Kouro Pure Malt /43%/ – Kouro is a whisky brand from Kaikyō Distillery owned by the Yonezawa family, who started brewing business in 1856. The family has been distilling sake since 1917 and a hundred years later (September 2018) applied for whisky distilling license. The distillery sits in front of Akashi-Kaikyō Bridge, which has the longest span of any suspension bridge (1991 meters). The company plans to release its first single malt in 2022, currently they offer blended and blended malt whiskies under the Hatozaki and Kouro brands. The latter is a vatting of single malt whiskies aged in ex-bourbon barrels and ex-sherry casks, then finished in ex-Mizunara oak cask, and bottled at 43% abv. The company does not share any details regarding the components of the blend.
Nose: smooth, malted barley, vanilla, brown sugar, honey, sponge cake, apples, cherries, plums, hints of mixed herbs and oak shavings.
Palate: light and pretty sweet, butterscotch, vanilla, honeyed cereals, butter cookies, cappuccino, apples, nectarines, dash of cinnamon, and licorice.
Finish: medium long, with notes of honey, vanilla, cinnamon, dried fruit, hints of sherry and oak.
