Shirakawa 1958
Shirakawa 1958 marked the first and only single malt release from Japan’s long-closed Shirakawa distillery, distilled in 1958 and bottled in just 1,500 copies. Rediscovered in stainless steel vats decades after the distillery’s closure, the whisky had matured across oak casks, ceramic jars and steel storage, leaving its exact age undefined. Bottled at 49% ABV, it stands as the earliest Japanese single malt ever released and a landmark collector’s whisky.
Nose
Resin, oak spice, orange zest, honey, tropical fruit
Palate
Oak spice, beeswax, forest floor, ashy smoke
Finish
Menthol, oak spice
A resinous maturity shows first before tropical fruit pushes through with orange zest and honey. The palate is waxy and lightly drying with spice leading into earthy tones and a developing ashiness. Water lifts the fruit, but the cask strength remains the most expressive. The finish is minty and fresh with a character reminiscent of old Highland peat.
Style
Details
Shirakawa 1958
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