Nagahama Heavily Peated Bourbon Cask 313 61.9% 2018

Professional reviews

BOW (90)

We have received a very special Japanese whisky in our warehouse, from the smallest distillery in Japan: the Nagahama Distillery.

The Nagahama Distillery is located in a beautiful setting on the edge of Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake.

This is where the Nagahama Distillery started producing whisky in 2016. They produce Single Malt Whiskies and blends here, where the whisky is aged in the climate of the Nagahama area.
The locals also call this place “Sanctuary with flowers and botanicals”. The 1,377-foot mountain, Mt. Ibuki, ensures a different climate per season and extreme temperature fluctuations. The water used in producing the whisky divers from Mt. Ibuki and is very rich in minerals.

Nagahama is inspired by the new wave of small-scale and craft distilleries, such as the Scottish distilleries Strathearn and Eden Mill. The distillery's authenticity lies in the still: it is the smallest still in Japan called Aranbic (due to its shape reminiscent of Arab architecture), situated in a room of only 26m2.

Master blender Takashi Kiyoi and distiller Yusuke Yahisa have created this single malt whisky using a large proportion of highly peated barley. The whisky then is matured in a Bourbon barrel.

Tasting Notes:
Nose: Smoky and sweet notes of vanilla (from the bourbon barrel). Dried fruit with honey, toast and coffee beans. At the end, it is reminiscent of a campfire with refreshing notes of mint.
Taste: Soft vanilla notes combined with strong and rich notes of peat. Salted caramel and white chocolate with spicy notes of black pepper.
Finish: Long and spicy with notes reminiscent of chocolate.