Japanese Whisky Yamazakura

Yamazakura is a Japanese whisky from the distiller 

Sasanokawa Shuzo. Based in the town of Koriama in the north of Japan near Sendai, they have been making whisky since 1946, well before the current Japanese whisky boom. 

The Yamazakura Pure malt has a delicious flavour. Quoting from Japanese Quality Whisky Society "It is a pure malt whiskey that is vatted from sherry barrel malt and peat malt aged over 5 years in oak barrels. You can enjoy a rich flavor of malt and a soft fruit incense from sherry barrels, a sweet smooth mouth feel with smoky flavor.

TASTING NOTES:
The Yamazakura range is made at the Asaka distillery, owned by Sasanokawa Shuzo Co. This is the newest addition to the company’s ever-popular series, the Yamazakura Pure Malt Mountain Cherry edition. A mild, drinkable expression, featuring notes of cherry, oak, and earth. Witness the craft of Japan’s ji-whisky producers.

COLOUR:

NOSE: The nose first treated us to a selection of desserts. Apple and cherry crumble drizzled with caramel sauce and creme anglaise, banoffee pie. Yes, for those uninitiated, that’s banana and toffee

PALATE: On the palate, we got an array of flavours that told of a combination of cask types. There was a definite sherry note that came across with dried cherries, alongside a thick creamy vanilla and macadamia nuts.

FINISH: here is a soft peat that swells towards the finish and then lingers with a beautiful serenity. Well crafted and well balanced. Light but powerful, like someone turned the gravity down and everything just weighs less."

There is another version with a lower alcohol content and cheaper price. More about that later.