Togouchi – Three Expressions

Sakurao Distillery (Sakurao Brewing and Distillery Co. ltd) is relatively new to the Japanese Whisky distilleries of Japan. (founded 2018)

This distillery is very attentive to all the various trends in the Western marketplace. The Togouchi expressions are distilled here.

I have to thank Fenella Taylor of Flourish marketing for sending me three samples of Togouchi Whisky.

The three are:

  1. Togouchi 9 Year Old Blend
  2. Togouchi Sake Cask
  3. Togouchi Single Malt

First up for a taste is number the 9 Year Old Blend.

Togouchi 9 Year Old Blend. Blended in Japan and uses Scottish malted barley and Canadian grain, Matured in the town of Togouchi in oak casks.

Let’s now have a taste.

Togouchi 9 Year Old Blend. Blended Japanese Whisky, Abv/vol 40% 70 cl

Colour…Reflected copper.

Nose…A delightful citrus burst greets my nose, light sweet spice. Vanilla, my body language included nodding and smiling. 

Taste…More fruit, grapefruit and tangerine, a puff of white pepper, various spice notes, releasing nutmeg, ginger and cumin, it was gently warming, not hot.

Finish…Medium to long finish, toffee and fruit sweetness lingers longest, at the end a spoonful of orange marmalade.

A really nice starter dram easy on the nose and palate, if you are in the marketplace for a bottle please check around as I have found that the prices vary.

Up next is the Togouchi  Sake Cask.

This one is a Japanese Blended Whisky. The Master Blender selected some special casks. These were first used to mature white wine and  in Sake  then filled with a Japanese Blended Whisky.

It is now time for a taste.

Togouchi Sake Cask Finish – Japanese Blended Whisky, 40% Alc/vo/, 70 cl

Colour…Golden Sahara sand

Nose…A Caribbean punch, slices of fresh lemon, crushed sweet grapes, quite a complex nose.

Taste…Very attractive on the palate, a captivating sweetness, clove honey, sweet and juicy on the palate,  biting an orange through the skin,I think quite a bit of the sweetness comes from the Sake finish, pineapple and peaches on the BBQ.

Finish…Medium finish, strawberry jam and muscovado sugar coming into play.

A very nice dram, the Sake is certainly letting you know it is there. It is priced at around £60.95 for a 70 cl bottle. Very tasty indeed but for an unaged blend I do think it is a little on the expensive side.

Final dram to taste tonight is the Togouchi Single Malt.

This is the first Single Malt from the Togouchi range of expressions. This Single Malt is the work of Master Distiller Taihei Yamamoto and he matured this Whisky in a mixture of bourbon and sherry casks from the Sakurao Distillery.

Now to have a taste.

Togouchi Japanese Single Malt Whisky – Aged 3 Years, 43% Alc /vol, 70 cl 

Colour…Oaked Chardonnay

Nose…So much fruit, apples, peaches and pears, an enticing  warmth, now the sherry is showing its influence.

Taste…Quite elegant and smooth, scented hot-house flowers, abundant tropical fruits, rum and raisin chocolate, only needs a teardrop of water which brings out some apple cordial and tinned pineapple rings.

Finish…Medium finish, clementines tumbled into our bucks fizz, vanilla ice cream drizzled with some rich sherry.

This one is my favourite out of the three. Again you shop around as the price does vary quite a lot. Now pouring my second grand dram with just a sip of water to open the flavours up.

If you are just a Scotch drinker, please dive into some Japanese drams, you will be surprised how good some of them are.

Once again I have to thank Fenella for letting me sample three expressions from Togouchi. Fenella also sent me a sample of Morris Australian Single Malt Whisky which I shall be reviewing later.

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