5000 bottles were produced in total
The third whisky to come out of Shizuoka distillery, Contact S is made with a combination of whisky from its ex-Karuizawa pot still and its wood-fired pot still, and matured for three years in first-fill bourbon and quarter casks. Aromas of apple juice, ripe mangoes, cream, caramel and buttered toast fill the nose, complemented by notes of rich tea biscuits, stewed apples, croissants, caramel, sea salt, dark chocolate and black tea throughout the palate. The new Shizuoka Distillery is located near Mount Fuji. The distillery produces its single malt whisky using equipment from the legendary Karuizawa distillery
Tasting Notes
The spicy and fruity flavours are quite present, but not overpowering. They help determine the taste, profile and character of this drink, but are less decisive than any strong notes. There are floral as well as smoky hints noticeable, but these flavors are only slightly present. They give extra character and depth to this drink, without really pushing it in any particular direction..
About Shizuoka
Shizuoka Distillery is generating a lot of excitement among Japanese whisky enthusiasts. Founded in 2016 by Taiko Nakamura, the distillery has rebuilt the mill and wash still from the closed Karuizawa Distillery. Situated approximately halfway between Tokyo and Nagoya, it is high in the mountains on the banks of the Nakakouchi River. The distillery is equipped with a 1-ton mash tun and different types of washbacks made from Oregon pine and Japanese cedar—a nod to sake fermentation. It has two wash stills: one 3,500-liter from the former Karuizawa Distillery and a new direct wood-fired 5,000-liter (referred to as pot still K and W respectively). While Glenfarclas Distillery and others retain direct-fired stills, this is reportedly the only whisky distillery in the world solely burning timber to heat a wash still during distillation. Scottish coppersmiths Forsyths fabricated both the wood-fired wash still and the spirit still, while there is also a hybrid Holstein still on-site. With this setup, Shizuoka is making distillate from 100% Japanese-grown barley, an unusual step, as the majority of whisky distilled in Japan is made from imported barley.
55.5% ABV
70cl
