Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2016

Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2016

In February 1899, Shinjiro Torii opened a store in Osaka, Japan that imported and sold wine. Within a decade, Torii began producing his own sweet grape wine called Akadama Port Wine, which became wildly popular throughout the country. In 1923, Torri, who had been fascinated by whisky his entire life, decided to expand his business and began construction of the Yamazaki Distillery, Japan's first-ever whisky distillery. Although inspired by traditional Scottish distilleries, Torii envisioned a uniquely Japanese approach to whisky and chose a location for his distillery that offered a climate and terrain that were completely different to those of Scotland. Nestled on the periphery of Kyoto, Yamazaki Distillery is situated at the confluence of three rivers — the Katsura, Uji and Kizu — that provide the warm, damp environment ideal for the production and maturation of whisky. Yamazaki Single Malt’s are made from 100% malted barley, which is milled and mashed before being fermented with water sourced from the foothills of Mount Tenno. The water is said to be have been preferred by Sen No Rikyu, Japan's legendary tea master. After the barley has been fermented, the wash is distilled through Suntory's copper-pot stills — the first of their kind outside of Scotland. Production of this expression is meticulously overseen by Mr Shinji Fukuyo, chief blender at the Yamazaki distillery. To craft this whisky Fukuyo visited the Northern region of Spain to select the Spanish oak used to store the Oloroso Sherry. Carefully overseeing the entire process from selection of the wood, to the charring and the aging of the sherry. After three years the seasoned sherry casks are sent back to Suntory’s Yamazaki distillery to mature an incredible blend of over 100 malt whiskies. After aging in Japan's unique environment — the constant changes in temperature and humidity force the wood and whisky to interact with each other. After maturation Fukuyo selects casks that strike a delicate balance of chemistry between the Yamazaki malt and sherry cask. The precise selection process of the Spanish oak, the treatment of the sherry casks, and the overall maturation process achieves an award winning quality. Pick up your bottle today!