Matsui 6 Year Sakura Single Cask — Only $150!

MATSUI 6 YEAR SINGLE CASK SAKURA CASK 
JAPANESE SINGLE MALT WHISKY

JAPAN

 

WHY BUY: 
Our last offer for Matsui, their exceptional 5 Year Single Cask, nearly broke our server, so you're going to want to move quickly to snap up the 6 Year — which, by the way, at only $150 a bottle, amounts to an excellent  value in the realm of ultra-premium Japanese whisky. The additional year in those prized sakura casks has allowed the whisky to develop deeper complexity, more pronounced cherry blossom character, and an even more sophisticated integration of flavors. Jim Murray, of the renowned Whisky Bible, garlanded Matsui in 2024 with honors for the Japanese Whisky of the Year and the Japanese Single Malt of the Year, and we won’t be surprised at all when the awards pile up for this beaut of a bottling.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: 
Jim Murray's Whisky Bible doesn't bestow its highest honors lightly. His recognition of Matsui's Sakura expressions elevated them above more than 4,000 entrants, confirming what discerning palates have long suspected: this distillery represents the pinnacle of Japanese whisky craftsmanship. 

THE STORY: 
Northwest of Kyoto lies Tottori Prefecture, and within that rugged but lush region – much of which has been designated a national park – sits the majestic Mount Daisen. The point of telling you this is not simply to give you a lyrical taste of geography: Mount Daisen is absolutely fundamental to Matsui's distillation, providing the prized groundwater for all its whiskies. Filtered through volcanic rock, this water is renowned for its great purity — a quality that conveys in every pristine sip. After distillation at the famed Kurayoshi Distillery, it ages in a sakura, a cherrywood cask. In Japanese culture, the cherrywood has often been linked with ephemerality, the passing nature of all good things and of life. It is another water source, the nearby Sea of Japan, that enables these whiskies to become more refined and mature as they age. Not unlike those distilleries along the Scottish coasts, temperatures in the town of Kurayoshi can reach 100 degrees in the summer and below freezing in the winter. These variable temperatures are essential to producing whiskies of complexity and distinction.

OUR TASTING NOTES: 
The signature cherrywood influence that made the 5 Year so exceptional reaches new heights in this 6 Year expression. Where its younger sibling offered enticing hints of cherry blossom on the nose, this bottling delivers a more pronounced — and, for us, a more profound — dimension of sakura influence. There’s a delicate and wonderful floral character, here, that plays intriguingly, and beautifully, against the whisky's rich malt foundation. The additional year of maturation has enhanced both the top notes and bass notes, creating a harmony that speaks of precision craftsmanship. Expect a sophisticated palate of chocolate-covered cherries, dried fruits, and malted barley depth, concluding with a complex, lingering finish that balances warming spice with elegant sakura softness.

SPECS: 
Distilled from 100% malted barley with no chill filtering, this single malt spends its entire maturation period in cherrywood casks, developing remarkable character while preserving the essential purity of its ingredients.

ABV: 
48% (96 proof).

FUN FACT: 
While Scottish distillers routinely trade barrels with one another in search of perfect expressions, Japanese producers like Matsui guard their methods vigilantly -- refusing to share even empty casks with competitors. One result of this secrecy is a whisky-making scene of striking diversity and distinctiveness.

OUR GUARANTEE: 
As always, we buy and source directly from the distillery, ensuring perfect provenance for every bottle. Secure yours today — before our allocation disappears!