Yuza Single Malt Japanese Whisky Second Edition 2022 700ml, 62% ABV

The first Yuza Distillery whisky we have been allocated for Australia is their ‘Second Edition’.  Bottled at cask strength of 62% abv this release of 8500 bottles has already received high accolades and praise around the world and after tasting you will know exactly why.   Our allocation for Yuza Second Edition for Australia won’t last long and is a great one to add to the bar cart or the collection at home, an early whisky from a distillery with a bright and prosperous future ahead, a journey we are very excited to be a part of here at Casa de Vinos. 

Colour:  Honey Comb

Nose:   The nose of this whisky doesn’t need long to warm up in the glass, immediately bright round notes of fruits appear in the form of rockmelon and banana.  There is also a slight confectionary sweetness present - Allen's snakes and party mix lollies.   Given time in the glass the whisky starts to show its complexity with notes of lemon tea, Werther's originals and orange cake. 

Palate:   The best way to describe the palate of this whisky would be luxurious.  Multiple layers of orchard fruits like apples and pears interplaying with a moorish mid palate of vanilla slice and fruit mince pies.  For the abv the spirit remains incredibly calm and simultaneously complex. 

Finish:   A wonderful finish that brings back the initial fruitiness from the nose, manifesting with an estery profile.  Hints of ginger and cinnamon also pop through towards the end but it's the bright exotic fruit bowl notes that continue to linger through a long and mellow finish.

Located in Yamagata prefecture, Japan, Yuza Distillery is the first whisky distillery in the region. The distillery was established in 2018 and is dedicated only to Single Malt production. The distillery team, led by Masaharu Sasaki, partnered with Forsyths to hone their craft and the facility is equipped with five Canadian Douglas Fir washbacks and two stills, including a Glendronach-inspired spirits still with an extended line arm.

Yuza uses 100% barley from Crisp Maltings in their wash, and their style is currently non-peated, though they have laid down several heavily-peated batches. The new make has been described as "full-bodied but chiselled with beautiful barley sugar, tempura batter and under-ripe fruit notes" by Stefan van Eycken of Whisky Magazine. The distillery's location near the Sea of Japan provides an abundance of soft water from snowmelt and underground springs, and the area experiences a massive 40°C average temperature difference over the year, which is expected to super-charge the maturation of the whiskies in barrel.

Yuza's barrel program remains secretive, but early signs point to a preference for ex-Bourbon barrels, and there is now a portion of Sherry cask in the mix. Masaharu Sasaki has also expressed a desire to increase his inventory and pick up stock whenever he can. With its meticulous attention to detail and limited production, Yuza Distillery is poised to become one of the brightest stars in Japan's whisky industry.