MARCH'S SPIRIT OF THE MONTH--KURAYOSHI DISTILLERY THE SAN-IN BLENDED WHISKY--$31.99 PER BOTTLE

March’s Spirit of the Month is Kurayoshi Distillery The San-in Blended Whisky  ($31.99 per 700ml bottle). The world of Japanese Whisky is getting more popular by the day. And while many focus on the Single Malts from the Island of the Rising Sun, you’d be foolish to sleep on some of these Blended Whiskies. The San-in is a great example of that, vibrant baking spices up front lead to juicy red apple fruit. Light notes of toffee pair with hints of stone fruit. The balance of fruit to the spice characteristics up front, to the slight sweet flavors on the finish really highlights one of the things I think that helps define all Japanese Whiskies: elegance.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE SAN-IN BLENDED WHISKY

Any Whisk(e)y can be layered or have a lot going on in the flavor profile. But to be balanced, to have each flavor be highlighted but never saturating the palate, to have staying power without overstaying, is what I mean by elegant. It’s a word I use a lot when talking about Japanese Whisky, a true mark that makes the category distinctive compared to all its Whisk(e)y cousins. And while some might raise their nose to the idea of Blended Whisky, your palate will be craving it once you’ve had it. Kurayoshi Distillery uses an underground water source from Mt. Daisen, a blend (shocking I know) of grain whisky and malted whisky and ages The San-in in White Oak.