Shinobu Single Malt Evolution 6.5 (進化6.5) (43%)

Shinobu Evolution 6.5 is a Japanese single malt made at Niigata Beer Co. It is one of the distillery's Taiwan-exclusive limited-edition art labels, this one showing a hand-illustrated red rally car drifting across a dirt stage, with the kanji 忍 on its door. The whisky was first matured in sherry and bourbon casks, then finished in Japanese Mizunara oak. It is bottled at 43% with no added colouring. The nose is candied orange peel and toffee with a little sweet smoke and toasted hazelnut. The palate is smooth, with gentle spice and stone fruit and the incense-like character of Mizunara. The finish is of medium length, warm and woody.