Shizuoka 4 Years Old 2019

Shizuoka 4 Years Old 2019 is a single cask cask strength single malt from Gaiaflow's Shizuoka distillery in Shizuoka prefecture, drawn from an Ex-Bourbon Octave cask, distilled in 2019 and bottled in 2023 for an event market at 50.3%. The Octave cask's compressed dimensions mean that the American oak integrates with the spirit more rapidly than in a full-sized barrel, giving this four-year release a maturity that belies its age.

Caramel, ripe apple, toasted cereal and a warming spice are the principal notes, drawn from the Octave wood over four years. The Shizuoka new make, consistently clean and fruit-forward thanks to the distillery's cedar washbacks and copper pot stills, provides the base and keeps the profile from turning overly woody. One of several near-identical Octave releases from the 2019 vintage, each slightly different at the cask level.