Hatozaki Finest Japanese Whisky is the flagship blended whisky from the Kaikyo Distillery in Akashi City, on the coast of Hyogo Prefecture. The brand is named after the oldest stone lighthouse in Japan, which has guided sailors into Akashi harbour since 1620, and it is crafted by the Yonezawa family, brewers since 1856 and distillers since 1917. To mark their centenary the family built the Kaikyo Distillery around traditional Forsyths copper pot stills, set on the coast where sea winds and salty breezes shape the maturing whisky. Finest is a premium blend of malt and grain whiskies, including stocks distilled in Japan alongside imported whisky, married through a careful two stage blending process and aged up to twelve years in barrel with a minimum malt whisky content of 40 percent. The whisky is matured across a variety of cask types, among them bourbon, sherry and prized Japanese Mizunara oak, which together build a layered yet approachable character. It is bottled at 40 percent alcohol by volume, never chill filtered and without added coloring, which keeps the profile natural and true. Light and elegant in style with a rich backbone of malt, it pours a pale gold and opens with soft malty sweetness, cereal notes and a fragrant lift of orchard fruit and citrus. The palate is delicate and rounded, offering gentle vanilla, honey, pear and a whisper of spice, and the finish is clean, smooth and lightly sweet. Versatile and remarkably easy to drink, it is a natural highball whisky and shines with a splash of soda over ice, yet holds up neat or on the rocks. For anyone exploring Japanese whisky for the first time, Finest is a welcoming and dependable place to start.
ABV / Proof
| Brand |
Hatozaki |
| Distillery |
The Kaikyo Distillery (Akashi, Hyogo) |
| Category |
Japanese Blended Whisky |
| Age |
Up to 12 years (no age statement); min 40% malt content |
| Maturation |
Bourbon, sherry and Mizunara oak casks |
| ABV |
40% |
| Proof |
80 |
| Bottle Size |
750ml |
| Country |
Japan |
| Region |
Akashi City, Hyogo |
Tasting Notes
Color: Pale natural gold.
Nose: Soft malty sweetness with cereal notes and a fragrant lift of orchard fruit and citrus.
Palate: Delicate and rounded, gentle vanilla, honey, pear and a whisper of spice.
Finish: Clean, smooth and lightly sweet.
FAQ
What is Hatozaki Finest Japanese Whisky? It is a blended Japanese whisky of malt and grain, aged up to twelve years with a minimum 40 percent malt content, from the Kaikyo Distillery in Akashi.
What proof is it? It is bottled at 40 percent alcohol by volume, which is 80 proof, never chill filtered and without added coloring.
Does it contain imported whisky? Yes. The blend includes whisky distilled in Japan along with imported malt and grain stocks, married and aged in Japan.
What casks is it aged in? A variety, including bourbon, sherry and Japanese Mizunara oak casks.
How should I drink it? It is a natural highball whisky with soda over ice, and also drinks well neat or on the rocks.
Where can I buy Hatozaki Finest Japanese Whisky online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
