botanicals like yellow yuzu, hinoki (cypress) wood chips, bamboo, gyokuro tea, and green sanshō (Japanese peppercorn) berries that are designated into: base, citrus, tea, herbal, spice, and floral. Each botanical category is steeped into the rice spirit, which is then individually distilled before blending together. It is brought to proof using water from Fushimi, known for its purity. Ki No Bi translates to "the beauty of the seasons"
The Shin Pure Malt Mizunara Oak Finish Japanese Whisky
Mr. Ken Usami, the master blender at the Shinobu Distillery, selects the selected finest malt whiskies and finish them in casks made of Japanese Oak, Mizunara Wood to create the Shin Malt Whisky range. Shin stands for integrity; one of the core principles of Samurai tradition. Well balanced between the woody flavour and incense of sandalwood from Mizunara Oak and the bold aged maltiness, brining The Shin Malt Whisky a fruit forward and with a bit pepper and spice aftertaste. This non-aged whisky has an elegance balance of smooth malt and sweet spices. A hint of woody and hazelnut notes. Sandalwood aroma and sweet vanilla come together with a touch of spice. All natural without colouring. Non-chill filtered.
Hakushika Chotokusen Kuromatsu Goka Sennenju Junmai Daiginjo Japanese Sake
This is an elegant representation of Nishinomiya Sake at its finest. This sake has aromatic beginning and smooth finish full of finesse.
Hakkaisan "Eight Peaks" Junmai Ginjo Japanese Sake
Warmth of sunshine on a clear day in cold winter mellows the snow is what this Sake express. This make you enjoy the mellow essence of tasty rice.
Okinawa Japanese Gin
Made by the Masahiro distillery, which has been making Awamori for over a century, the Masahiro Okinawa Japanese Gin is the very first to come out of the island. Perfectly capturing the tropical climate of the Southern Japanese island, the botanical list features a variety of local ingredients. Shequasar, guava leaves, and Balinese long pepper. The recipe also includes goya, the anti-aging, cucumber-shaped bitter melon from Okinawa, and a type of hibiscus called roselle.
Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky
A unique Japanese whisky showing enticing aromas of sweet exotic fruit, ripe pear, cherry, citrus notes and subtle floral scents. Intense sweet fruity flavours of pear and apricot nectar and caramelized papaya. Finishes sweet with bourbon vanilla. The Coffey Still is the worlds first patented continuous still invented by Mr. Aeneas Coffey in 1830. Masataka Taketsuru valued the feature of this type of still, which retains the flavours of ingredients and also creates a distinctive texture. Complex, sweet and mellow flavours in Nikka Coffey invites you back to beauties of grain whisky.
Tokinoka Japanese Whisky
Japanese whisky is not only Suntory or Nikka, there are many other less known distilleries whose reputation continues to grow. And for this new tasting, They choose a blended malt, the White Oak Tokinoka blended malt. The White Oak distillery, located in the city of Akashi (Hyogo Prefecture), was the first to obtain a license for distilling whisky in 1919. Built in 1888 for the production of sake and shochu, at the beginning the distillery produced only blend whisky in a traditional way and specially reserved for the domestic market. Then the site was modified in 1984 to start producing whisky in bigger quantities. The Eigashima Shuzo Company owner of the distillery, produced since 2007 several single malts named Akashi.