NOSE: Sweet barbecue and cinnamon. Deep syrupy bourbon notes without a bourbon’s heat. Some dark sherry fruits: prunes and raisins. Buttery malt biscuits and a little milk chocolate.

TASTE: Some Amrut-y tropical fruits, particularly ripe banana. Whoppers malt candy.

FINISH: Ripe Cherry, honey toffee with a beautiful ginger spice.

Distilled at the Shinshu Distillery in Nagano

Still: Copper pot; wash and spirit still

Mash Bill: 75% corn, 25% malted barley

Age: N/A   Alcohol Content: 40% ABV

Nose Vibrant lemon and orange peels, balanced by a coastal waft and dry juniper earthiness.

Palate Juniper moves to the fore on the palate, though the savoury elements remain integral. A kick of white pepper spiciness appears later on.

Finish A clean, cooling finish of mint and juniper.

Tasting Notes

Botanical Profile:

• Sakurao Original is a gin which plays on the distillery’s surroundings local strengths; namely their local citrus. Within Japan, Hiroshima is well known for their high quality (not to mention incredibly expensive) green lemons, which Sakurao use in abundance. They also utilize Hiroshima grown navel oranges, sweet summer orange, yuzu, dai dai (local bitter orange), hinoki cypress, green tea, red shiso and ginger. At this point many of you may be thinking, what about the juniper?
• Alongside the above 9 botanicals, Sakurao Original also uses 5 additional imported botanicals of which juniper berries of course is one and coriander another. The other three are still a mystery at this point in time.

Nose:

• The first thing that hits the nostrils is the citrus, particularly the yuzu, lemon and orange sweetness, followed up immediately by that unmistakable aroma of juniper berries. I felt I could catch a tiny glimpse of the green tea, but then again, I may have been trying too hard to force a scent that wasn’t there. Juniper and citrus definitely reigned supreme.

• 2022 Edition of Komagatake Single Malt whisky from Mars Shinshu in Nagano, Japan
• Distilled in copper pot stills from 100% malted barley, a blend of barley unpeated and peated to 3.5 parts per million
• Non-age statement; aged between 3–5 years in ex-bourbon, sherry, and port casks
• Delicate aromas of coconut husk, warm cereal, cedar plank & milk chocolate lead to a palate of gunpowder green tea, peach candies, and manuka honey
• Gold medalist at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• Non-chill filtered; 50% ABV

• Limited edition single malt Japanese whisky from Mars Tsunuki Distillery in Kagoshima, Japan
• 2024 release of Tsunuki’s annual namesake single malt (fifth release in the series)
• 100% malted barley, lightly peated (average 6–7 ppm)
• Aged 4–7 years in new Spanish oak and some ex-bourbon and sherry casks; non-age statement
• Aromas of strawberry jam, orange zest, and red bean pastry lead to bitter chocolate, black tea, and pastry cream complemented by blackberry and fresh, juicy orange. The finish lingers with drying notes of cocoa powder, campfire smoke, and lemon zest.
• No added coloring
• Non-chill filtered; 50% ABV