Founded in 1982 by German-born J?rg Rupf, St. George Spirits is one of the oldest craft distilleries in the United States. The distillery, housed in an old World War II airplane hangar on a former naval base on the edge of San Francisco, is home to Lance Winters, nuclear engineer, mad scientist and St. George's master distiller, and Dave Smith, St. George's chief blender. Winters and Smith, who are widely-known for experimenting with different types of spirits, have a laboratory dominated by a 10-liter test still, which sits adjacent to the glass beakers and graduated cylinders that cover every inch of their counterspace. Next to the dusty chalkboards caked with equations for the conversion of sugar to alcohol and intricate diagrams of molecular structures are bottles of experimental whiskies, vodkas and even an aging balsamic vinegar (it's 14 years old already). After 30 years of producing their own spirits, St. George Spirits has developed a wicked hobby barrel thieving. Breaking & Entering Bourbon is the product of Winters and Smith going deep into the rickhouses of Kentucky's most venerable bourbon distilleries and selecting 300-plus barrels of bourbon to bring back to California. After sampling each individual barrel (which took three months alone) and experimenting with different blends, Winters and Smith settled on a recipe made up of 80 different barrels, each ranging in age from five to seven years. The result is a criminally delicious bourbon with notes of maple, banana, brown sugar and cinnamon. "We like to think of our spirits as parties in a bottle, and the label is the invitation," says Winters.

Situated in the province of Munster, the Cork Distilleries Company was founded in 1877. Two years after it opened its doors, the distillery began bottling its first whiskey, and in 1882, the company hired a young Corkman named Patrick J. O'Flaherty as their salesman. The classic charmer spent 4 decades selling his whiskey in Ireland. Known for his easygoing personality and generosity, he would ensure everybody around him always had a great time and was always buying rounds for the patrons in the pubs he visited, becoming a universally-loved character. The whiskey's original name was soon forgotten with everybody was starting to order "Paddy whiskey". In 1912, the distillery officially renamed the whiskey Paddy Irish Whiskey in his honor. Today, Paddy Old Irish Whiskey is made from the finest malted and unmalted barley harvested from the East Cork countryside, together with water sourced from river Dungourney. It's a triple-distilled blend of grain, malt, and pot-still whiskey, each component contributing an integral part to the smoothness of the finished spirit: a floral sweetness from the grain, toasted biscuit from the malt, and creaminess from the pot-still. Light, balanced, and pure, it has a rich golden color and deep spice, honey, and vanilla notes. It is matured in 3 different oak casks, before being bottled at 80 proof.

Hibiscus is celebrated globally for its medicinal and aphrodisiac qualities. Sorel Liqueur, handcrafted in Brooklyn, adds a modern twist to Caribbean traditions. It blends Moroccan hibiscus, Indonesian cassia, nutmeg, Nigerian ginger, and Brazilian cloves, resulting in a unique, dark-hued liqueur. Sorel's flavor profile, with its bright floral notes and warm spices, has earned high praise, including a 91-point rating from Wine Enthusiast and accolades from the Spirits Review, F. Paul Pacult's Spirit Journal, and Difford's Guide. Whether enjoyed neat or in cocktails, Sorel's versatility shines.

We find it hard to do anything halfway. So when we make our Very Special Old Reserve blend, we really go all out. We wanted it to be rich, have a great body, a nice smell, an exceptional taste and leave a nice feeling in your mouth. It was not easy, but we managed to get it done. This well-aged, premium rum has it all - a beautiful mahogany colour, a lovely toffee, vanilla and oak aroma, a taste suggestive of bourbon and vanilla and a warm oak aftertaste. Yes, it is hard work and takes time… but it is worth it.

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Known as COCKSPUR 12 in select markets.

Angel’s Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon is finished in port wine casks for an award-winning spirit. We guide each batch’s conditioning, blending our handcrafted bourbon in small batches of 8 to 12 barrels at a time.

It’s typically aged for up to 6 years. While we lose about 5% of the spirit each year to evaporation, or “the Angel’s Share,” what’s left behind after we’re done is truly worthy of envy.

Once it’s deemed ready, we finish our bourbon in ruby port wine casks, which adds subtly distinct flavor nuances that enhance the whiskey without challenging it. Our port finishing process lasts between three to six months, depending on taste.

We use 60-gallon ruby port barrels made from French oak and imported directly from Portugal. This creates a whiskey of unprecedented smoothness, sweetness and balance.

