Matsui The Peated Single Malt Japanese Whisky (700ml)

No.19 in Whisky Advocate's Top 20 whiskies for 2019.

The third in a trio of highly praised releases, though youthful, Kurayoshi's whiskies already show off Matsui as a high quality distillate to look out for both now and in the future. 'The Peated' bottling comes in two different labelling designs, one that features Katsushika Hokusai's "The Great Wave" on the front label, and another which is the image shown and thought to be a Japan only edition. We cannot guarantee which will be supplied and will choose at random. 48% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... Kurayoshi Distillery lies between Osaka and Hiroshima in the foothills of Mount Daisen, where it produces single malt whiskies brought to proof with soft, mountain spring water. The label, adorned by Hokusai’s The Great Wave, portends this whisky’s rush of flavor: satisfyingly smoky, with noticeable structure and complexity. Kippers on the nose, with burnt aromatic grasses, cocoa, and jellied fruits, and a smoky palate of red apple, ginger, pepper, orange, and mango. Smoke writhes like a serpent on the finish, sliding off the walls dripping with sweet tropical fruits. 92 points - Jonny McCormick, 2019, whiskyadvocate.com

...A degree of sharpness suggests young, as does the pungency of the phenols which possesses an attractive smoked bacon character... a typically idiosyncratic style of peating from this distillery, though the smoke often battles with the sugars as well as the tannin. 89.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2022