Japan
Japan is acclaimed for its high-quality whisky, with brands like Yamazaki and Hibiki gaining international recognition for their craftsmanship and distinct flavours. The country boasts a thriving sake industry, producing a wide variety of styles that reflect regional terroirs and brewing traditions. Japan’s craft beer scene has also blossomed, with breweries experimenting with unique ingredients and techniques to create innovative and refreshing brews.
Senkin Issei Junmai Daiginjo
White peach, muscat and green apple lift from the glass, followed by winter melon and a quiet floral note. The palate is silky and clear, balancing gentle sweetness with lively acidity and a savoury thread of umami. Fresh fruit remains precise rather than lush. The finish is clean and graceful, leaving apple, melon, soft honey and a lightly mouthwatering edge.
Senkin Nature Junmai Sake
Subtle earthiness and delicate floral notes shape the aroma, leading into a soft, rounded palate with clear rice sweetness. Gentle acidity brings freshness and keeps the richer umami character in balance. The texture is calm and composed rather than heavy, with savoury depth unfolding gradually. A clean, lightly tangy finish leaves the floral and grain notes neatly aligned.
Kirakucho Tokiwataru
Delicate ginjo aromatics and rice umami meet in an intricate, quietly powerful profile. The palate balances finesse with a deep core of flavour, carrying the savoury grain character through a measured, layered middle. Low-temperature maturation preserves the elegant shape while allowing the rice to remain clearly present. The final impression stays layered and poised, leaving gentle aromatics, rice depth and restrained power together.
Kidoizumi Afruge No. 1 2018 Junmai Sake
Bright acidity gives this junmai sake a vivid, vinous shape, while a single-stage fermentation builds concentration and character. Six months in a used red-wine barrel introduce red fruit and gentle oak, followed by a further eighteen months of maturation for added depth. The palate feels layered and savoury, moving from tangy freshness toward a rounder close shaped by mature fruit and soft oak tones.
IWA 5 Assemblage 3
Bright floral and vegetal aromas open with remarkable definition, slowly deepening toward white pepper and darker, quieter tones. The palate is poised and almost weightless, yet carries real intensity and energy. Sweet, bitter, sour, spicy and savoury elements move in balance rather than isolation. The finish is tactile, racy and mouthwatering, lingering with refined smoothness and a clean, composed sense of depth.
Kujira 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Ryukyu Japanese Whisky
Natural honey and sherry lead a rounded, sweet aroma, joined by coconut, vanilla and dried fruit. The palate is silky and warming, bringing molasses and caramel through a tart fruit note that keeps the richness in check. A light balsamic edge adds definition. The finish is long and gently spiced, leaving honey, dried fruit, vanilla and quiet tropical warmth.
Tengumai Junmai Daiginjo 50
A gentle, natural aroma sets a quiet tone, leading into a light-bodied palate with measured acidity and a smooth texture. Restrained aging keeps the profile light and direct, giving the middle an easy flow without heaviness. The aroma stays subtle rather than assertive. The finish remains smooth, with gentle acidity and light body carrying the restrained character through the final impression.
Toyo Bijin Ichiban Matoi Junmai Daiginjo Sake
Juicy apple and mango lead with melon, papaya and strawberry. The palate is soft and finely textured, balancing gentle sweetness with clean acidity and a savoury thread of umami. Slow, cool fermentation keeps the aromas clear and lifted. The finish is refreshing and polished, leaving ripe fruit, floral fragrance and a delicate, poised off-dry impression.
Kokuryu Jungin Junmai Ginjo
Sweet fruit aromatics lead into a smooth, refreshing palate with a notably silky texture. The fruit remains clear and gently rounded, while a clean savoury line keeps the profile composed rather than overtly sweet. Its body is light enough to stay nimble, yet there is enough richness to give the middle palate shape. The finish is polished, fresh and quietly persistent.
Shin Red Wine Umeshu
Ripe plum and dark berry aromas lead into a fuller red-fruit character, with a subtle vinous depth beneath the fruit. The palate is rounded and generous, balancing gentle sweetness with bright plum acidity and a light tannic grip from the red-wine component. Its texture remains smooth and easy to drink, while the finish is fragrant, softly tart and persistent. Serve chilled, over ice or topped with soda alongside charcuterie, roasted nuts or dark chocolate.
Kunizakari Chita Umeshu
Ripe plum fills the aroma, moving from lush stone fruit into a brighter, gently tart edge. The palate is concentrated and rounded, with layered plum sweetness balanced by clean acidity and a subtle almond-like savoury note. Its texture is rich but controlled, and the fruit remains vivid through a long, softly warming finish. Serve chilled, over ice or lengthened with soda; it also works well alongside lightly salted nuts, fruit desserts or blue cheese.
Okunomatsu Yusa Junmai Ginjo
Honeydew melon, ripe pear and orange blossom give the aroma a soft, welcoming lift. The palate is gently sweet and rounded, with a creamy texture balanced by fresh acidity and a measured savoury umami note. The fruit remains clear and polished through the middle, never becoming heavy. A mild, very clean finish makes this an easy partner for food. Serve lightly chilled with steamed clams, garlic-butter scallops, grilled pork or vegetable tempura.
Yoshinogawa Gokujo Ginjo
White flowers, peach and nectarine lead a delicate aroma, with fresh herbs and a faint anise note adding quiet complexity. The palate is light, silky and precise, carrying subtle stone fruit over soft acidity and a clean mineral line. Its dry profile remains graceful rather than austere, and a gentle savoury note gives the middle palate extra dimension. The finish is crisp, smooth and lingering. Serve well chilled with scallops, sashimi, light soups or prosciutto.
Yamamoto Tensugi Yamahai Junmai
Green apple, white peach and citrus open the aroma, followed by a distinctive thread of cedar and pine. The palate is layered and energetic, with juicy acidity shaping ripe orchard fruit, earthy rice character and savoury umami. A light mineral firmness keeps the texture poised, while the wooden-vat influence remains subtle rather than dominant. The finish is dry, gently spicy and persistent. Serve lightly chilled with grilled mushrooms, miso-marinated fish, roast pork or smoked tofu.