Yamazaki Bourbon Barrel 2011 / Inaugural Release

A Japanese single malt bottling from Nikka's flagship distillery in Hokkaido. Nikka was founded in 1934 by Masataka Taketsuru, a former Suntory employee who had studied at the University of Glasgow, and later trained as a blender at the now lost Hazelburn distillery in Campbeltown.  Taketsuru opened the Yoichi distillery in the same year as establishing the company, modelling its pot stills on the long-necked design of the Longmorn stills in Speyside.

This is a 2011 bottling of the annual bourbon barrel Yamazaki, which offers an excellent contrast to the now highly sought-after Sherry Cask releases.

Please note that the domestic market release displays the ABV of this product rounded to the nearest whole number, 48%, whereas the UK export version displays the more accurate figure of 48.2%.