Kaiyo Sakura Cask Single Barrel #9001 8 Year Old Japanese Whisky

This is our third barrel pick with Kaiyō, and this time it is something very different. We're always happy to bring in more of their fantastic Mizunara oak aged whisky, especially at cask strength. This time though, they had some samples to show us from barrels made of Japanese Sakura, or Cherry Blossom wood. Known of course primarily for their beautiful pale pink blossoms that emerge for a brief but enchanting time in spring, they have long been of great cultural importance in Japan, and we've seen a few examples in recent years of whiskies being aged in casks made from their wood.

 

This barrel was aged completely in Sakura wood for 8 years, and was bottled at 54% abv. It has a wonderfully robust nose of pear, nougat, antique wood, hints of warm baking spice, and - though you wouldn't think the wood would actually impart it - ripe cherries. The palate shows juicy stone fruit, sweet vanilla icing, a light cherry note, and darker wood tones, almost bourbon-like. The finish picks up on these darker tones with earthy wood and cocoa powder.