Lightly Peated ⁠
Shinobu⁠
Japan⁠
43%⁠
Mash bill: 100% pure malt⁠
Barrels used: Ex-sherry & bourbon hogshead casks, finished in Japanese Mizunara Oak ⁠

As we are nearing the end of our advent adventure, I present a really fun whisky from Japan. Shinou Distillery, located in the seaside region of Niigata in Japan famous for the “Three White Treasures”: snow, rice and sake, also as of recently makes delicious whisky. In 2017, Mr. Usami obtained the first whisky license for Niigata after being a favorite local beer brewer for many years. His plan is to mix and match Japanese flavours with the world, and our dram today was born with this belief in his heart. ⁠

Early in 2021, Japan announced that it would be creating regulations around what is allowed to be labeled as “Japanese whisky”. These regulations are rules created by the Japan Spirits & Liqueurs Makers Association with participation being optional for distilleries across the country. However, as there is a small amount of whisky distilled in Japan, it has been common practice to blend it with Scotch and still label it Japanese. Although this is not necessarily a bad thing, the withholding of information from the consumer has long since been seen as incompetent. These rules, which have already begun, will allow us to make educated decisions when purchasing Japanese whisky, which is always a good thing. Distilleries have until March 31, 2024 to make sure their labels comply. The rules will be as follows: ⁠

⁠The spirit must be fermented, distilled, and aged at a distillery in Japan⁠
It must contain malted grain (barley, wheat, rye, etc), but other non-malted cereal grains can also be included⁠
Water used to make the spirit must be extracted in Japan⁠
The spirit must be aged for at least three years on wood⁠
It must be bottled in Japan⁠

Tasting notes: Creamy citrus with light peat on the nose. Oaky with peat on the palate, while remaining balanced. Charcoal notes with grass on the palate. The finish is complex with much more than just that the peat remaining. Some sweetness with malted cereal. ⁠

What do you think?