Shizuoka United S First Edition Japanese Barley 2024

The Japanese Shizuoka single malt is largely made from barley malt. The United S First Edition has fine smoky flavours at 50.5% vol. alcohol. The combination is made from two distillates from the K and W pot stills. For the distillate from the K pot still, the distillation machine was moved from a historic distillery to the Shizuoka Distillery site high in the mountains of Shizuoka. The distillation temperature requires meticulous adjustment of the mechanism, as it is heated with steam. The long, thin Lyne arm of the pot produces a smooth and unmixed sake with a wonderfully light and fruity flavour. The Pot Still W is fuelled with wood and distils over a strong, open flame that reaches temperatures of up to 800 degrees Celsius. The result is a pure sake with smoky notes, strength and a rich body. The combination and maturation then creates the United S Edition, which matures for at least 3 years in first fill bourbon barrels.