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Prologue is over, and this chapter has finally begun! Following in the footsteps of Shizuoka Distillery’s first release, “Prologue K”, the “K” series consists of the original sake from distiller K.

In mid-June 2022, “Shizuoka Pot Still K Pure Japanese Barley First Release” was released. This is a special whisky made from 100% Japanese barley malt and aged for 3 to 5 years in the rich nature of the Shizuoka region.

This release is limited to 2,500 bottles sold in Japan. The suggested retail price is 18,150 yen (including tax), which is half the volume and more than double the price of Prologue K and Prologue W.

The Bottle

Only distiller K is used. 100% Japanese barley malt is used.

Not only is it a single malt whisky (only the original spirit from a single distillery), it is composed of only the original spirit from a single first distiller. The delicate and luscious flavor of the Japanese barley is further refined and elegant by distiller “K”. This flavor is unique and only Shizuoka Distillery can produce it.

Shizuoka Distillery always separates the original whisky for each first distiller used and matures it for a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 5 years in the rich nature of Oku-Shizuoka to produce a beautiful pale amber whisky. This product is the result of blending various casks that meet the same requirements (Japanese barley malt, distiller “K” used).

Ingredients: 100% Japanese barley malt is used for the malt. Bourbon and wine barrels were used for the casks. This Japanese whisky is made using only Japanese domestic products from raw materials.

Our Take

The most distinctive feature of Pot Still K is that it uses 100% Japanese barley malt as its raw malt. Shizuoka Distillery has been brewing with Japanese barley malt since the beginning of its operation in 2016 and continues to do so every year.

Currently, many Japanese whiskies are made with barley malt from overseas, and Japanese barley malt is still scarce. This is due to the fact that Japanese barley is grown in limited areas in Japan, and the harvest is low, making Japanese barley malt more expensive than its foreign counterparts.

Even under these circumstances, Shizuoka Distillery is committed to making whisky with high-cost Japanese barley malt because of the flavor potential of Japanese barley and the importance of terroir (local character) as a Japanese alcoholic beverage. The whisky produced from Japanese barley has a delicate, soft, smooth, and sweet taste that is uniquely Japanese, and it is a whisky with a rich terroir that is different from barley produced overseas.

(All Images Courtesy of JPWhisky.net)

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