Kiyokawa marks its debut with a remarkable release: a 3-year-old single malt matured in an ex-Pedro Ximenez cask. This is a milestone for Japanese whisky – Kiyokawa is Japan's first farm-to-bottle distillery. Founded in 2019 by David Troiano in Nagano's mountains, the distillery partners with local farmers cultivating a unique mountain barley strain. The two pot stills are Italian-imported, reflecting the producer's choice of Marsala and sherry casks for maturation.

This inaugural release was matured in an ex-Pedro Ximenez cask, bottled at 61.1% ABV with just 398 bottles produced. Kiyokawa maintains rigorous standards: all casks must arrive with a minimum of 5 litres of original liquid. Each bottle features a handmade washi-paper label crafted from recycled barley husks – sustainability by design.

The nose reveals prominent toffee and caramel notes with roasted hazelnuts and pecans. This is a rich, savoury expression with umami depth and meaty character. The palate offers dark cocoa, deep caramel, toasted walnuts, and tobacco, followed by figs and prunes. The finish is lengthy and spicy with lingering dried fruits.

Exclusively available through Dekanta, this release will appeal to enthusiasts who appreciate full sherry casks with distinctive savoury character and complexity.