Yoshino Spirits has extended its Kamiki blended malt whisky range with Kamiki Sakura – a matured in Japanese cedar wood casks and finished in casks made from sakura, or cherry blossom, as it is more commonly known.
It follows Kamiki and Kamiki Intense, which, according to Yoshino Spirits, were the first whiskies to be finished in cedar wood.
Kamiki – God’s Breath
In Japanese, kami means God while iki means breath. The name of the whisky speaks of Mount Niwa, which has been regarded at the “Mountain of The God” since ancient times.
The story of Kamiki begins at the Omiwa Shrine, at the foot of Mount Niwa, in Nara, Japan. The shrine is known throughout the country, as a place where alcohol is served as a blessing, produced by the region’s alcohol makers.
Yoshino Sugi – Japanese Cedar
Yoshino Tsugi is native to Japan, known in English as Japanese cedar. Japan’s Hakushika Sake company states that “the fragrant, luxurious wood of the Yoshino Sugi was deemed to be the best for packaging and shipping the delicious sakes from Nada and reached extremely high demand, making supply a concern.”
The aromatic wood is now used to finish the Kamiki blended whisky, after the team works hard to source and construct the casks to house it. As the whisky is blended when the best flavour profile is reached, and not through a calculated ratio, each batch of Kamiki delivers a different experience.
The Taste of Kamiki
Yoshino Spirits described the Sakura’s effect on its latest whisky as “outstanding”. On the nose it offers ripe banana, candied chestnuts, cinnamon and hints of pine, which are followed by sandalwood and spice. Meanwhile, the palate is said to have flavours of “woodiness, sandalwood and gentle spice”, as well as cherry and floral notes.
Available globally, Kamiki Sakura Wood has been bottled at 48% ABV.
