Kurayoshi 18 Year Old Pure Malt Whisky
*please note that the ABV of this bottle may vary California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 WARNING.
  • smoky
  • vanilla
  • honey
  • mineral
  • mint
  • jasmine
  • cardamom
  • sweet
  • fruit

Kurayoshi

18 Year Old Pure Malt Whisky (0.75l, 50%*) *please note that the ABV of this bottle may vary
Price $401.99

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Character Goatson
Pure Malt Zen — simple, pure, and sublime.

Matsui Shuzo Distillery was founded in 1910 northwest of Kyoto on the facing the Sea of Japan in Tottori Prefecture. Importantly, the distillery is within sight of Mount Daisen — a volcanic peak rising more than a mile above the surrounding fertile plains. This is significant because the spring water used to distill their Sake, Shōchū, and Whisky and bring it to proof has filtered through volcanic stone for eons — resulting in significant purity and a unique, soft mineral composition.

The Matsui Shuzo Distillery keeps a low profile. It’s almost enigmatic with no visitor center or direct sales. But the line Whiskies that comes out of their warehouses are very highly regarded — including ten Malts under the Kurayoshi brand and five grain Whiskies under their Tottori nameplate. All of them very popular with the discriminating dram-lovers across the Land of the Rising Sun.

Kurayoshi 18 Year Old Pure Malt Whisky is the most significant Whisky produced by Matsui Shuzo so far. It’s their top-of-the-line dram, and one of the older Malts available from any producer in Japan. It's a 100% malted barley Whisky, sourced from distilleries around Scotland, before making their way to Japan, where it is blended with Japanese Whisky, aged and cut to proof with the legendary volcanic stone filtered waters of Tottori Prefecture.

Now… a lot of producers try to dazzle the eye on their high-end Whiskies with flashy packaging. Other try to smack you in the face with smoke or sweetness to justify a higher price. Kurayoshi 18 Year Old Pure Malt is all about the zen. The bottles are the same as the rest of their products. The flavor is all about being as natural and authentic as possible. It’s almost a Whisky Haiku at 50% ABV — simple, pure, sublime.

Domo Arigatou Gozaimasu.


Smartass Corner:
Mount Daisen is regarded by some ancient religious sects in Japan as a holy mountain — including the syncretic Shugendō faith of “the path of training and testing."


*This bottle is a collector's item, we will not be able to entertain any refunds or exchanges.

**Individual orders limited to one item per person, as we wish to give everyone the opportunity to participate.

***Any kind of transit damage is insured and will be reimbursed.
*please note that the ABV of this bottle may vary California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 WARNING.
Appearance / Color
Warm Gold

Nose / Aroma / Smell
A deep and rich perfume of jasmine and honey. 

Flavor / Taste / Palate
A delicate balance of vanilla and mint with a sweet hint of toasted wood and cardamom. 

Finish
Smooth and satisfying.
Flavor Spiral TM
About the Flavor Spiral
What does Kurayoshi 18 Year Old Pure Malt Whisky taste like?

The Flavor Spiral™ shows the most common flavors that you'll taste in Kurayoshi 18 Year Old Pure Malt Whisky and gives you a chance to have a taste of it before actually tasting it.

We invented Flavor Spiral™ here at Flaviar to get all your senses involved in tasting drinks and, frankly, because we think that classic tasting notes are boring.

Back to flavor spiral
  • smoky
  • vanilla
  • honey
  • mineral
  • mint
  • jasmine
  • cardamom
  • sweet
  • fruit
Kurayoshi 18 Year Old Pure Malt Whisky
Kurayoshi 18 Year Old Pure Malt Whisky
Dog Dogson's Smartass corner
Character Dogson
Whisky or Whiskey? The spelling differs geographically. In Scotland, Japan, and some other parts of the world, distilleries usually spell it Whisky; in Ireland and the USA, they spell it Whiskey.
It's not uncommon for Japanese Whisky to be aged in mizunara (Japanese oak) casks. Suntory conducted a research on how mizunara oak influences Whisky flavor and found out it adds coconut notes to it.
In recent years, Japanese Whiskies have won several top prizes at the World Whisky Awards and have consistently scored higher than Scotch Whiskies in blind tastings. Talk about a student surpassing the master!
The Highball brought Japanese Whisky back to life. Aside from some attention from overseas, Japanese Whisky consumption domestically was very low during the better part of the early 2000s. It wasn’t until 2008, when Suntory launched the Highball campaign featuring their Kakubin Whisky that things kicked off.
Japan is the second biggest producer of Single Malt Whisky in the world.
Japanese Whisky is connected both to Scotch and Bourbon. It’s a Scotch-style Spirit that’s matured in climates similar to Kentucky’s.
Similar drinks
Dog Dogson's Smartass corner
Character Dogson
Whisky or Whiskey? The spelling differs geographically. In Scotland, Japan, and some other parts of the world, distilleries usually spell it Whisky; in Ireland and the USA, they spell it Whiskey.
It's not uncommon for Japanese Whisky to be aged in mizunara (Japanese oak) casks. Suntory conducted a research on how mizunara oak influences Whisky flavor and found out it adds coconut notes to it.
In recent years, Japanese Whiskies have won several top prizes at the World Whisky Awards and have consistently scored higher than Scotch Whiskies in blind tastings. Talk about a student surpassing the master!
The Highball brought Japanese Whisky back to life. Aside from some attention from overseas, Japanese Whisky consumption domestically was very low during the better part of the early 2000s. It wasn’t until 2008, when Suntory launched the Highball campaign featuring their Kakubin Whisky that things kicked off.
Japan is the second biggest producer of Single Malt Whisky in the world.
Japanese Whisky is connected both to Scotch and Bourbon. It’s a Scotch-style Spirit that’s matured in climates similar to Kentucky’s.
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