Yamazakura Asaka Single Malt Single Cask #20090 Japanese Whisky (70cl, 62%)

This is a single cask single malt from the Asaka Distillery of Sasanokawa Shuzo, in a 70cl bottle. It was aged for 3.5 years in a first fill bourbon barrel, number 20090, and bottled at a natural cask strength of 62% ABV. Only 227 bottles were released, across Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore. The colour is pale gold. The nose is fresh fruit with vanilla, honey and lemon cake. The palate is honeyed and sweet, with green apple, pear and cooked peach and subtle grassy notes that turn to a salted, buttery richness. The finish is made up of lingering oak spices.