Nagahama Roman 8 Years Old

Nagahama Roman 8 Years Old is a blended malt from Nagahama Distillery, the small pot-still operation opened in 2016 in a brewpub beside Lake Biwa in Shiga prefecture. Named after the Roman Beer brewpub that houses the distillery, the Roman line represents the older age-stated tier of Nagahama's blended malt output. At eight years, it is the most matured expression in this batch and was bottled at 47% for the Dutch market.

The whisky matures in Ex-Bourbon casks throughout, and the noted cooked fruit character reflects the longer time in wood, where vanilla and orchard fruit deepen into richer, warmer territory. Eight years in bourbon barrels gives a level of oak integration not possible at younger ages, and the distillate takes on a warmer, more rounded quality. The result is a blended malt that shows where the house character is heading with time, and it is noticeably more developed and generous than the NAS Amahagan expressions from the same house.