Saburomaru – Junenmyo Noir (70cl, 46%)

Junenmyo Noir is a Japanese blended whisky from Wakatsuru, a company that has brewed sake since 1862. It combines malt and grain whiskies, with the main malt coming from Wakatsuru's own Saburomaru distillery, the only whisky distillery in Toyama prefecture. The name refers to an area near the distillery once known for canola fields grown for lamp oil, and translates as ten years of light. The malt is made from barley smoked with peat, which gives the blend a smoky character. It is bottled at 46% in a 70cl bottle. The nose brings gentle peat smoke, pears, apples and a little honey. The palate is velvety, with restrained smoke, malty richness, vanilla and toasted oak.