Pot Still Whisky, 'Hioki - Ghost Series #23B'

• Single cask single grain Japanese whisky distilled at Hioki Distillery and matured at Kanosuke Distillery in Kagoshima, Japan
• 2 of 3 single cask selections from the 23rd release of Stefan van Eycken’s Ghost Series
• Distilled from a combination of unpeated unmalted barley (90%) and malted barley (10%)
• Double vacuum distilled using stainless steel pot stills
• Aged 3 years and 6 months in an ex–bourbon barrel
• Bright aromatics of fresh apple, honey cakes, and green melon are contrasted by a subtle, umami undernote of stewed porcini mushroom before transitioning to a palate of sweet potato pie and ripe banana with Earl Grey bitterness and the comforting warmth of baked pastry
• Only 96 bottles available in the US
• No added coloring
• Non-chill filtered; bottled at a cask strength of 64% ABV

Since 2013, Japanese whisky expert and author of Whisky Rising, Stefan van Eycken, has sought out exceptional casks from acclaimed distilleries throughout Japan for his Ghost Series. The twenty-third release marks the first time these selections have been made available in the US and features a trio of casks showcasing pot still whisky from Kanosuke’s sister distillery, Hioki. The second of the three, #23B, was aged in an ex–bourbon cask and offers a more subdued experience than #23A, with savory, umami notes of mushroom and hojicha (roasted green tea).