Whisky from Japan

Region: Japan

Distillery: Mars (Shinshu & Tsunuki)

Age: Various

ABV: Various

Size: 30 ml x 6

Region: Japan

ABV: 51%

Cask: New American white oak cask, bourbon cask

Size: 700ml

Maturation in new American white oak casks and bourbon barrels at the KANOSUKE distillery warehouse. A Gold medal awarded-winning in the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Color: Clear Amber Brown. Nose: Butter sand, Apricot, Plum, Citrus. Taste: Marmalade, Vanilla, Orange, Almond. Finish: Vanilla, Dry Ginger, Cinamon, Gentle sweetness. (Tasting Note from Distillery)

Region: Japan/World

Distillery: Yamazakura (Sasanokawa Shuzo) / World

Age: About 7 Years

ABV: 46%

Cask: Bourbon barrel, brandy cask

Size: 700 ml

Matured in bourbon barrels for about 6 years and a further finishing in Brandy Casks for about 1 year, only 300 bottles were released. While sweet & fruity on the nose (with hints of malt and subtle smoke), the palate brings through dried prunes combined with sourness of green grapes, malty notes and tannins with a pleasant lingering finish. A very enjoyable bottling indeed. 

Their own distillation has also gone through turbulent times in sync with the Japanese whisky market's boom and bust cycles with bulk spirit imports replacing their own production through these times.

Region: Japan / World

Distillery: Yamazakura (Sasanokawa Shuzo)/World

Age: Reportedly about 7 Years

ABV: 46%

Cask: Bourbon barrel, cognac Casks

Size: 700 ml

This limited release bottling was supposedly launched exclusively for the Japanese department store Takashimaya in mid-2020. Matured in bourbon barrels (reportedly for about 6 years) and a further finishing in Cognac Casks (reportedly for about 1 year). Subtle honey sweetness balanced with fruits.

Their own distillation has also gone through turbulent times in sync with the Japanese whisky market's boom and bust cycles with bulk spirit imports replacing their own production through these times.

Region: Japan

Distillery: Mars Tsunuki Distillery & Mars Shinshu

Age: N/A (2017-2019）

ABV: 49% 

Cask: Bourbon barrel

Size: 700 ml

This is the 2nd release of Mars The Y.A. Released in 2023 YA refers to Yakushima Aging Cellars located on Yakushima Island (A UNESCO World Heritage Site) in Kagoshima, Japan. The Y.A. #02 uses Malt Whisky distilled at the 2 distilleries owned by Hombo Shuzo at its Shinshu Distillery in Nagano & Tsunuki Distillery in Kagoshima. 

Sun-ripened fruits combine with the sea breeze and soft white smoke. Palate: A thick flavor develops with smoky and mineral notes. Finish: A rich oily taste lingers long.

Rated 85+ Points on WhiskyBase.

Yakushima Aging Cellar was established in 2016. This unique expression showcases the complexity of the spirit by blending two different spirits from their 2 owned distilleries matured at a 3rd site.

Region: Japan

Distillery: Asaka Distillery (Sasanokawa Shuzo)

Age: N/A

ABV: 62% (Natural Cask Strength)

Cask: Bourbon cask

Size: 700 ml

This Single Cask bottling from the Asaka Distillery selected by and bottled exclusively for Mizunara has been matured in a Bourbon cask. Distilled: May 20.2020. Bottled: Nov 20.2023.

Color: Pale Gold.
Nose: Fresh & fruity with vanilla, honey and lemon cake.
Palate: Honeyed sweetness along with some green apples, pear and cooked peaches with subtle grassy notes evolving into salted buttery notes.
Finish: Lingering oak spices

Region: Japan

Distillery: Asaka Distillery (Sasanokawa Shuzo)

Age: N/A

ABV: 50%

Cask: Bourbon barrels

Size: 700 ml

This is a 2023 Edition of their PEATED Single Malt Whisky which has been largely matured in Bourbon barrels.  While most of the Asaka Distillery produces Non-Peated Single Malt, they occasionally release a Peated bottling from time to time as well in limited quantities. Released in Dec 2023, there were only 600 bottles.

Malt cookies, lime-like citrus, mild peat. Palate: Smoke, tidal stimulation, alazan, plum. Finish: Peat lingers until the end, with a well-balanced acidity and sweetness in the middle.

A gold medal award-winning in the 2025 World Whiskies Award, silver medal award-winning in the 2024 Tokyo Whisky and Spirits Competition. In 2022, the distillery won the World's Best Blended Malt at 2022 World Whisky Award.

Region: Japan 

Distillery: Asaka (Tohoku)

Age: N/A

ABV: 55%

Cask: First Fill Bourbon / Sakura

Size: 700 ml

This single malt Japanese whisky is made from non-peated Asaka whisky aged in first-fill bourbon barrels and finished in first-fill Sakura barrels (Cherry Blossom Tree) for at least one year. Limited edition of 1000 bottles.

Tasting notes Aroma: Salted cherry, sponge cake, floral, lemon-like citrus, distinctive earthiness. Palate: Baby sponge cake, cherry cream, good sweetness, good acidity for balance. Finish: Sweetness lingers for a long time, leaving a clean fresh palate. 

