Sakurao Japanese Dry Gin – 70 cl

Marvellously refreshing gin all the way from Japan! Produced by Chugoku Jozo at its Sakurao distillery, Sakurao Japanese Dry Gin is made with a selection of local botanicals including yuzu, Japanese cypress, oyster shell and cherry blossom, alongside some traditional important ingredients like juniper and coriander.

Tasting Note: Oily juniper, vegetal freshness, citrus peels with a touch of jammy orange, white pepper and a hint of vanilla.

Haku Vodka is a premium Japanese craft vodka produced by the renowned House of Suntory. The name "Haku" translates to both "white" and "brilliance," highlighting the clean, luminous nature of the spirit and the meticulous craftsmanship behind it. Unlike traditional vodkas made from potatoes or grain, it is meticulously crafted from 100% Japanese white rice (hakumai).

• Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 40% (80 Proof)
• Base Ingredient: 100% Japanese white rice
• Gluten-Free: Yes, naturally gluten-free due to its rice base
• Distillery Location: Mash distillation happens at the Osumi Distillery in Kagoshima, Kyushu, and final blending/filtration takes place in Osaka.

• Fermentation: Polished Japanese white rice is fermented with kome koji (rice koji) to create a mash. 
• Distillation: The mash is distilled using pot stills to create a rice spirit. It undergoes a second distillation through two distinct processes using both pot and column stills to build flavor profile, body, and aroma.
• Filtration: The spirit is blended and filtered using a unique bamboo charcoal filtration process. This technique removes impurities while preserving the delicate, naturally sweet nuances of the rice.

• Nose: Soft, clean, and rounded, with delicate, subtly sweet floral and rice aromas.
• Palate: Velvety, smooth, and medium-bodied, offering a rich flavor that gradually opens up to reveal the complex, natural sweetness of the grains.
• Finish: Elegant and clean with a sophisticated, lingering warmth and natural sweetness.

• The Haku-Hi: A refreshing Japanese highball mixing Haku Vodka with chilled soda water and a twist of lemon peel.
• Haku Martini: A silky version of the traditional Martini cocktail, highlighting the subtle floral and rice sweetness.

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Eigashima Distillery (known as White Oak Distillery in Japan), located in Akashi near Kobe, Japan, is both the country’s oldest and smallest whisky distillery. Founded in 1888, the tiny distillery runs on a seven person operation! Akashi is a coastal town residing on the edge of Osaka Bay. Due to Akashi’s unique climate with extremely hot summers and cool winters, as much as 7%-8% of Eigashima’s maturing whisky may be lost to evaporation each year (opposed to the 2% commonly seen in Scotland). While this lowers still the overall production yield, it also acts as a catalyst for the maturation process, as the temperature swings encourage interaction between the whisky and the wood. As a result, Akashi White Oak Japanese Whisky has a malty, citrusy aroma with scents of black cherry, toffee and oak. This whisky is made with a variety of wheat, barley and rye with hints of subtle peat. Notes of vanilla and pine nuts dominate the palate, and lead to a long, malty finish. Excellent introduction to the Japanese whisky category, those looking for a segway into Scotch, or an every day drinking dram.

Tasting Note:

Nose: Buttered hot cross buns, chocolate peanuts, lemongrass and a light hint of spicy rye grain.

Palate: Cherry bakewells and walnut loaf. Sweet cereals with a dusting of nutmeg and black pepper.

Finish: Medium length. Quite sweet with dried apricot and a touch of oatcake.

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Cosmo from Mars Maltage is a blended malt that includes whisky from Shinshu in Japan. A big hit when released at the 2015 Tokyo International Bar Show, this is a permanent addition to the fledgling distillery's range.

NOSE : Vanilla and walnuts with layers of fruit: cherry and raspberry, pear and apple.

PALATE: Citrus oil leads, followed by fleshy oranges, chocolate and oaky spices.

FINISH: Fresh plums and red grapes with chocolate lingering.

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A vibrant addition to the Nikka range, Nikka Days is a bright and vivacious blend of malt and grain whiskies from both Nikka's Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries. Its medium body hosts an array of floral and zesty flavours which mingle effortlessly with an underlying vanilla-toffee depth and a light, distant touch of breezy peat smoke.

A fresh and delicate whisky, Days makes a delicious sipping dram or sits beautifully in a refreshing highball.

NOSE: Apples, pears and strawberry liquorice. Perfumed notes of daiginjo sake and white melon. Grainy flavours develop, with freshly crushed barley and malting floor sweetness floating out of the glass. White chocolate and a sprinkling of lemon zest sit at the back.

PALATE: Creamy and soft, with grapes and apples on top of toffee and candied lemon. Delicate white chocolate notes are joined by darker liquorice hints and a tiny touch of barrel char smokiness. Right at the back is a bowl of apples, freshly peeled and sliced.

FINISH: Lemon zest and buttery biscuits. Barley sugar sweetness to leave grain and spice.

COMMENT: Delicate and fragrant at first, with more weight hiding behind. A great all-rounder with enough complexity to sip and enough oomph to shine in a mixed drink.

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