The HACHI Shochu, Sweet Potato (Imo), Brandy Cask, Batch 3

THE HACHI SHOCHU, Sweet Potato (Imo), Cask Matured is a collaboration with Ookubo Shuzo, a family owned farm distillery in Kagoshima and Hacchan who, somewhere along the way was also exposed to Whisky and the benefits of Cask Maturation. Made from Kogane Sengan, a fluffy delicious variety of sweet potato with a lovely aroma and golden skin colour, Shiro (White) Koji and single distilled under normal atmospheric pressure (making it a Honkaku Shochu) to retain the flavors of the underlying ingredient, this Batch 3 has been matured for about 4 years and 4 months in an ex-Brandy Cask to retain the flavour of the origin spirit while adding an extra dimension of complexity to  the nose. Color: Deep Gold Nose: Sweet caramel, butterscotch, fruit cake along with some cherries, raisins along with oak spices in the back. Palate: An initial sweetness of candied orange, hints of caramel and toffee balanced with oak spices, a hint of oak and again peach and lychee from the sweet potato shochu coming through at the back.

Recommended way to Drink: Straight Up, On the Rocks or as a Highball (3 parts of sparkling water to 1 part The Hachi Shochu).