Shirakawa 1958 Japanese Single Malt Whisky

THE WORLD’S RAREST JAPANESE WHISKY

Shirakawa Distillery was built in the Fukushima Prefecture, 200km North of Tokyo, in 1939 and demolished in 2003. In 1951 it became one of the first distilleries in Japan to produce malt whisky and it continued to do so uninterrupted until 1969. The vast majority of this malt was blended in the ‘King Whisky ’ brand. In 2019, Single Malt Whisky from Shirakawa Distillery was discovered. At some point in time the whisky had been transferred into stainless steel tanks and slowly forgotten about.

The 1958 vintage has now been bottled and will exist as the only official Single Malt bottling from Shirakawa Distillery. The 1958 release, is the earliest known single vintage Japanese whisky ever bottled and, though production details are unclear, is from a time when the distillery used predominantly Japanese malted barley and Mizunara oak casks.

Tasting notes:
Nose – This aged single malt displays complex layers of waxy oak-driven aromas whilst retaining the vibrancy of a truly exceptional spirit . Sweet fruit and nut in the form of marzipan, candied pineapple and orange liqueur are to the fore, gradually making way for more organic notes of cut grass, honeysuckle and coconut. The seductive scent of exotic incense captures waves of spices, floral and woody aromas.

Palate – The balance of maturity and vibrancy continues well onto the palate. An almost effervescent apple and zingy lime curd are quickly balanced by soft marzipan and white chocolate. T his mix of fruit and nut evolves into a tropical trail mix with a dusting of cinnamon and ginger.

Finish – In time, the fruits dissipate leaving a soft nuttiness, light spice and a touch of smoke.