Amahagan World Malt Yamazakura Wood Finish / 47%/ 0.7l

Amahagan Yamazakura Wood Finish is the fourth and final release in the “World Malt Series” from Nagahama Distillery (the whisky’s name is the distillery’s name spelled backwards).

Nagahama, founded in 2016, is located in Shiga Prefecture, on the grounds of the Roman Beer Brewery, and is Japan’s smallest distillery, while Amahagan is a blended malt whisky made from its own distillate and single malt whisky from outside Japan. The blending and finishing process takes place at the Nagahama distillery under the watchful eye of its master blender Takashi Kiyoi. The whisky presented here spent its final maturation period in Japanese cherry (Yamazakura) barrels; in 2021, it won a bronze medal at the Melbourne International Spirit Competition.

Aroma: malty-floral, blooming cherries, plums, orange peel, honey, vanilla, sweet bread, green tea and a delicate scent of incense.

Taste: delicate, oranges, nectarines, cherries, buttery croissant, vanilla, honey, milk fudge and a hint of sandalwood.

Finish : medium long, with notes of malted barley, honey, vanilla, green tea, cherries, plums and a touch of oak.