Peated Whiskies

Region: Islay, Scotland

Distillery: Laphroaig

Age: 10 Years

ABV: 40%

Cask: Unknown

Size: 700 ml

Region:  Scotland

Distillery: Glenlivet, Bunnahabhain, Glen Grant, Tamdhu, Invergordon, and Port Dundas

Age: 40 Years

ABV: 41.9% (Cask Strength)

Cask: ex-Bourbon cask and ex-Sherry cask

Size: 700 ml

Released in 2012, this Black Bull 40 Year Old is a blend of select Single Malt and Single Grain whiskies from the renowned Duncan Taylor & Co. vintage cask range. This expression is bottled at natural strength, preserving the character it has developed during its 40-plus years in the cask. The blend consists of approximately 90% malt whiskies and 10% grain, matured in a ratio of about 80% ex-Bourbon casks and 20% ex-Sherry casks. 

As the flagship of the Black Bull range, this superior blend includes whiskies from premium Scottish distilleries such as Glenlivet, Bunnahabhain, Tamdhu, Glen Grant, Invergordon, and Port Dundas. Black Bull 40 Year Old is part of Duncan Taylor’s multi-award-winning stable of blended Scotch whiskies, celebrated for its quality and craftsmanship.

Awards:
The Whisky Independent Bottler of the Year (2009) - Icon of Whisky
The Quality Award IWSC 2008 Blended Scotch Whisky Trophy
The Quality Award IWSC 2008 Gold.
Additionally, it won “Best” for Blended - New Release in 2017 and a Gold Outstanding award for Deluxe Blend - 40 Years in 2014. 

The 1st and 2nd batch were rated 90+ by WhiskyFun. Please note that the box may have some wear and tear.

Region: Japan

Distillery: Sakurao Distillery

Age: unknown

ABV: 50%

Cask: Bourbon, Sauternes wine casks

Size: 700 ml

The limited release Sakurao Single Malt Sauternes Cask Stillman’s Selection is a lightly peated Whisky, which has been first matured in Bourbon barrels and then finished in Bordeaux Sauternes wine casks, with a deep amber hue and a rich, complex profile shaped by its unique maturation process.

This bottle is part of the premium Stillman’s Selection range, reflecting the master distiller’s personal choice of the finest casks. It balances a light peated character with layered notes of fruit and honey, offering a harmonious blend of sweetness and depth.

The Sauternes cask imparts luxurious layers of honeyed sweetness, ripe fruit such as apricot, apple, and pear, alongside rich vanilla and gentle spices. The nose reveals aromas of golden honey, fresh apple, warm cinnamon, and subtle floral notes. On the palate, expect creamy custard, banana, and tropical fruit richness, complemented by a comfortable smokiness and oak aroma.

Region: Japan

Distillery: Akkeshi Distillery, Hokkaido

Age: NAS

ABV: 55% 

Cask: Mizunara Oak

Size: 700 ml

The Akkeshi “Rikka” Single Blended Japanese Whisky is a 2025 release from Akkeshi Distillery in Hokkaido, Japan. It is part of the distillery’s “24 Solar Terms Series,” specifically the 19th release, symbolizing the beginning of summer. This whisky is made using Hokkaido-grown malt and matured primarily in Mizunara oak barrels native to Japan.

Region: Japan

Distillery: Hokkaido Akkeshi Distillery

Age: NAS

ABV: 48% 

Cask: Various

Size: 700 ml

Akkeshi Single Blended Japanese Whisky “Toji” (冬至), also called “Winter Solstice,” is the first bottle in the Nishi-Nibu (二至二分) special release series of Akkeshi’s 24 Season Series. As the 18th edition, it represents the winter solstice season when the shortest daylight occurs, symbolizing the sun’s rebirth.

This whisky blends malt with grain whisky both of which are produced at Akkeshi Distillery. Their grain whisky, made from 100% Hokkaido-produced ingredients, is produced using their pot stills (unlike the usual continuous column stills that are used for grain whisky) resulting in a bolder profile rather than a very rounded/neutral profile.  

Region: Japan

Distillery: Nagahama

Age: 3-4 years

ABV: 50% 

Cask: Islay Quarter Cask, Bourbon Cask, Mizunara Oak

Size: 500 ml

The sixth batch of Single Malt whisky from Nagahama Distillery features a base of Mizunara oak-aged spirits. Besides showcasing the unique oriental character of Mizunara oak, it also emphasizes the balance between the woody aromas and other flavors.

