Shirakawa 1958 70cl Whisky

This is arguably the most rare Japanese whisky in the world, and it's certainly one of the most remarkable we've ever seen. Presented by Tomatin Distillery, this spirit comes from the old Shirakawa Distillery, which was established in 1947 and demolished in 2003. This 1958 Single Malt was made during a period when the distillery was one of the first in Japan to make malt whisky, but it was typically destined for blends. What we have here is the first time the whisky has been presented for sale as a single malt.

Shirakawa 1958 was aged in cask, then transferred to ceramic jars at the distillery before being transferred into stainless steel tanks at Takara Shuzo’s factory in Kyushu where it lay untouched until now. The type of cask and length of maturation remains unknown, but we can reveal the 1958 vintage is bottled at 49% ABV and is said to have an “expansive” palate, with “a succulent texture and hints of fragrant grass”.