Yamazakura 963, 8-year-old Blended Malt Whiskey / 59% / 0.7
- Sasanokawa Shuzo was founded in 1765 to produce sake and shōchu. Immediately after World War II ended the company applied for a whisky-making license, which was granted in 1946 and for the following years produced the lowest grade of blended whisky.
Product description
Sasanokawa Shuzo was founded in 1765 and is one of Japan's oldest producers of sake and shōchu.
Shortly after the end of World War II, the company applied for a whisky production license and has been offering cheap blends since 1946. In 2015, Sasanokawa Shuzo celebrated its 250th anniversary, which is also the year it built the small Asaka malt distillery in Fukushima Prefecture. It was also then that Yamazakura whisky debuted, the name of which translates from Japanese to Mountain (Yama) of Blossoming Cherry (sakura). The 963 Blended Malt presented here is composed mainly of Scottish single malts with the addition of a small amount of Japanese malt from an undisclosed producer.
Nose : malted barley, breakfast cereals, milk chocolate, raisins, black cherries, oranges, pears, honey, caramel and a hint of vanilla.
Palate: honey, vanilla, maple syrup, caramel, licorice, orange peel, baked apples, notes of white pepper and toasted oak.
Finish: quite long and mild, with notes of vanilla, honey, cinnamon, pepper and oak.