Japanese Whisky

For those who are interested in a detailed description of our spirits, this page will give you a breakdown of the tasting notes for the different spirits we offer.

Kujira Ryukyu Whisky 20yr (43%)

Nose: Great brown sugar sweetness, nice malty notes, some faint red apple notes. It’s a steady nose, without too much complexity, but otherwise quite tempting.

Palate: Ginger, spice, terrific woody notes, and a nice distant buttery caramel that comes through to the middle and end. Dark chocolate, touches of cinnamon, some hard lemon candy, and a melted caramel sweetness.

Finish: heavy in sweetness, with lasting notes of licorice.

The Kurayoshi Malt Whisky 25yr (46%)

Nose: Sweet oak and honey, with a hint of earthy peat.

Palate: Sherried malt comes through first with hints of smoke and notes of raisin and cinnamon, shortly followed by toasted nuts and vanilla pod.

Finish: Touches of fresh fruit sharpness and floral barley.

Fuyu Small Batch Whisky (40%)

Nose: Floral and youthful aromas with caramel and spicy notes.

Palate: Generous oak and cooked fruit finish with a hint of smokiness.

Yamato Takeda Shingen Edition (40%)

The Japanese public preferred a softer, smoother, less-smoky version of whisky, and their master distillers worked tirelessly to cater to the public's flavor profile. You can witness a silky smooth finish, beautiful fruits, and vanillas from the start. Yamato is your entrance into the world of high-end Japanese whisky. Enjoy it neat, on the rocks, or in a highball.

Rei Pure Malt (40%)

Nose: Light sweet notes of salted caramel, corn, pineapple and malt.

Palate: The mouthfeel is relatively thin, which given the low proof, that’s not surprising. Notes of malt, pineapple, and black pepper are present on the mid palate. The flavor profile is very light and fresh.

Finish: The finish on this whisky is on the shorter end of the spectrum. Enjoyable malt, pineapple and black pepper notes carry through from the palate onto the finish. 

Mars Komagatake 2021 Limited Edition Single Malt Whisky (48%)

Nose: There are some almost musty, fortified wine and fruit notes here. Muscat grapes and a bit of musty sherry come through. There’s some more vegetal notes in aloe vera and mixed dried herbs along with a hint of shisho.

Palate: There’s a bit of a mushroom funk here with a bit of the meatiness you get from a bit mushroom. Some of those herbal notes come through again. With a splash of water, the fruits do come out. Apricots are the main note with some aloe vera. Vanilla bean paste also comes out more and more as you let it sit in the glass.

Finish: Medium in length. That vanilla bean paste note from the palate continues on here and dominates the palate entirely.

Yame “Eight Goddesses” 10yr Whisky (42%)

Nose: heavy vanilla, ripe fruits, honey, caramel, and a slight maltiness.

Palate: rock candy, with accompanying citrus, a touch of caramel, and herb.

Finish: Fairly short with a lingering sweetness, spice and a touch of heat.

Hakushu Single Malt Whisky 12yr (43%)

Nose: Toasted barley, seed & nut loaf, chopped almonds and a little bit of barrel char. Hints of milk chocolate and dried grass bring sweetness.

Palate: 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.

Finish: Quite short, though enjoyable with orange peel and a touch of minerals.

Hatozaki Small Batch Finest Whisky (46%)

Nose: Light, sweet malty aromas alongside more cereal notes and fragrant lemongrass. Fruity notes of nectarine and banana appear.

Palate: Grain sweetness, a touch of honey and barrel char, with more stone fruit and orange blossom.

Finish: An oily nuttiness appears on the finish alongside more cereal notes.

Hibiki Harmony Whisky (43%)

Nose: Red berries, green apple and layers of rich honey.

Palate: Melted butter and caramelized dates. A hint of fragrant sandalwood develops into warming, oaky spice.

Finish: Brown sugar, citrus peels, white grape and black pepper.

Kaiyō Whisky (43%)

Nose: Orange peel, jasmine, a hint of coastal air, soft cedar.

Palate: Coffee bean, green apple, black tea and alpine herbs.

Finish: Cinnamon rolls and mango.

Kaiyō Cask Strength Whisky (53%)

Nose: Spiced oak, fresh lemongrass and orange oil.

Palate: Peppery at first, though soon enough wafts of buttery pastry, clove and espresso develop.

Finish: Lingering peppercorn heat and a whisper of caraway.

The Tottori Single Malt Whisky (43%)

Nose: Sophisticated and balanced nose with notes of ripe fruit, spices, and oak.

Palate: Lavish floral flavors and exciting spice notes build a complex character enriched with hints of vanilla and chocolate.

Finish: Intensely oak-forward finish.

The Tottori Ex-Bourbon Barrel Single Malt Whisky (43%)

Nose: Peaches in syrup, lemon peel, a hint of earthy smoke.

Palate: Plenty of malt up front, bringing continued smoky warmth and caramelized fruit with it.

Finish: White grape and icing sugar.

Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky 12yr (43%)

Nose: Good body with plenty of nut oils and zest, a pleasant floral character with a little tropical fruit and a rooty note.

Palate: Smooth and soft with good sweetness and winter spice. A lovely citrus note develops with more tropical fruit notes and a little rum.

Finish: Medium with fruit and zest.

Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky (45%)

Nose: Bourbon-like vanilla and corn notes with a herbal hint of chamomile.

Palate: Sweet, fruity flavors of melon, grapefruit and thick syrup, balanced by crunchy biscuits and fresh vanilla.

Finish: The corn notes, sweet and vibrant, last on the finish.

Iwai Mars Whisky (40%)

Nose: On the nose you’ll find carnations and orchard fruits in addition to vanilla and caramel notes.

Palate: The palate opens with menthol and vanilla extract over notes of wet oak, bitter orange, and burnt demerara sugar.

Finish: The finish is medium-length with a lingering heat.

Ichiro’s Malt & Grain Whisky (46%)

Nose: Peach and dried apricot, sweet butterscotch, vanilla cream, citrus zest, synthetic bananas and gooey malt.

Palate: Toffee first and foremost, with notes of barley malt, gingerbread, tropical fruits, honeyed pipe tobacco leaves, black pepper, roasted chestnut and freshly cut hay.

Finish: Medium length with vanilla and dried tropical fruit.

Suntory Toki Whisky (43%)

Nose: Soft orchard fruits and thyme honey are joined by a helping of peppermint in the backdrop.

Palate: More green apple on the palate leads along bright citrus notes from pink grapefruit. Bitter herbs, toasted almonds and vanilla oak linger underneath.

Finish: White pepper and ginger add spice to the finish.