Shizuoka 2018 Blackadder 3 Year Old Raw Single Cask #781 Japanese Single Malt Whisky (2022) 70cl

Shizuoka 2018 Blackadder 3 Year Old Raw Single Cask #781 Japanese Single Malt Whisky (2022) 70cl

1 of 199 bottles!

A rare beast in the west bottled by old time favourite Independent Bottler, Blackadder.

Shizuoka Distillery is part of the first serious crop of craft Japanese distilleries to hit shelves since the 2000's, much of the credit of course goes to Ichiro Akuto, for having led the way and showing how it was possible to successfully raise a craft whisky distillery in Japan in spite of Suntory, Nikka and Mars' dominance. What's interesting is that these distilleries aren't just making whiskies - they are actively looking for ways to meaningfully add to the discourse. At least one of the key themes that have emerged with these craft distilleries are that of making true blue 100% Japanese whiskies, which means completely using locally sourced ingredients. Of course, that's not an unheard of concept - Scotch is pretty much 100% Scotland-sourced, made and produced; and the same can be said of even the nascent Australian whiskies category. But for what it is worth, it is where the Japanese craft whisky scene is at and is thus far still a fairly new practice.

Gaiaflow Corporation’s first single cask whisky, celebrating its 10th anniversary on January 17, 2022. Gaia Flow’s first foray into the whisky industry was as an authorized importer and distributor of Black Adder.

Black Adder Raw Cask Shizuoka 2018 3 Year Old Cask No. 781 is made from 100% Scottish non-peat barley. It was distilled in a “K” distiller and aged for three years in bourbon barrels. Minimal filtering is used and the “Raw Cask” is bottled directly from the cask, including the lees.

Owned by Gaia Flow and founded by Taiko Nakamura, the Shizuoka distillery begin producing whisky in October 2016. The distillery is located on the banks of the Nakakouchi River in the Tamagawa District of Oku-Shizu close to Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji. The very modern looking building was designed by American Derek Buston who lives locally in the area. Perhaps the facilities main claim-to-fame is its small wash still which was once used at Japan’s legendary and much missed Karuizawa distillery. The first single malt was released in 2020 and was titled Prologue K.

This whisky was distilled in 2018 and aged in single cask #781 for 3 years. It was bottled at cask strength in 2022.

Blackadder International were founded in 1995 by whisky writers, Robin Tucek and John Lamond, authors of the 1987 publication, The Malt Whisky File: The Essential Guide for the Malt Whisky Connoisseur. The company has gained great affection from whisky enthusiasts for its Raw Cask series, which is deliberately drawn un-filtered from the cask so as to retain all cask sediment along with any natural oils and fats. The company is credited with a key role in the popularisation of cask strength whiskies since its inception.

One of 199 bottles.

64.9% ABV

70cl