THE WORLD’S RAREST JAPANESE WHISKY REDISCOVERED
The World’s Rarest Japanese Whisky, Shirakawa 1958 Single Malt Japanese Whisky from Takara Shuzo Co.,Ltd will likely be launched and distributed worldwide by Tomatin Distillery Co. Ltd from thirteenth September 2022.
Shirakawa 1958 is a single malt whisky from the misplaced Japanese distillery, Shirakawa, which was situated 200km North of Tokyo, Japan. The whisky produced was rumoured to be beautiful, however destined just for mixing and by no means to be captured as a single malt till now, with a collaboration between Tomatin Distillery and Takara Shuzo. This exceptional and extremely uncommon expression would be the solely official single malt bottling from Shirakawa Distillery; restricted to 1,500 bottles globally and is the earliest single classic Japanese whisky ever bottled.
“There are not any identified examples of Japanese Whisky claiming to be from a Single Classic that predate Shirakawa 1958,” confirms Stefan van Eycken, the pre-eminent authority on the world of Japanese whisky and distilling. “Though Shirakawa Distillery was one of many pioneers of malt whisky making in Japan, the liquid was by no means formally out there as a single malt. This restricted 1,500 bottle launch will see the Japanese Whisky class, one of the vital sought-after classes of spirit on this planet, proceed to develop from energy to energy”
The Shirakawa Distillery was constructed within the Fukushima Prefecture, in 1939 by Daikoku Budoshu and bought by Takara Shuzo in 1947. Working for practically six and a half many years, it produced malt whisky between 1951 – 1969, one of many first distilleries in Japan to take action. The overwhelming majority of the whisky produced was utilized in Takara Shuzo’s flagship ‘King’ blended whisky model. The Shirakawa Distillery then was demolished in 2003.
Stephen Bremner, Managing Director of Tomatin Distillery Co. Ltd. had grow to be intrigued by guardian firm Takara Shuzo’s historical past of malt whisky manufacturing in Japan and why so little was identified about this side of the corporate’s historical past. Decided to uncover extra, he pieced collectively anecdotal info from earlier staff about whisky manufacturing and looked for lengthy misplaced paperwork that may shed some mild on Shirakawa’s single malt Japanese whisky making previous.
The ultimate remaining parcel was recognized in Takara Shuzo’s Kurokabegura in 2019. The liquid had been distilled in 1958, aged in cask, then transferred to ceramic jars on the distillery. When Shirakawa closed, it was put into stainless-steel tanks at Takara Shuzo’s manufacturing unit in Kyushu the place it lay untouched till now.
“Tomatin Distillery Co. Ltd had been purchased by Takara Shuzo in 1986 and I grew to become fascinated by the story of Shirakawa and its historical past of whisky manufacturing. There had by no means been an official single malt bottling, and the distillery had lengthy gone, however I couldn’t assist questioning what if part of liquid historical past lay unearthed. After a number of in-depth discussions with colleagues at Takara Shuzo the final remaining parcel of Shirakawa was recognized in 2019. Once I found that the final remaining inventory was distilled in 1958, I used to be astounded! It was a real WOW second as I realised in a short time that what we have been coping with was extraordinarily uncommon.” Explains Stephen Bremner, Managing Director of Tomatin Distillery Co. Ltd.
This uncommon discovery introduced additional thriller each for the liquid unearthed, as with the historical past of the distillery itself. The exact age of the whisky can’t be specified; though it’s clear the liquid was matured in oak casks, the kind of cask and size of maturation stays unknown to this present day. Although manufacturing particulars are unclear, it’s from a time when the distillery used predominantly Japanese malted barley and Mizunara oak casks.
The 1958 classic – 49% ABV – bottled by Takara Shuzo Co.,Ltd in Japan, will exist as the one official single malt ever to be launched from Shirakawa Distillery and the earliest identified single classic Japanese whisky ever bottled.
THE TASTE OF LIQUID HISTORY
Award profitable and internationally acclaimed whisky author Dave Broom presents his tasting notes for Shirakawa 1958 Single Malt Japanese Whisky from Takara Shuzo Co.,Ltd:
Nostril: Resinous, slight dry earth, dried citrus peels, a touch of wax. Fragrant. A drop of water makes it extra vibrant and in addition exhibits clear maturity in addition to a touch of incense. Unique.
Palate: The palate is expansive with a succulent texture and hints of aromatic grass. Fruits emerge within the center. Layered, spiced, and dry. Water brings out ash from an incense burner, a satisfying mouthfeel and surprisingly perky acidity.
End: Properly balanced and protracted on the end which picks up mint flavouring and makes it extra camphor-like.
SHIRAKAWA 1958 FROM TARAKA SHUZO CO.,LTD
1,500 (70cl) bottles will likely be out there from thirteenth September 2022 by way of tomatindistillery.com and chosen retail companions worldwide together with Harrods, Berry Bros, The Whisky Change & Royal Mile Whiskies
RRP: £25,000
The one UK shopper tasting of Shirakawa 1958 will happen at The Whisky Change Whisky Present at 12:45pm on Saturday 1 October 2022. Tickets for the masterclass may be bought from twenty fourth August 2022 by way of www.whiskyshow.com/london/, friends should additionally maintain a Saturday ticket for the present in an effort to attend.
Shirakawa Distillery
Shirakawa Distillery was constructed within the Fukushima Prefecture, 200km North of Tokyo, in 1939 by Daikoku Budoshu and demolished in 2003. Though Shirakawa Distillery was one of many pioneers of malt whisky making in Japan, it was by no means formally out there as a single malt. That class didn’t take off in Japan till the mid-80s, and by that point, Takara Shuzo’s focus lay elsewhere. The land the place Shirakawa Distillery as soon as sat was subsequently gifted by Takara Shuzo in 2011 to construct emergency housing to accommodate the locals who had been displaced by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
Tomatin Distillery Co. Ltd
In 1897 Tomatin was nothing however an remoted and idyllic setting for a distillery. With the brand new Highland Railway got here alternatives, and so the distillery was born. Since then, the distillery has been on the coronary heart of the neighborhood and the neighborhood on the coronary heart of the distillery. Right this moment, the Tomatin Legacy lives on within the type of an thrilling and diversified vary of Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskies (Tomatin Single Malt & Cù Bòcan Single Malt).
Tomatin Single Malt exudes luxurious amongst its batch releases and status restricted editions. The Personal Cask Program presents an esteemed assortment of hand-selected single casks, really exceptional expressions of the versatile spirit which Tomatin Single Malt gives. All vintages will likely be delivered inside a crystal decanter with stunning gold collar and stopper, a totally customisable label, bespoke engraving and cased inside a contrasting textured wooden and excessive gloss picket field.
https://tomatin.com
Takara Shuzo Co.,Ltd
Takara Shuzo Co.,Ltd produces sake, different alcoholic drinks, and seasonings. This division includes the unique enterprise; the holding firm together with it was fashioned in 2001 as Takara Holdings Inc. Takara Shuzo, one in all Japan’s main producers of conventional alcoholic drinks since sake brewing operations in 1842, acquired Tomatin Distillery Co. Ltd in 1986.
In 1951, Takara Shuzo grew to become one in all solely a handful of distilleries in Japan to provide malt whisky and it continued to take action uninterrupted till 1969. The overwhelming majority of this malt whisky utilized in Takara Shuzo’s flagship ‘King’ blended whisky model. https://www.takarashuzo.co.jp/english/
