Tasting Notes and Characteristics:

Hatozaki Omakase Rye Whisky drinks with a lively, spicy warmth, bringing notes of rye grain, toasted oak, gentle sweetness, and a dry, peppery finish that feels smooth but energetic. Produced in Japan under the Hatozaki name, it reflects a Japanese approach to balance and precision while drawing on the bold character typically associated with rye whisky. With an ABV of 0.46, this Japanese whisky works well neat, over ice, or in a refined cocktail, and it makes a great match for richer moments at the table, especially alongside duck or a piece of dark chocolate where its spice and oak can play against savory depth or bittersweet intensity.

Producer Information: Kaikyo Distillery

Kaikyo Distillery is a Japanese spirits producer based in Akashi, Hyogo, where coastal air from the Seto Inland Sea and a long local brewing heritage shape its identity. Operated by the Yonezawa family, whose drinks-making roots extend through Akashi Sake Brewery, the distillery brings traditional Japanese craftsmanship into whisky and gin production with a precise, small-batch approach. Its portfolio is closely associated with Hatozaki whisky, 135° East Hyogo Dry Gin, and Akashi-Tai sake, linking Kaikyo Distillery to regional ingredients, maritime maturation influences, and a broader culture of Japanese fermentation and distillation.