From the Kurayoshi Distillery comes The Matsui Mizunara Cask, which unsuprisingly has been aged in rare Japanese Mizunara oak. The no age statement single malt was bottled at 48% ABV, after blending with water from Mt. Daisen. On the bottle you can see Katsushika Hokusai’s Thirty Six Views of Mount Fuji, featuring red-crowned cranes which are native to Japan.

This fine single malt whisky comes from one of Japan’s newest up and coming whisky producers – Matsui. The owner’s of the Kurayoshi distillery have burst onto the scene in 2019 with a number of exciting whiskies, but it is this non-age-statement Matsui Mizunara Cask expression that has been making waves and has been lauded by fans and critics alike.

Sweet vanilla, gentle spices and mellow, creamy coconut milk dazzle on the nose, while the palate follows with a velvety mouthfeel, cinnamon, rich oak, ginger, chilli spices and sweet toffee to balance it out. The finish is sweeter and lasts until your next sip, with floral oak and caramel lingering for some time.

The recent spate of awards picked up by the exquisite expression are likely to further propel Matsui to popularity. With that in mind, it’s worth acting fast if you want to get your hands on one, as stocks are extremely limited.