The Kurayoshi Japanese Pure Malt Whisky

Founded in 1910, Matsui Shuzo is located in the Tottori Prefecture, Northwest of Kyoto and Northeast of Hiroshima, on the shore of the Sea of Japan.  Appropriately named “Kurayoshi”, which translates into, “City of Water & Green”, over 14% of the prefecture is a Natural Park, packed with lush vegetation, rugged coastlines, rivers, and lakes.

To be clear, Matsui Shuzo is known in Japan as both a sake brewery and shochu distillery.  While the juice in Kurayoshi is 100% malted barley, the spirits themselves have been sourced from distilleries around Scotland before making their journey to Japan, where they are blended with Japanese-distilled malted barley then aged (3-18 years). The whisky is then proofed down with the famously soft ground waters of Tottori Prefecture.

This pure malt whisky has been aged for more than 3 years in ex-bourbon casks. The texture is soft, and the nose fragrant.  The flavor is raisins and nutty, with a subtle kiss of vanilla.