Appearance: Gold color laced with reddish amber hues, nearly copper in tone

Nose: You’ll detect notes of subtle vanilla, raisins, maple syrup and toasted nuts

PALATE: Vanilla, ripe fruit, maple syrup, toast and bitter chocolate

FINISH: Clean and lingering sweetness with a hint of Madeira that slowly fades

Absinthe, which is a spirit traditionally derived from grand wormwood, anise and fennel, has a long and colorful history. While its origins remain unclear, the use of medicinal wormwood dates back to ancient Egypt. In the 18th and 19th centuries, absinthe was distributed by the French Army to its troops as a cure for several digestive diseases, including dysentery and tropical fever. When the troops returned home, they brought their taste for absinthe with them. Spurred by the temperance movement and winemakers, absinthe eventually became associated with hallucinogenic effects. One critic claimed that absinthe would "make you crazy and criminal,"and that it would "provoke epilepsy and tuberculosis." In 1905, Swiss farmer Jean Lanfray murdered his family after consuming considerable quantities of wine, brandy and two glasses of absinthe. While Lanfray had a history of alcoholism, Swiss teetotalers seized the moment and passed a referendum making absinthe illegal. Similarly, absinthe was prohibited in the United States for nearly a century; from 1912 until 2007, absinthe was not allowed to be consumed on American soil. Corsair RED Absinthe is a unique interpretation on the classic green spirit. "Our company got going about the same time the U.S. ban was lifted, so it was one of those things where we said we could make a little and people would come and want to know about it," says Andrew Webber, the co-founder of Corsair Artisan Spirits. "It's one of the most uncommon absinthes made in the world, so people have found use for our product, and it has its own uses in mixology." Corsair RED is made using traditional absinthe ingredients, but is tweaked with some unusual additions, including citrus, tarragon, dragon wormwood (a relative of grand wormwood) and red hibiscus flowers. "We think of a good spirit as something like a musical chord made up of several notes," says Webber, noting that Corsair originally envisioned creating a more traditional absinthe. "Our early batches were missing a note in the chord. But when we added hibiscus, everything clicked." The hibiscus flowers give the absinthe its unusual red color, and add a floral note to the palate that is complemented by tangy citrus, herbal undertones and a spicy, peppery finish. Once the absinthe has been distilled, each bottle is filled, labeled and boxed by hand Corsair's small operation has no mechanized components. "We make less in a year than a big distillery spills in a day," says Clay Smith, Corsair's distillery manager. "Our products are extremely small batch, meaning that our largest run is 550 bottles."

Founded in 1994 by Harold Currie, the Arran Distillery is one of the last remaining independent distilleries in Scotland. "The reason the distillery was built on the Isle of Arran," says James MacTaggart, Arran's master distiller, "was because there is a very good water supply here. In fact, it was tasted and it was decided that it was probably one of the best water supplies in Scotland for making whisky." When the distillery was finally completed in 1995 construction was halted for nearly a year when a pair of Golden Eagles built their nest near the distillery it became the first legal distillery on the Isle of Arran in over 150 years. Arran Single Malt Whisky is made exclusively from unpeated Scottish barley, which is malted and then fermented using a proprietary strain of yeast. Once the barley has been fermented, the wash is distilled twice first through Arran's copper-pot wash still and then again through Arran's copper-pot spirit still. The stills were custom designed, says MacTaggart, and "shaped to allow the lighter vapors to come up through the stills." As a result, Arran Single Malt Scotch Whisky has an appreciably softer and more delicate flavor profile as compared to other Scotch whiskies. Arran Single Malt Whisky Port Cask Finish was matured for approximately eight years in traditional oak casks. Following its initial beauty rest, the whisky was finished in used Port casks sourced from Portugal. Much as with Arran Sauternes Cask Finish, the whisky was closely monitored by Arran's master distiller in order to ensure that the whisky was well-balanced yet bold. The whisky has a reddish-bronze color, along with an aroma of red fruits, roasted nuts and vanilla spices. The palate is layered, with touches of fruits and spices complementing notes of cinnamon, apples and raisins, and leading to a sweet, honeyed finish.

In 1778, the HMS Resolution, commanded by Captain James Cook, made landfall on the island of Kaua'i, the oldest island in the Hawaiian archipelago. Cook was the first European to visit the Hawaiian islands, and his sailors undoubtedly exhausted from a long and arduous journey are believed to have introduced the concept of rum to the Hawaiians. Within a few years, Hawaii's first successful sugar plantation was established near the town of Koloa on the island of Kaua'i. "In many ways, this is where it all began," says Robert Gunter, master distiller at Koloa Rum Corporation. Each Koloa Rum is made exclusively from raw sugar cane crystals, which are grown on the island of Kaua'i. The island's rich, volcanic soil, along with its temperate climate, produce naturally flavorful and dense sugar cane. In addition, unlike most distilleries which use molasses in order to produce rum, Gunter only uses raw sugar cane crystals, which contain naturally higher concentrations of sucrose and minerals. "It just creates a better rum," says Gunter. After purchasing the sugar crystals from the Gay & Robinson Sugar Plantation (situated on the western part of the island), Gunter ferments the sugar using a proprietary strain of yeast he sourced from Guadeloupe, an island in the French Caribbean. "Never underestimate the importance of yeast in producing a quality rum." Following fermentation, the wash is twice-distilled through Koloa Rum's vintage, 1210-gallon, hybrid copper pot and column still. The still, which was originally manufactured in Pennsylvania shortly after World War II, was previously used to distill bourbon in Kentucky. During distillation, Gunter forces the alcohol vapors to pass through the column's seven plates. As the alcohol vapor rises, it is stripped of impurities and becomes more concentrated. In order to create Koloa Gold Rum, Gunter infuses the rum with carmalized sugar following distillation. Koloa Gold Rum has a vivid golden color, along with notes of sugar cane, candied apples, maple and vanilla that lead to a caramel finish. The rum earned the Silver Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2012 and at the International Rum Festival in 2013. In order to create Koloa Spice Rum, Gunter infuses the rum with carmalized sugar, natural vanilla and a proprietary blend of herbs and spices following distillation. Golden wheat in color, Koloa Spice Rum has hints of allspice, cinnamon and cake, and finishes with a touch vanilla. The rum earned the Silver Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2012, and the Bronze Medal at the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival in 2011. In order to create Koloa Dark Rum, Gunter infuses the rum with a completely unique set of herbs and spices, which gives the rum its signature deep mahogany color, and contribues notes of crme br?le, vanilla and caramelized oranges to the rum. Koloa Dark Rum earned the Gold Medal at the Miami Rum Renissance Festival in 2011, where it was named "Best in Class." Once each rum has been infused with the requisite ingredients, Gunter brings the rum to proof using water sourced from Mt. Waialeale, one of the wettest spots on earth. "The water is captured during rainfall and is slowly filtered through layers of volcanic strata before reaching these vast, underground aquifers," says Gunter. "That's what adds the unique taste and mouthfeel to our rum." Once the rum is brought to proof, each bottle is filled and labeled by hand. 

