Shinobu Japanese Blended Whisky (43%)

Shinobu Japanese Blended Whisky comes from a distillery in Niigata prefecture, founded in 2017 by Ken Usami, who also established the Niigata Beer Co. The name means 'forbearance' in Japanese. It is bottled at 43% ABV, with no added colouring. The blend is made of 50% malt and 50% grain whisky, aged in ex-sherry and ex-bourbon casks and then finished in Japanese Mizunara oak. The nose is soft, with butter, coconut candy, mint, grass, jellied pear, honeysuckle and Mizunara oak. The palate is smooth and slightly oily, opening with black pepper and clove before ripe citrus, baked apples, vanilla and a hint of Chinese incense. The finish is long and smooth, with sandalwood, vanilla and oak.