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1958 Shirakawa, Single Malt Whisky, Japan (49%)

  • Japanese Whisky
Product: 19588236610
1958 Shirakawa, Single Malt Whisky, Japan (49%)

Description

“There are no known examples of Japanese Whisky claiming to be from a Single Vintage that predates Shirakawa 1958,” confirms Stefan van Eycken, the pre-eminent authority on Japanese whisky and distilling. “Even though Shirakawa Distillery was one of the pioneers of malt whisky making in Japan, the liquid was never officially available as a single malt. This limited 1,500-bottle release will see the Japanese Whisky category, one of the world’s most sought-after categories of spirit, continue to grow from strength to strength”.

Distilled in 1958, the liquid was aged in oak casks before being transferred into a ceramic pot until it was moved into stainless steel in 2003 when the distillery closed. The exact production details are unknown, but the whisky is from when the distillery used predominantly Japanese malted barley and Mizunara oak casks. The Shirakawa 1958 will be the only single malt ever released from the distillery and the oldest-vintaged single malt whisky from Japan ever bottled.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

Product Type Japanese Whisky
Main Ingredients Barley
Region Japanese Whisky OLD SAP
Producer Shirakawa Distillery

About this spirit

Skirakawa Distillery

Shirakawa distillery opened in 1939 following the opening of the Yamazaki distillery 16 years earlier. Distillation continued right through to 1969 when the company stopped producing single malt whisky, favouring the home-grown spirit Shochu as a product instead. The distillery finally closed its doors in 2003, sadly demolished just as the Japanese whisky market begun to boom. The majority of the whisky produced between 1951 and 1969 was used in Takara Shuzo’s flagship ‘King’ blended whisky, however evidence of single malt production was found in the company archives. Following extensive research, the final remaining parcel of single malt whisky was identified in 2019 and the distillation date was confirmed to be 1958.
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Barley

Barley is a key ingredient in the production of some of the world's most renowned spirits, particularly whiskey and Scotch whisky. Malted barley is used as the primary grain in many single malt and blended Scotch whiskies, where it contributes a distinct malty, nutty, and sometimes smoky flavour profile. In addition to Scotch, barley is also a staple in the production of Irish whiskey, where it often lends a smoother, creamier taste. The versatility of barley as a grain makes it a favorite for creating complex and deeply nuanced spirits cherished by enthusiasts worldwide.

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