Yamazakura Asaka Distillery Peated 1st Wooden Washback Single Malt (70cl, 50%)

This is a peated single malt from the Asaka Distillery of Sasanokawa Shuzo in Japan, bottled at 50% in a 70cl bottle. Asaka introduced Douglas fir wooden washbacks in 2019, and this is the distillery's first peated single malt fermented solely in them. The spirit was distilled from 2020 using malt peated to 50ppm. The release is limited to 3,000 bottles. The nose brings wet straw, orange, smoked salmon and pink pepper. The palate shows sea fog, medicinal notes, milk caramel and lemon peel. The finish moves from lingering peaty sweetness to a dry, bitter close.