Yamazakura Fine Blended Whisky
Yamazakura Fine Blended Whisky 40% 700mlDistillery: Sasanokawa Shuzo Co. Asaka Distillery ABV: 40% Tasting notes:Orange blossoms on the nose, followed by oak, caramel, and fresh orchard fruit on the palate. Bringing serene balance and depth, this is a bottle from Japans new generation distilleries.Yamazakura - Sasanokawa Shuzo Co. chose the name Yamazakura to launch the distillerys premium whisky range because it is a combination of two important Japanese symbols in culture and society: Yama is the Japanese term for mountain, signifying the strength and poise of the spirit, while Sakura refers to cherry-trees, to relate the ephemeral beauty of the stunning blossom to the quality and sophistication of the whisky.About the Distillery:Sasanokawa Shuzos sake and shochu making dates back all the way to 1710. However, almost 200 years later, they decided to dive into the whisky making market in 1946 thus setting up Asaka Distillery. Their quality was able to stand toe to toe with large rivals like Nikka and Suntory in the northeast region of Japan. Most importantly, Sasanokawa Shuzo were also the ones who famously helped Ichiro Akuto (Ichiros Malt / Hanyu Distillery) save his whisky stocks and allowing him to build the Ichiros Malt brand. The distillerys mash tun and 5 washbacks are all stainless steel. Unlike other Japanese whisky distilleries using imported Forsyths stills, Asaka went with two copper pot stills made right here in Japan by Miyake Seisakusho. The wash still is 2000L, and spirit still 1000L, both using percolators for heating. The whisky is mostly non-peated and will be rested in primarily bourbon casks but also some sherry and wine casks.It's worth noting that the Chichibu Distillery and the Asaka Distillery have a relationship. Ichiro Akuto-san asked Sasanokawa Shuzo to store the leftover casks of the defunct Hanyu Distillery until he could get Chichibu up and running. So basically, Chichibu owes Asaka a favor! Ichiro Akuto-san brought back most of the casks and released his now highly sought after first release, the Ichiros Malt Series (otherwise known as the card series!). In fact, the Sasakanokawa Shuzo facility still has Hanyu casks in storage!
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.
Mars Distillery Maltage Cosmo Blended Malt Japanese Whisky
Mars Maltage Cosmo Blended Malt Whisky is an amber gold in colour. On the nose are hints of spicy stewed pears, walnut slices, and prunes. It is a light-to-medium bodied whisky with malt flavours and a smokey but sweet overlay. The finish is long with a mildly oily but spicy flavour. Mars Maltage Cosmo Blended Malt Whiskey is aged in sherry, bourbon, and American White Oak new casks. Cosmo is named after a mountain in the Japan Central Alps close to the Mars Whisky Distillery.
Akashi White Oak Blue
Yamazakura Blended Japanese Whisky
Yamazakura Blended Whisky is a release from Sasanokawa distillery, dating back to 1765 with highly recognised sake and schochu production. Based in the city of Koriyama Sasanokawa expanded into whisky in the 1940s. This represents a high-end complement to their entry level whisky range ('Yama' means 'mountain' and 'Sakura' means cherry tree, hence the beautiful label design). This blend is composed of four malt whiskies and one grain whisky. Orange blossoms, tangerine and gardenia on the nose, followed by cedar, burnt sugar and nashi pear on the palate. So quiet yet so powerful.
Kamiki Sakura Wood Japanese Malt Whisky
Kamiki is a new expression of premium Japanese style whisky blessed by Omiwa priests from Nara. To celebrate the timeless alcohol tradition of the region, rare Japanese malt whiskies and finest malt whiskies sourced from rest of the world are blended and later fused with the highest quality pure spring water. Aged in Sakura casks at the final stage after it is rested in Yoshino-Sugi casks. This two-step cask finish brings the essence Yoshino Sugi and Sakura wood with a distinct warming woodiness that reminds Nara forests with sandalwood and gentle spice, before sweet cherries notes. Nose: Cherry candy with ripe banana, chestnuts, and cinnamon on the nose. Palate: Woodiness, sandalwood and gentle spice, before sweet Sakura pedals. Finish: Spicy cherry with savory notes, leading to a floral, spring-like finish.
The Shin Malt Mizunara Oak Japanese Malt Whisky
The nose depicts: vanilla, plum, mint taste: slight sweetnes, spice, vanilla, citrus and smoked oak finish: medium. sweet, Misunara oak, mint and slight bitterness, with long lasting texture. The palate is long and structured. Lingering hazlenut, creamy chocolate and subtle spice from the mizuanara oak finish.
Nikka Coffey Single Malt Whisky
White Oak Akashi Single Malt Japanese Whisky
The White Oak distillery is perhaps the least known of Japan’s whisky producers, but it has a legitimate claim to be the country’s oldest with a license to make whisky granted in 1919 — four years before Yamazaki was built. It's located in the city of Akashi in Hyogo Prefecture, west of Kobe, facing the Seto Inland Sea. The distillery was founded by Eigashima Shuzo in 1888 to produce sake. Eigashima Shuzo obtained a license to manufacture whisky in 1919, but it was when the company moved to their current facilities in 1984 that White Oak Distillery was born. White Oak’s whisky stills are only in operation for one month every year and so their production is very small. Most of it's blended whisky, but when the single malts do come on the market the whisky is named ‘Akashi’ after its hometown. The first Akashi release was in 2007. This 'No Age Statement' bottling is a new product for White Oak, released in September 2012. It's a blend of 7 YO, 5 YO & 4 YO malts from 3 types of cask. The intention is for this to become the distillery's 'house' expression. This release is limited to 4500 bottles. Non chill filtered and no colouring added. No tasting notes available.
Rihei Ginger Single Distilled Shochu
From the fourth-generation family-run and award-winning Ochiai Distillery in the Miyazaki Prefecture of Japan, this Honkaku shch meaning single-distilled, is handcrafted and produced from premium ginger, rice and barley. It is a crisp, dry and spicy shch made with 20% natural ginger. It makes the perfect cocktail, or serve it straight or on the rocks.