Mars Iwai Blended Japanese Whisky
Mars Shinshu was founded in 1949 but didn’t start making whisky until their distillery was nestled high in the Japanese Alps in 1985. Iwai is a blend of mostly corn and some malted barley. It is aged entirely in used bourbon barrels. A rich golden colour whisky with light, sweet, and floral fragrances with notes of dark cacao and sweet pear. A beautifully soft body and underlying flavours of allspice and dried fig. Aged in sherry, bourbon, and American white oaks.
Nikka Session Blended Malt Whisky
Nikka Session Blended Malt Whisky is the first brand new Nikka in six years! This drop beings a world blend of malts from the Miyagiko, Yoichi, and Ben Nevis distilleries. Nikka Whisky purchased the Ben Nevis Distillery in 1989 and have been using components in many Nikkas Whiskies since. This release from Nikka has aromas of pineapples, apples, blackcurrant, pears and leafy mint. Across the palate the fruit has dried up, leading us instead to peppercorn and a healthy serving of woody malt, of course. The malt wave continues to the finish with heaps of dark chocolate malt bitterness. Slightly peaty at the end.
Kamonishiki Daiginjo Sake
The Niigata sake brewery, Kamonishiki Brewery specialising in small productions with beautiful handcrafted packaging. Established in 1893 in Kamo City, the brewery has been the locals favourite best-kept secret. Significant effort has been made to produce the highest quality sake possible, and though they may be small with limited output and production, they take great pride in their work.
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.
Yamazakura Black Label Japanese Fine Blended Whisky
Sasanokawa Shuzo Co. Ltd was founded in 1765 and started producing whisky in 1946. The Yamazakura is a ji-whisky made by Sasanokawa Shuzo Co.This particular Black Label bottle is a new Yamazakura product that was released in 2015. Smooth after taste is refreshing with a hint of sweetness. Enjoyable both on the rocks or neat.
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.
Onikishi Blended Japanese Whisky
Nagahama Roman Blended 8 Year Old Japanese Whisky
The Shin Malt Mizunara Oak Japanese Whisky
The Shin Malt 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. Shin Malt Whiskies are well balanced between the woody flavor and incense of sandalwood from Mizunara Oak and the bold aged maltiness, which brings The Shin Malt Whisky a fruit forward and with a bit pepper and spice aftertaste. Elegant balance of smooth malt and harmonious mix of sweet spices. With a hint of hazelnut and woody note. The palate displays sweet vanilla and sandalwood aroma together with a hint of spice. All natural without colouring. Non-chill filtered. Awards: • Silver 92pts (International Wine & Spirit Competition 2021) • Gold (San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2020) • Silver 93pts (Melbourne International Spirits Competition, 2020)
Mars Shinshu Twin Alps Blended Japanese Whisky
The "Twin Alps" presented on this stunning label blends the "Central Alps" and "Southern Alps" of Kyushu, Japan. The Mars Shinshu distillery is located at Miyada, a highland village in the Nagano Prefecture, some 800m above sea level and making it Japan's highest whisky distillery. Utilising pure alpine water that flows to the Otagiri River, this whisky is distilled only during Japan's crisp winters.Mars has produced an outstanding whisky aged in bourbon barrels with lasting notes of subtle spice, oak and fruit flavours making it extremely easy to enjoy - straight, on the rocks or as a highball mix with soda and ice.Nose: Malt, light caramel, biscuit, cinnamon, grain spirits.Palate: Apple, light honey, oak, pepper, grain, vanilla.Finish: Sweet oak, black pepper, light fruit character.