Yamato Cask Strength Japanese Whisky (75cl, 43.4%)

Yamato Cask Strength is a Japanese blended whisky bottled at 43.4% in a 75cl bottle, the undiluted version of the first Yamato release. It is a marriage of malt and grain whiskies aged between three and eight years, and it is non-chill-filtered to keep its natural oils. Aiko Importers created the brand after learning of surplus barrels of Japanese whisky at a large distillery in Yamanashi Prefecture. The line comes in a sculpted sword-hilt bottle. Honey and warm malt open the nose, with lemon zest, anise and sandalwood. The palate is sweet and malty with honeycomb, maple and vanilla, and the long finish carries buttercream and sandalwood spice.