Shizuoka Pot Still W

Shizuoka Pot Still W is a NAS cask strength single malt from Gaiaflow's Shizuoka distillery in Shizuoka prefecture, made on the distillery's distinctive wood-fired pot still, known internally as Still W. Where the K still carries the legacy of Karuizawa, Still W was built to Gaiaflow's own specification and is heated directly by firewood, a method that introduces a subtle warmth and roundness to the new make character. This 2024 global release came in a 500ml format.

Matured in Ex-Bourbon casks and bottled at 55.5%, the spirit shows the clean, lightly herbal and fruit-driven quality that is typical of Shizuoka's production across both stills. The bourbon wood adds vanilla and gentle caramel, and the cedar washback fermentation contributes a freshness that carries through into the glass. Specific flavour data for this batch is not available, but the W programme is known for a soft, rounded new make that benefits from the gentler heat of wood-fired distillation.