Akashi Sunset on Third Street Aged 3 Years Old (63%)

This is a three-year-old single malt from Eigashima Distillery in Hyogo Prefecture, bottled at 63% ABV under the Akashi name. The label marks the 50th anniversary of Big Comic Original, home to the long-running comic Sunset on Third Street. The whisky was matured for three years in Tronçais oak barrels from central France. The nose is rich and powerful, with old cellar floor, tree bark, dates and dried persimmon. The palate is savoury and spicy, with toasted barrel wood and smoky grains, leading to a rich, warming aftertaste. Water brightens it a little.