Shirakawa – 1958 Liquid History (70cl, 49%)

This is a single malt from Shirakawa, a Japanese distillery built in 1939 about 200km north of Tokyo. It was distilled in 1958 and bottled by the distillery at a cask strength of 49% ABV, in a 70cl bottle. Only 1500 bottles were filled. The whisky was most likely aged in Mizunara wood, then moved to ceramic jars and later to stainless steel tanks, where it was found in 2019. This is the only Shirakawa malt to be bottled. The nose combines waxy oak with marzipan, candied pineapple, orange liqueur, cut grass, honeysuckle, coconut and incense. On the palate come apple, lime curd, soft marzipan and white chocolate, with a dusting of cinnamon.