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

This is a single cask single malt from the Asaka distillery of Sasanokawa Shuzo in Japan, bottled at three and a half years old and at its natural cask strength of 62% ABV, in a 70cl bottle. It matured in a first fill bourbon barrel, and 227 bottles were released. The colour is pale gold. The nose is fresh and fruity, with vanilla, honey and lemon cake. The palate is honeyed and sweet, with green apples, pear and cooked peaches, and subtle grassy notes that give way to rich, salted buttery tones. The finish is a lingering one of oak spices.