Yamazaki ‘Mizunara’ NAS Single Malt
Suntory Yamazaki Distillery, Kyoto
This deep, amber colored whisky comes from Japan’s first and oldest malt distillery. The name ‘Mizunara’ comes from the Japanese oak that comprises the barrels the liquid is aged in.The taste of this whisky follows the nose with a fruit-forward flavor followed by a smooth, spicy finish.
Nose: Papaya, Wedding Cake, Hawaiian Tropics
Palate: Honey Bunches of Oats, Toasted Raisin Bread
Finish: Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée, Milk Tea
Mars ‘Heavily Peated 2013’ 3 Year Single Cask
Hombo Mars Distillery, Nagano
In 1985, Hombo Breweries opened the Mars Shinshu Distillery in Miyata Village at the foot of the Komagatake Alps in Japan’s Nagano prefecture. Whisky production there takes place only during winter, with the rest of the year spent brewing beer and distilling other spirits. This young and vibrant whisky has hits of honeycomb and charred lemon peel.
Nose: Lime Zest, Homemade Pumpkin Seeds, Bresaola
Palate: Baking Soda, Peated Peanut, Chocolate Covered Cherry
Finish: Bacanora, Smoked Cappuccino, Back Bacon
Miyagikyo 10 Year Single Malt
Nikka Miyagikyo Distillery, Miyagi
This whisky is produced at the Miyagikyo Distillery, which was built in 1969. It has been aged for 10 years and bottled at an ideal drinking strength of 45% – the perfect level to enjoy the texture and mouth feel of the spirit. It’s a deliciously floral whisky with a silky and smooth texture.
Nose: Apple, Pear, Walnut
Palate: Exotic, Tropical
Finish: Spice, Tannin, Easy Drinking, Plush
Hanyu ‘Color Joker’ NAS Single Malt
Hanyu Distillery, Saitama
As the final release from Ichiro’s Malt Card series, this bottle was highly anticipated. It contains a vatting from 14 different casks, including puncheon and Bourbon. The result? A subtle, harmonious blend with touches of eucalyptus, five spice, and manuka honey.
Nose: Caramel Popcorn, Eucalyptus, Mizunara
Palate: Ma Lai Go, Fernet Hunter
Finish: Black Tea, Five Spice, Manuka Honey