Nagahama used two distinctly different Mizunara oak cask spirits in the blend:

-First Fill Mizunara oak spirit distilled in 2020, exhibiting strong woody and spicy aromas.
-Second Fill Mizunara oak spirit distilled in the same year, contributing fruity aromas of fresh orange and white peach.

To enrich the flavor profile, Nagahama also added spirits matured in bourbon and Islay Quarter Casks, giving the whisky a touch of sweet tartness and a subtle smokiness. A total of 3,968 bottles were bottled.

Nose:  Woody aroma of Japanese furniture, complemented by the tartness of citrus, the sweetness of toffee, and a light smoky note – quite pleasant. Palate: Medium-bodied, with fruity notes and a sweet-bitter caramel flavor behind the smokiness. Finish: Long smoky woody finish.

Region: Japan

Distillery: Nagahama

Age: 3-4 years

ABV: 50% 

Cask: Islay Quarter Cask, Bourbon from KOVAL Distillery, Oloroso Sherry Hogshead

Size: 500 ml

Nagahama released its first Single Malt, The First Batch, in 2022, followed by Second and Third batches. Entering 2024-2025, the series shows signs of accelerating, with this Fifth Batch released only about six months after the previous "Batch". This release is  approximately 3,000 bottles. 

Nagahama The Fifth Batch was distilled in 2020, aged for 2 years and 8 months in Islay Quarter Cask and the KOVAL distillery Casks of the US, and then further matured for 1 year in  Oloroso Sherry Hogshead.

Nose: Fruity notes of fresh orange and white peach, accompanied by the sweetness of apricot candy. Palate: The mid-palate unfolds with a warm sweetness reminiscent of honey cake and maple pancakes. Smooth with spicy notes of nutmeg and clove. Finish: Dry, elegant tannin from the sherry casks, lingering long after the first sip.

Region: Japan

Distillery: Nagahama

Age: 3-4 years

ABV: 50% 

Cask: Mizunara Oak, Islay Quarter Casks, Bourbon Casks, Koval Casks

Size: 500 ml

Nagahama Distillery has been operating since 2016. During this time, Nagahama has developed its World Blended series, "Amahagan," while also releasing single cask blends. After accumulating considerable experience, they launched their first Single Malt, "The First Batch," in 2022. The subsequent "The Second Batch," with its peaty style, was both critically acclaimed and commercially successful, demonstrating that Nagahama has finally found its own path.

"The Third Batch" uses Mizunara oak, Islay quarter casks, bourbon casks, and Koval whisky casks. The spirits used are aged for 3-4 years and then bottled at 50% ABV. 

Nose: Smoky scent wafts from afar. The first aroma is a fresh malt scent. A deeper sniff reveals notes of raisins, dried apricots, and persimmons, mingled with hints of chocolate cookie, complemented by a moderate smokiness – quite pleasant! Palate: the beer is robust and smooth, with honey sweetness and malt notes intertwined, creating a pleasantly sweet and comforting flavor. Finish: The mid-to-late stages reveal peaty and smoky notes that linger on the palate. 

Region: Japan

Distillery: Nagahama X World

Age: NAS

ABV: 47% 

Cask: Various casks

Size: 700 ml

Edition Peated is the Fifth whisky in the Nagahama Amahagan World Malt series and the first in the series to feature a smoky, peaty flavor. Edition Peated won a silver medal in the Best International Blended Malt category at the 2022 WWA, demonstrating its market recognition.

Since its opening in 2016, the Nagahama Distillery has faced challenges due to limited production, unable to meet market demand on its own. Therefore, Nagahama has been actively seeking collaborations with other distilleries to create blended whiskies, leading to rapid advancements in its blending techniques. This whisky is made by blending Nagahama malt whisky with smoky malt whiskies from other regions, followed by further maturation in bourbon casks, resulting in a more complex flavor profile.

Nose: Medium smoky aroma with hints of green apple, creating a pleasantly languid fragrance. Palate: the beer is light and airy, with a sweet grapefruit aroma and a surprising touch of acidity. Finish: followed by subtle hints of mint and ginna. 

Region: Japan

Distillery: Nagahama X World

Age: NAS

ABV: 47% 

Cask: Koval Cask

Size: 700 ml

Koval Distillery, founded in Chicago in 2008, using diverse grains such as rye, wheat, oat, millet etc. resulting in flavors distinctly different from traditional whiskies. To explore the impact of different casks on whisky flavor profiles, Nagahama Distillery acquired a batch of casks previously used by Koval for maturing their whiskies and named them "Koval Casks."  

