Sakurao Japanese malt debuts on LPA with sauternes
My first taste of Sakurao single malt Japanese whisky was at the Dutch Art of Drinks event in Amsterdam, a few months ago already. Importer Craft Spirits had a few bottles open at their stand and I think I took a sip of one or two expressions. That tasted like more! My good whisky friend Robbert who works at Craft Spirits made sure I got a sample, that we will review today. I understand this is a very special one, as the bottle was apparently only available at the distillery, but during a visit of a Japanese delegation of Sakurao to the Netherlands, they brought a few cases to sell on the Dutch market. How’s that for a distillery exclusive!
Sakurao Distillery is operated by the Sakurao Brewery and Distillery Company, a family business established in 1918 in Hiroshima. While the company has over a century of brewing heritage, whisky production only began in 2018, so it is relatively young as a whisky producer. Sakurao employs pot stills and column stills to create diverse whisky styles, and in theory they can make their own (single) blend too. The distillers experiment with various cask types, as we will see today.
Sakurao Sauternes Cask Finish, bottled at 50 % abv
First things first: This lightly peated Sakurao single malt matured in bourbon casks before being finished in sauternes.
Upon Sipping: The imprint of the sauternes is not to be missed. There is a delightful fruity element hitting me straightforward, with beautiful forest-like smells added to that. All kinds of young wood, trees just starting to sprout, with hints of pine sap, resin. The sauternes envelops all this with a delicate embrace. I am quite fond of it so far. The taste shows wonderful balance, with a soft and sweet note from the sauternes up front of course. Underneath, you will pick up delicate hints of smoke, which makes me wonder what peat was used (Scottish or from somewhere else?) The abv does not prevent this Sakurao Sauternes Cask from being a tad hot, so let me walk to the tap for a few drops of water. The liquid turned very cloudy, always a good sign. The nose shows different sides of this Japanese single malt, but not better or worse. New sensations, mostly in the direction of wet moss. The mouthfeel has turned very creamy, or even oily. The sweetness of the sauternes remains dominant, maybe a tad too much, but it works well. The finish arrives with a good dose of vanilla and peach yoghurt.
Word to the Wise: A very good introduction to Sakurao Japanese single malt whisky, that is certain. I will look forward to tasting a more naked version, as the sauternes cask is loud here. A very crystalline whisky, like the more pure Highland whisky from Scotland. Japanese Glenmorangie?
Score: 84 points.