Tokinoka Black (50cl, 50%)

Tokinoka Black is a Japanese blended whisky made from 50% malt and 50% grain whisky, bottled at 50% in a 50cl bottle. It is matured in three kinds of cask: American oak, bourbon and sherry. Tokinoka is produced by White Oak Distillery, whose history goes back to 1679, when it began by making sake. It made Japan's first whisky in 1919. Master Blender Akito Ueda oversees production, distilling is done in old Japanese copper pot stills, and only 30,000 litres of Tokinoka are made each year. The nose is described as tropical fruit, vanilla, spice and toasted oak. On the palate there is plenty of cask spice and a hint of citrus, leading to a long, powerful finish.