Region: Japan

Distillery: Kanosuke Distillery, Kagoshima

Age: NAS

ABV: 53%

Size: 700 ml

Color: Clear Amber Brown. Nose: Vanilla, Mint, Melon, Peach, Apricot, Lemongrass. Taste: Rich, Cinamon, Black Tea, Orange, Clove. Finish: Oaky, Rich fruit aroma, well balances with touch of bitterness (Tasting Note from Distillery)

A Silver award-winning on the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Region: Japan

Distillery: Asaka Distillery (Sasanokawa Shuzo)

Age: N/A

ABV: 50%

Cask: Bourbon barrel

Size: 700 ml

Yamazakura Single Malt Japanese Whisky Asaka 2024 Edition launched in May 2024, is a non-peated Asaka whisky aged in bourbon barrels which is the characteristic Asaka style. It has a refreshing and floral aroma paired with a clean sweetness, embodying the unique flavor profile of Asaka Distillery.

Nose: Notes of pongashi, honeyed lemon, and citrus Palate: Flavors of dried plum, lime, plum, and cider. Finish: An aftertaste reminiscent of sake, with lingering sweetness and a very subtle hint of smoke as the acidity fades.

The 2023 Edition of this series snagged a silver medal award in the 2024 Tokyo Whisky and Spirits Competition.

Region: Japan

Distillery: Yoichi & Miyagikyo

Age: NAS

ABV: 43%

Cask: Sherry and various

Size: 700 ml

Region: Japan

Distillery: Mars Tsunuki Distillery & Mars Shinshu

Age: N/A

ABV: 52% 

Cask: Ex-Bourbon Barrels

Size: 700 ml

This is the 1st release of Mars The Y.A. which refers to the Yakushima Aging Cellars located on Yakushima Island (A UNESCO World Heritage Site) in Kagoshima, Japan. The Y.A. #01 uses Malt Whisky distilled at the 2 distilleries owned by Hombo Shuzo at its Shinshu Distillery in Nagano & Tsunuki Distillery in Kagoshima which have been matured in mostly ex-Bourbon Barrels and blending to create a unique expression of fruity aroma. 

This unique expression showcases the complexity of the spirit by blending two different spirits from their 2 owned distilleries matured at a 3rd site. Yakushima Aging Cellar was established in 2016.

This bottling is rated 86+ on Whiskybase.

Region: Japan

Distillery: Mars Tsunuki Distillery

Age: N/A

ABV: 50% 

Cask: Bourbon barrels

Size: 700 ml

Mars Tsunuki distillery is the second distillery of the Hombo Shuzo Group, launched in 2016. This is the 2023 release by the Mars Tsunuki Distillery in Kagoshima (where with a wide range of temperatures and blessed with high quality spring water from the Mt. Kurata mountain), with a release of 35,800 bottles. This is the 4th product release of single malt whisky distilled at Tsunuki (The Second Release of the Annual 'Year Edition').

Matured in the bourbon barrels for about 6 years. Nose: Marmalade jam along with sweet notes of honey, pancake, and a subtle smoke Palate: Citrus fruits, lemon peel and fresh malt Finish: Full-bodied sweetness balanced by a pleasant bitterness.

Region: Japan / World

Distillery: Yamazakura (Sasanokawa Shuzo)/World

Age: About 7 Years

ABV: 47%

Cask: Bourbon cask, Sakura cask

Size: 700 ml

Matured in bourbon barrels for about 6 years and a further finishing in Sakura (Cherry Blossom Tree) Casks for about 1 year, only 300 bottles were released.

With a beautiful light golden hue and an exquisite balance of fresh tropical fruits, citrus, green apples and floral sweetness, honey wax, there is a certain earthiness which gives way to a hint of saltiness and spices at the back. Did remind us of Sakura Mochi as we were sipping on this whisky! A rare bottling given the time spent in Sakura Casks.

Their own distillation has also gone through turbulent times in sync with the Japanese whisky market's boom and bust cycles with bulk spirit imports replacing their own production through these times.

Please also note that no Box is available. The bottle and seal are in a good condition. Some faded pale marks on label. Sold in "As Is" Condition.

Region: Japan

Distillery: Asaka Distillery (Sasanokawa Shuzo)

Age: N/A

ABV: 51%

Cask: First fill bourbon barrels,Imperial IPA casks

Size: 700 ml

This IPA CASK FINISH Single Malt Whisky from the Asaka Distillery has been primarily aged in first fill bourbon barrels and then finished in Imperial IPA casks from HOPJAPAN, a brewery in Miyakoji-machi located near the Distillery.

Bottled in limited numbers as a Non Chill filtered and in Natural color, this Single Malt Whisky has a nose of citrus peels and cinnamon like spices with a complex palate balanced by the vanilla and honey sweetness of the Bourbon Casks and the freshness that is characteristic of hops with hints of dark chocolate at the back.

Released in Oct 2023, there were only 538 bottles. A silver medal award-winning in the 2024 Tokyo Whisky and Spirits Competition.

Region: Japan & World

Distillery: Chichibu & Various World

Age: NAS

ABV: 46%

Cask: French Oak Wine Cask

Size: 700 ml

A vatting of Chichibu, Hanyu and several other world whiskies vatted in a rather unique Ovum (egg) - shaped cask made from French Oak, shaped in the Charentes region by the Taransaud Company. 

As we would expect, sweet wine notes, red berries with some spiciness on the nose and a palate which reminds us of fresh apples, caramel sweetness, mild spices and some light tannins. A medium long dry finish with some subtle chocolate bitterness.