Nagahama Amahagan World Malt

Amahagan World Malt is a blended malt produced by Nagahama Distillery, a tiny pot-still operation opened in 2016 in a brewpub on the shores of Lake Biwa in Shiga prefecture. The World designation is honest: the vatting draws on Nagahama malt together with imported whisky from other regions, making it a global blend rather than a single-site expression. Bottled at 47% with no age statement, this 2019 release is a global market expression.

Maturation begins in Ex-Bourbon casks, which build the base of vanilla and lighter grain notes, before the whisky moves into red wine wood for its finish. That final period in wine casks draws out a bright fruitiness of cherry, raspberry and red plum that lifts the softer bourbon sweetness. The result is approachable and fruit-forward in a way typical of Nagahama's house style.