Kumesen Syuzo, as we reported on last year, is a distillery founded in Okinawa back in 1952. It is known locally there for distilling Awamori, a rice-based spirit. Said spirit can be aged for good lengths of time, which Kumesen began doing back in 1989. At the time we first took notice of the brand a 20 year old version of its rice whisky, called Kujira Ryukyu, was showing up at American liquor retail. Now an even older offering in the form of a 30 year old has recently touched down as well.
The new Kujira Ryukyu 30 Year Old, according to those behind it, is distilled from 100% Indica rice and then aged for over three decades in a combination of selected sherry, bourbon and white oak virgin oak casks. It is bottled at 43% ABV and comes in both 700 and 750 ml bottles, depending upon the market.
This particular rice whisky is said to have a global release of just 1,999 bottles. A quick check online reveals at the time of this post that pricing for this bottling is generally hovering between $1,000 and $1,500, which is a significant bump up from the previously mentioned 20 year old.
Official tasting notes for the Kujira Ryukyu 30 Year Old can be found below for your consideration.
- Nose: nectar, caramel, heavy wood smoke of antique furniture
- Taste: smooth and supple with complex tones of fruits citrus, caramel pudding, dried persimmons, sugar and rich ripe berries; wood tannins bring the puckery sourness of Chinese herbs
- Finish: little nectars dotted among smell of wooden barrels with a long lingering finish of sweetness.