Kurayoshi 18 years Pure Malt

About the Kurayoshi 18 years Pure Malt

Kurayoshi 18 years Pure Malt is a Japanese blended malt whisky from the Kurayoshi distillery in Tottori, Japan. The distillery sits at the foot of Mount Daisen. It is run by Matsui Shuzo, a house with deep roots in sake and shochu. This release marries selected malts aged for eighteen years in white oak casks. It is bottled at a robust 50% ABV. Long maturation gives the whisky a deep, layered character that feels genuinely mature. The aromas open with soft floral notes. Warm clove and gentle baking spice follow them. A cool, minty freshness runs across the middle of the palate. Beneath that sits an earthy, vegetative depth that adds real weight. The whisky tastes settled and old without ever feeling tired. Kurayoshi 18 years Pure Malt has earned strong international recognition. Jim Murray named it Japanese Whisky of the Year in his 2022 Whisky Bible. For a younger producer, that ranks Kurayoshi among the most talked about names in Japanese whisky. Matsui Shuzo built its reputation on patience and careful blending. This eighteen year old expression shows what that approach can achieve. It is a bottle made for slow, unhurried drinking. Pour it neat and give it several minutes in the glass. The aged malt, the spice and the earthy depth each step forward in turn. It suits anyone keen to explore Japanese malt whisky beyond the big names. The reward is a calm, contemplative pour. Each sip shows the patience behind eighteen years of ageing. This is mature Japanese whisky at an approachable, honest level.