Kaiyo Cask Strength Japanese Whisky (53%)

Kaiyo Cask Strength is a Japanese malt whisky matured entirely in handmade Mizunara oak casks and bottled at 53% without chill filtration. It is teaspooned, meaning a trace of malt from a second distillery is added, and Master Blender Jeffrey Karlovitch oversees it. The casks spend three months at sea on a voyage from Osaka, where the motion and changing air pressure speed the exchange between wood and spirit. The nose offers sandalwood, incense and cedar with stone fruit and orange blossom. The palate is oily, with salted caramel, dark chocolate and plums, plus peppery ginger and clove. The finish is long and warming, with toasted oak, dried fruit and a faint briny note.