Hatozaki Whisky, a Japanese brand helmed by Master Distiller and Blender Kimio Yonezawa, announced the launch of a Triple Cask Reserve expression on Wednesday. The whisky hosts a suggested retail price of $74.99 and was matured in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks before it was finished in Japanese plum liqueur barrels.
The plum liqueur was made from a specific type of local plum called “Ume.” The Ume plums are steeped in Japanese distillate, and the brand claims the plum liqueur lends the final whisky a delicate and citrus-driven quality, with refreshing herbal tea aromas and a light sweetness.
“Finishing a whisky in Umeshu plum liqueur barrels is rare in the whisky world, and I wanted to explore how the flavorful plum liqueur influence would transform the blend,” Master Distiller and Blender Kimio Yonezawa said in a statement. “The intense plum aromas add a layer of depth and subtle sweetness that sets it apart from other traditionally distilled whiskies.”
The brand shares that the blend of malt whiskies was distilled at the Kaikyō Distillery on the southern tip of coastal Japan.
They were subsequently hand-chosen for this particular offering and spent some time aging in ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks before they were finished for an extra six months in the Ume plum casks. The whisky clocks in at 46% ABV.
Hatozaki is known for its experimental releases, such as the brand’s third offering within its “Omakase” Series, which dropped in April 2024 according to The Whiskey Wash. The name “Omakase” means “Chef’s Choice” in Japanese dining. Yet perhaps the most striking aspect of the whisky was the grain it was distilled from: rye. The rye whisky was finished in Mizunara oak casks to add aromatics, and just 3,000 bottles were drawn from 10 casks.
Hatozaki Whisky Triple Cask Reserve Tasting Notes via the Brand
Aroma: Black tea and oranges, coupled with dried apricots and vanilla, interlaced with lightly toasted, sweet barley.
Palate: Oak spice, coupled with dried peal and Umeshu. Lighter-bodied, with wood and plenty of balance.
Finish: Subtlety is the word here, with opulent roundness and a light sweetness.
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