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Kensington Wine Market's 2023 Whisky Calendar UBER EDITION Day 22 - Boutique-y Japanese Whisky Batch 5 - 21 Year Old

Posted on December 24, 2023

by Evan

This is a tough bottle to write something about, because all we know is that it is a Blended Japanese Whisky… No idea what distilleries went into it at all. Hmm…

What we can talk about is how Japanese Whisky first started, and that seems appropriate to do since Japanese Whisky as we know it is just about to turn 100 years old.

That’s right. Japan has now been making whisky in the Scottish style for nearly a century, and that history all starts with Masataka Taketsuru. In 1918, Masataka was sent to Scotland from Japan to study Japanese whisky production. He already had a background in Chemistry and fermented food production and hailed from a family of sake brewers, so the thing he was missing was the distillation portion of making alcohol. During his two years in Scotland, he attended the University of Glasgow as a chemistry major and apprenticed at three distilleries; learning to us both pot stills and Coffey stills in whisky production. Longmorn distillery was the site of his first apprenticeship, which played a role in his development of Japanese whisky making later on. 

When Masataka travelled back to Japan in 1920, he brought with him a great deal of knowledge and ideas on whisky making. He also brought his Scottish wife Rita Cowan with him.

Mastataka and Rita Taketsuru

Japan’s first whisky was founded in 1924. Named Yamazaki, it resides near Kyoto. The distillery still operates and is owned by Beam Suntory. The distillery released the first completely Japanese Whisky in 1929. 

After Masataka’s 10 Year contract with Suntory finished, he went on to found the Yoichi Distillery in Hokkaido, and the company that would eventually become Nikka. Yoichi distillery released its first whisky in 1940. Today, Suntory and Nikka are the two largest whisky-making companies in Japan, and both own distilleries in Scotland as well. Nikka owns Ben Nevis Distillery. Under the Beam Suntory arm of their company, Suntory owns the Ardmore, Auchentoshan, Bowmore, Glen Garioch, and Laphroaig Distilleries as well as being part owner in the North British Grain Distillery. Another Japanese Company – Takara Shuzo – owns Tomatin Distillery.

Within Japan, Nikka owns Yoichi Distillery and The Miyagikyo Disitillery. Suntory owns the Yamazaki and Hakushu Distilleries as well as the Chita Grain Distillery.

So, that is that. Now onto this!

Boutique-y Japanese Whisky Batch 5 - 21 Year Old

From The Producer

“Japanese whisky. Maybe you've heard of it. Maybe you've heard that it's pretty bloomin' marvellous. Maybe you're excited that we've only gone and bottled our first whisky from Japan! Our Japanese Blended Whisky #1 has been hotly anticipated by Boutique-y fans and Boutique-y team members alike, and we reckon it was well worth the wait.”

Evan’s Tasting Note

Nose: Nutty, oxidized Sherry, polished wood furniture, orange rind, apple cider, raisins, dried cranberries, the lightest hint of peat, coriander, dried basil, rosemary, and peach tea.

Palate: Sherry notes, sweet malt and dusty grains, plus honey oat bars, butterscotch, Golden Delicious apples, more raisins, and milk chocolate.

Finish: Soft and easygoing with a light finish. Hints of sweet grains, roasted almonds and a touch of smoke and char stick around.

Comment: I had no idea what to expect with this bottle, but it is a refined and delicious blend. The grain whisky notes compliment the malt in the blend nicely without taking over, creating a delicious but delicate dram that seems to show maturity beyond the 21 years listed on the bottle.

Cheers,
Evan
evan@kensingtonwinemarket.com
Facebook & Instagram: @sagelikefool

You can find all blog posts for the UBER EDITION of Kensington Wine Market’s 2023 Whisky Calendar Here

This entry was posted in Whisky, Whisky Calendars, Independent Bottler, KWM Whisky Calendar 2023 UBER EDITION

 

 

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