In 1918, Masataka Taketsuru, “The Father of Japanese Whisky”, traveled to Scotland to study the art of whisky-making. He studied chemistry at Glasgow University and apprenticed at three Scotch Whisky distilleries, picking up the tricks of the trade along the way, before returning to Japan with his newly beloved Scottish wife, Rita Cowan, and helping to launch the Yamazaki Distillery, Japan’s first dedicated whisky distillery, in 1923.
As demonstrated by the origins of the industry, Japan and Scotland have a long-standing friendship that has lasted through the ages and has seen everything from lacquerware to whisky knowledge shared between them. The whisky industry has been transformed by the diligent craftsmen in both countries who have worked together to produce the finest expressions in the world. It’s against this backdrop that we wanted to release a bottle to commemorate the shared history between these two nations.
Taking its name from the Japanese word for ‘sisters’, the Shimai is an ode to the sisterly partnership between Scotland and Japan and the whisky mentorship that has resulted from that. In Japan, one often refers to their female mentor as “Shimai”, even if they are not related, due to the historic culture of older females mentoring their younger sisters in a bid to help them reach their full potential. The parallels between this and the relationship between Japan and Scotland are ones we felt worth celebrating.
The innovative expression marries well-aged whisky from superb Scottish distilleries with young single malts from two of Japan’s rising stars. It’s a match made in heaven and something that we hope brings as much excitement and joy as the Kyoyu did.
The pursuit of excellence that permeates every aspect of Japanese culture has given rise to exciting new products that have raised the bar by challenging long standing conventions. One of the most profound contributions has been in the realm of blended whisky. Long perceived as inferior to single malts, Japan has transformed the industry by giving enthusiasts an entirely new outlook on blends, turning even the harshest critics into raving fans.
The Shimai leverages Japanese blending expertise to marry a combination of well-matured and youthful spirits from two different regions, resulting in an assortment of superb flavors unlike any whisky released before. The expression began with a cask of 20 year old blended Scotch whisky, created from spirits distilled at some of Scotland’s most loved distilleries, married at birth and matured for over two decades, before carefully adding single malt from two of Japan’s fastest rising stars – Akashi and Asaka.
The final result is an incredibly well-balanced, moreish expression that combines rich, fruity and oaky Scotch, with lighter, floral and subtly smoky Japanese whisky. On the nose it brings a burst of citrus fruits and fresh strawberries that mingle with gentle layers of vanilla before gradually becoming richer, with dried red berries, rich oak, freshly buttered toast and light aromas of muscovado sugar. Like the nose, the palate starts fresh, with a mixture of pear drops and light oak, before that richness slowly creeps in once again as the oak builds and is joined by melted dark chocolate, Glacé cherries and cinnamon baked apples, all the while subtle smoke lingers in the background. The finish holds for a medium amount of time and leaves refreshing flavors of sliced apple, fresh berries, charred oak, along with another tickle of cinnamon.
The Shimai features an impeccable design that follows on from the Kyōyū in style. It is inspired by Japanese art and culture, bringing forth a level of meticulous detail that is a true masterpiece. Artist Nicolas Castell, a master of the Ukiyo-e art style, was once again commissioned to complement this exceptional whisky with a Japanese inspired design capturing the essence and importance of sisterhood in Japan. Nicolas created a work of art that embodies the whisky inside. It’s a joyous display of simplicity, balance, mentorship and sisterhood that features two sisters enjoying some whisky in a stunning park, surrounded by aspects of both Japanese and Scottish culture and wildlife.
The Shimai is now available for pre-order for shipping in early July. With production limited to just 260 bottles and the unprecedented demand for this innovative blended expression, the bottles are expected to be in tight supply. Simply click the button below to reserve your bottle now.
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