Yuza Import First Edition 2022 (70cl, 61%)

Yuza First Edition is the inaugural release from a Japanese distillery founded in 2017 in the town of Akumi, in Yamagata. It is a blend of single malts, bottled at cask strength of 61% in a 70cl bottle. The malts spent three years in bourbon casks, chosen from those filled between November 2018 and January 2019, the distillery's first period of production. The American oak is a clear influence on the character. It won a gold medal at the 2022 San Francisco International Spirit Challenge. The profile is described as clear and airy, with honey, vanilla and apricot on the nose and a smooth, silky texture.