Shizuoka Pot Still K Pure Japanese Barley First Edition is a single malt whisky from the Shizuoka Distillery, produced using 100% Japanese-grown barley and distilled in a traditional pot still. The whisky is aged for at least three years in ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 50% ABV.
On the nose, this whisky offers a delicate balance of sweet and floral notes, with hints of vanilla and honey. On the palate, the flavors become more complex, with a subtle spiciness and a hint of smokiness, followed by a long and smooth finish. This whisky is a testament to the skill and dedication of the Shizuoka Distillery, which has quickly gained a reputation for producing exceptional Japanese whisky using locally-sourced ingredients and traditional distilling methods."
100% Japanese Whisky
The most distinctive feature of Pot Still K is that it uses 100% Japanese barley malt as its raw malt. Shizuoka Distillery has been brewing with Japanese barley malt since the beginning of its operation in 2016 and continues to do so every year.
Currently, many Japanese whiskies are made with barley malt from overseas, and Japanese barley malt is still scarce. This is due to the fact that Japanese barley is grown in limited areas in Japan, and the harvest is low, making Japanese barley malt more expensive than its foreign counterparts.
Even under these circumstances, Shizuoka Distillery is committed to making whisky with high-cost Japanese barley malt because of the flavor potential of Japanese barley and the importance of terroir (local character) as a Japanese alcoholic beverage. The whisky produced from Japanese barley has a delicate, soft, smooth, and sweet taste that is uniquely Japanese, and it is a whisky with a rich terroir that is different from barley produced overseas.
Gaia Flow is celebrating its 10th anniversary
"In celebration of its 10th anniversary, Shizuoka Distillery parent company Gaia Flow released two special bottlings of Shizuoka whisky in collaboration with independent bottler Blackadder. One of these releases was the Blackadder Raw Cask Shizuoka Single Malt 2018, a limited-edition single cask bottling of 3-year-old Shizuoka whisky.
This whisky is bottled at cask strength, without any filtration or dilution, giving it a raw and unadulterated character. The Shizuoka whisky in this bottling was distilled in 2015 and matured in an ex-bourbon cask for three years before being bottled in 2018. The resulting whisky is a complex and full-bodied expression, with notes of vanilla, honey, and a subtle smokiness.
This bottling is a testament to the craftsmanship and dedication of the Shizuoka Distillery, which has quickly gained a reputation for producing exceptional Japanese whisky using locally sourced ingredients and traditional distilling methods. This particular bottling was released in 2019 and is known for its bold and complex flavors, with notes of citrus, vanilla, honey, and a subtle smokiness. The Raw Cask bottling process allows for the whisky to retain more of its natural flavors and characteristics, making it a unique and highly sought-after expression among Japanese whisky enthusiasts. The Blackadder Raw Cask Shizuoka Single Malt 2018 is a must-try for whisky enthusiasts looking for a unique and distinctive Japanese whisky experience.
Blackadder Raw Cask Single Malt Shizuoka 2018 Cask no. 781
Distilled in distiller K, salvaged from the mothballed Karuizawa Distillery, this whisky is made entirely from Scottish non-peated barley and aged for three years in a Bourbon barrel. Bottled at cask strength, with 64.9% ABV, a total of 199 bottles of this unique whisky will be available, with 60 bottles reserved for sale exclusively in Japan.
Blackadder Raw Cask Single Malt Shizuoka 2018, Cask No. 1357
The second release features 100% Japanese non-peated barley, distilled in distiller W, one of the few wood-fired stills in the world. The whisky was aged for three years in red wine barrels sourced from Japanese wineries. A total of 177 bottles of this limited edition whisky will be available, with 60 of them reserved for the Japanese market. Bottled at cask strength with 61.1% ABV