The Amahagan World Malt Edition KOVAL is the original World Malt Whisky Edition 1 which has been further aged in Koval casks for 2 years and 3 months significantly enriching its flavor and complexity. 

Nose: Sweet and sour notes of tropical fruits like pineapple and mango, gradually revealing a cotton candy-like sweetness in the mid-to-late stages. Palate: Smooth with lively notes of pineapple, sweet grains, and green apple. Finish: Slightly dry with a hint of spiciness, and the finish is of medium length.

Ranked 95 points at the IWSC International Wine & Spirit Competition.

Region: Japan

Distillery: Nagahama & World

Age: NAS

ABV: 57% 

Cask: PX sherry cask, sherry cask

Size: 700 ml

This limited-edition whisky, themed "The Ultimate Whisky That Perfectly Pairs with Cigars," is a collaboration between Nagahama and COHIBA ATMOSPHERE TOKYO, a premium cigar bar in Nishi-Azabu, Tokyo. During development, the blend was tasted with various Dominican cigars to adjust the recipe. The final design features a fruity, vibrant spirit as its core, blended with Nagahama Distillery PX sherry cask/ Oloroso sherry cask spirit with 50ppm peat.

Nose: Rich and layered, with notes of brown sugar, honey toast, nuts, and a touch of fruit acidity, all enveloped in a gentle smokiness. Palate: Bursting with fresh fruitiness from green apple and pear, transitioning into a smooth, sweet maple waffle-like finish. Finish: balanced interplay of tannins and peat from the sherry casks, resulting in a long and elegant finish.

Region: Japan

Distillery: Nagahama & World

Age: NAS

ABV: 47% 

Cask: Finished in Red Wine Cask

Size: 700 ml

Nose: Raisins and berries from the red wine barrels blend perfectly with the unique malty sweetness of the Nagahama distilled wine. Palate: Refreshing orange peel aroma, adding a bright layer to the overall flavor. The natural sweetness of the grains slowly spreads in the mouth. Finish: Perfectly balanced bitterness that completes the complexion with greater balance and depth.

Awards:
Gold in the World Whiskies Awards 2020
Silver in The San Francisco World Spirits Competitions 2020
Silver in the World Whiskies Awards 2021

Region: Japan

Distillery: Nagahama (Japan) x ARMORIK (France)

Age: NAS

ABV: 50% 

Cask: Crème Brûlée

Size: 500 ml

Nagahama Distillery in Japan and ARMORIK in France collaborated, ARMORIK provided a non-peated whisky made from organic barley, while Nagahama contributed several casks of peated whisky. Using the same whiskies, Nagahama's Master Blender, Yusuke Yaku, and ARMORIK's brand ambassador, Paul Klock, each blended their whiskies in different proportions to create distinctly different flavors. Both blends are limited to 1000 bottles each. This is the ARMORIK version of the Blend. The Nagahama version of the blend can be found HERE

Nose: Fresh, tangy citrus scent. Palate: Medium-bodied, with a light sweetness of cream and custard on the palate. After a short while, the flavors abruptly cease. Finish: gentle resurgence of French custard, caramel sweetness, and a subtle peatiness – an elegant touch. 

Region: Japan

Distillery: Nagahama (Japan) & Armorik (France)

Age: NAS

ABV: 50% 

Cask: Mizunara Cask

Size: 500 ml

This Whisky is a collaboration between Nagahama Distillery in Japan and ARMORIK in France, whereby ARMORIK provided a non-peated whisky made from organic barley, while Nagahama contributed several casks of peated whisky. Using the same whiskies, Nagahama's Master Blender, Yusuke Yaku, and ARMORIK's brand ambassador, Paul Klock, each blended their whiskies in different proportions to create distinctly different flavors catering to their palate. Both blends are limited to 1000 bottles each. This is the Japanese Style version by Nagahama's Master Blender.  The ARMORIK version can be found HERE.

Nose:  Sweet blend of citrus and oak, reminiscent of tanko (Japanese incense). Palate: Sweet blend of wood and saffron, with a very noticeable influence from the Mizunara oak, somewhat like the feel of Japanese furniture. Finish: Woody aroma, accompanied by peaty notes, continues into the long finish.