Matsui The Kurayoshi Sherry Cask Japanese Whisky (70cl, 43%)

The Kurayoshi Sherry Cask is a Japanese pure malt from Matsui Shuzo, made at the Kurayoshi Distillery in Tottori, in the shadow of Mount Daisen. It is bottled at 43% in a 70cl bottle, non-chill filtered and with no added colouring. The whisky is a blend of malt whiskies, including Scottish-sourced spirit married with Japanese whisky and aged in Japan. It spent three years in oak before a finish in sherry casks, and it won Gold at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Expect baked cereal grain, smoked sea salt and wet leather on the nose, then dried apricot, toasted macadamia and shiitake on the palate. The finish is silky, with fresh cream, buttered toast and a touch of tropical fruit.