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Spirits
700ml
Bottle: $99.18 $104.40
A very soft and alluring nose reveals an elegant whisky that has myriad flavors of gingerbread, pound cake, malt...
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UBC
91
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Spirits
700ml
Bottle: $78.66 $82.80
Kurayoshi Distillery lies between Osaka and Hiroshima in the foothills of Mount Daisen, where it produces single malt...
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WKY
92
UBC
90
Sale
Spirits
700ml
Bottle: $78.66 $82.80
This whisky has an elegant nose, with faint whispers of baked apple, buttercream, and dried lemon peel. The palate is...
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UBC
97
750ml
Bottle: $25.20
12 bottles: $24.70
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Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $69.23
Ambrosial notes of sprouted grain, honey, bacon fat and orange blossom accompany deeper notes of toasted hazelnut....
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UBC
93
WKY
92
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Rapid Ship
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $74.79 $78.73
This unique expression was developed in 2013 as a result of Nikka's continuous experiments to widen the variety and...
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Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $46.46 $48.91
An accomplished blend packed with appealing flavors from Miyagikyo and Yoichi Distilleries. Honey, baked lemon,...
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WKY
89
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Rapid Ship
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $79.94 $89.94
Number 1 in the 2018 Top 20. Notably balanced and elegant, the colorful palette of whiskies combines for tremendous...
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WKY
94
BTI
91
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Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $88.06 $92.70
A smoky nose rises from the glass, but immediately finds harmony with spicy and bold flavors on the palate. Gorgeous...
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UBC
95
WKY
95
Sale
Rapid Ship
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $110.91 $116.75
This is a single malt from the Yoichi distillery, Nikka’s first distillery built in 1934. The founder Masataka...
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White
750ml
Bottle: $16.15 $16.66
12 bottles: $15.83
Bright gold and clear in color, delicate bouquet, aroma of citrus. Medium acidity, long and pleasant aftertaste.
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Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $68.02 $71.60
6 bottles: $68.00
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Case only
Spirits
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $71.82
Light and delicate on the pallet, with soft notes of honey and an oaky depth.
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Case only
Spirits
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $88.00
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Case only
Spirits
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $83.60
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Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $41.80 $44.00
12 bottles: $35.63
The taste of sandalwood is present, a precious ingredient in Oriental incense used for aromatherapy, meditation, and...
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Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $49.30 $51.90
6 bottles: $46.02
This skillfully aromatic whisky smells softly herby, floral, and nutty. On the palate, it’s smoky with some...
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UBC
90
Sale
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $65.55 $69.00
6 bottles: $63.17
The combination of mature single malts from Lowlands, Scotland and Niigata, Japan that have been double distilled in...
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WKY
90
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Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $155.13 $163.30
An intriguing nose combines exotic aromas of ripe banana, mango flesh, dried papaya, and key lime with indulgent oak...
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UBC
94
Sale
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $659.14 $693.83
Sourced from Kumesen Distillery, this was distilled, matured in bourbon casks, and bottled in Okinawa. Sweet exotic...
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WKY
90

Ice Wine Japanese Whiskey Malvasia Savatiano

Whisky might not be the first thing that springs to mind when we think of Japanese fine produce, but over the past one hundred years, this fascinating and multi-faceted country has diligently forged a unique whisky identity which is growing in popularity, and which is entirely its own.

The story of Japanese whisky begins in 1918, when Masataka Taketsuru was sent to Scotland to undertake a tour of single malt distilleries in the Highlands, and bring home a knowledge of whisky and distillation skills. He returned full of inspiration, helped no doubt by his new Scottish wife, and alongside his friend, Shinjiro Torii, set up what would become a successful whisky industry.

Today, the Japanese whisky industry is spread over a relatively small handful of distilleries, which continue to use Scottish techniques and recipes, but with a hefty dose of distinctly Japanese experimentalism. This is displayed most obviously in the barrelling techniques the Japanese use - to create a distinctly Oriental set of tasting notes, native Japanese oakwood casks are used for ageing, alongside casks taken from plum wine producers, which impart a beautiful set of floral flavors to the whisky.

While some distilleries produce some excellent single malts, the majority of Japanese whiskies are blended, which reveals a unique set of flavors and aromas ranging from honeysuckle and orange blossom, to toffee and acetone.

Savatiano is probably Greece's most well known and most widely grown grape varietal, as it is the primary grape used in the production of Retsina, where the fermenting juices of the Savatiano varietal are flavored with pine resin in order to make this distinctive and famous wine. One of the reasons for the wide cultivation of this grape is due to its hardiness, and resistance to drought conditions. In the sun-drenched and dry, rocky Greek landscapes, this makes it an ideal vine to grow for wine-makers who require a strong and bounteous yield each year.

However, there are plenty of examples of Greek white wines which use the Savatiano grape but withhold from the addition the pine resin flavoring, allowing the true characteristics of this varietal to shine through. The result is often very pleasing indeed, with Savatiano grapes generally producing extremely well balanced and rounded white wines, with a juicily fruity flavor. Their aromas can vary quite a lot, with many Savatiano wines bearing the fragrance of citrus fruits, and also occasionally having a strong floral aroma reminiscent of elder and rose. Due to the relatively low acidity of Savatiano grapes, the wines which use them (including Retsina) generally bolster themselves with the addition of smaller quantities of more acidic varieties, such as Assyrtiko or Rhoditis, in order to improve their sometimes weak structure.

Additional Information on Greek Wines


Greek Wines
Ancient Greek Wines – A Brief History of Wine in Greece
The Myth of Dionysus, Greek God of Wine
What is Retsina?