Nagahama – Distillery The First Batch (Distilled 2017, Bottled 2022) Single Malt Japanese Whisky (50cl, 50%)

Nagahama The First Batch is a single malt from the Nagahama Distillery in Japan, released to mark six years since whisky production began there in December 2016. It is a vatted malt of the distillery's own unpeated whiskies, distilled between 2017 and 2019 and bottled in 2022, at 50% ABV. Four whiskies go into the blend: bourbon whisky as the base, with sherry cask, Islay quarter and Mizunara oak whiskies. The colour is a deep madder red. The nose offers ripe red apple and persimmon, sweet vanilla, coconut and caramel, then raspberry and cranberry. The palate is very smooth, with freshly baked raisin cookies, dried apricot and black tea, and a dry bitterness from the barrel.