Ontake – First Edition 2023 Single Malt Japanese Whisky (70cl, 43%)

This is the first release from Ontake distillery, a single malt matured in first-fill solera sherry butts and bottled in 2023. It is non-chill filtered and bottled at 43% in a 70cl bottle. Ontake sits in the hills of Kagoshima, on Kyushu. It is the latest whisky venture of Nishi Shuzo, a shochu and sake producer with a history dating back to 1845. The first new make ran through its stills in 2019. The colour is amber. The nose offers dried fruit, figs and plums, and the palate has raisin and fig sweetness with pear compote, apricot, spice and toasty savoury notes. The finish is spicy and warm, ending in chocolate.