Kujira Ryukyu Inari Japanese Whisky (70cl, 43%)

Kujira Ryukyu Inari is a Japanese whisky distilled from 100% Indica rice by Masahiro Shuzo, one of the oldest and largest distilleries in Okinawa. The rice is mashed with black koji, a type of koji found only in Okinawa. Inari is the god of rice cultivation in Japanese mythology, a nod to the grain behind the spirit. It is a vatting of hand-picked casks, matured in virgin white oak and bottled at 43% in a 70cl bottle, non-chill-filtered and without added colour. The nose is of apples, pears, tropical fruit and hints of spice. On the palate come delicate oak, figs, nuts and butterscotch, leading to a sweet, long finish with fruity, herbal notes and a woody texture.