Kaiyo Japanese Mizunara Oak (43%)

A Japanese blended malt matured in handmade Mizunara oak casks. It is made mainly from the malt of one unnamed Japanese distillery, with a trace of malt from another. After ageing, the casks make a three-month sea voyage from Osaka, so that the movement of the ocean works on the spirit. It is bottled at 43% and is not chill-filtered. The colour is a pale straw gold. The nose is fragrant, with sandalwood, incense, pineapple, coconut, jasmine and orange peel. The palate is smooth and medium-weight, with honey, vanilla sponge and green apple, then black tea and alpine herbs. The finish is long and warm.