In 1778, the HMS Resolution, commanded by Captain James Cook, made landfall on the island of Kaua'i, the oldest island in the Hawaiian archipelago. Cook was the first European to visit the Hawaiian islands, and his sailors undoubtedly exhausted from a long and arduous journey are believed to have introduced the concept of rum to the Hawaiians. Within a few years, Hawaii's first successful sugar plantation was established near the town of Koloa on the island of Kaua'i. "In many ways, this is where it all began," says Robert Gunter, master distiller at Koloa Rum Corporation. Each Koloa Rum is made exclusively from raw sugar cane crystals, which are grown on the island of Kaua'i. The island's rich, volcanic soil, along with its temperate climate, produce naturally flavorful and dense sugar cane. In addition, unlike most distilleries which use molasses in order to produce rum, Gunter only uses raw sugar cane crystals, which contain naturally higher concentrations of sucrose and minerals. "It just creates a better rum," says Gunter. After purchasing the sugar crystals from the Gay & Robinson Sugar Plantation (situated on the western part of the island), Gunter ferments the sugar using a proprietary strain of yeast he sourced from Guadeloupe, an island in the French Caribbean. "Never underestimate the importance of yeast in producing a quality rum." Following fermentation, the wash is twice-distilled through Koloa Rum's vintage, 1210-gallon, hybrid copper pot and column still. The still, which was originally manufactured in Pennsylvania shortly after World War II, was previously used to distill bourbon in Kentucky. During distillation, Gunter forces the alcohol vapors to pass through the column's seven plates. As the alcohol vapor rises, it is stripped of impurities and becomes more concentrated. In order to create Koloa Spice Rum, Gunter infuses the rum with carmalized sugar, natural vanilla and a proprietary blend of herbs and spices following distillation. Golden wheat in color, Koloa Spice Rum has hints of allspice, cinnamon and cake, and finishes with a touch vanilla. The rum earned the Silver Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2012, and the Bronze Medal at the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival in 2011. Once each rum has been infused with the requisite ingredients, Gunter brings the rum to proof using water sourced from Mt. Waialeale, one of the wettest spots on earth. "The water is captured during rainfall and is slowly filtered through layers of volcanic strata before reaching these vast, underground aquifers," says Gunter. "That's what adds the unique taste and mouthfeel to our rum." Once the rum is brought to proof, each bottle is filled and labeled by hand.

Ready to drink. 3 unique spins on the classic Old Fashioned cocktail.

One of the original drinks of the cocktail world is The Old Fashioned, and is the perfect concoction to take any craft spirit to the next level. We are big believers that most spirits can shine with just a little bit of sugar, water, and carefully chosen bitters. It is one of our most popular cocktails served at our Burlington Tasting Room, and we decided we wanted to give you the ability to enjoy them in your own homes. Enjoy our favorite house made Old Fashioned Cocktails in one set! Grab a variety pack of our Maple Cask Rum OF, Bourbon Whiskey OF, and Revolution Rye OF. Each bottle is 200ml, good for 2 drinks!

Includes the following:
• A 200ml bottle of Maple Mad Fashioned made with Rum & Natural Flavor
• A 200ml bottle of Old Fashioned made with Mad River Rye Whiskey
• A 200ml bottle of Old Fashioned made with Mad River Bourbon Whiskey

THE FIRST WHISKEY THAT DRY FLY EVER CREATED. WITH IT'S 100% WHEAT MASHBILL, THIS IS THE PERFECT WHISKEY FOR SOMEONE LOOKING FOR A LIGHT, SMOOTH, EASY DRINKER. MADE COMPLETELY FROM LOCAL GRAINS, IT TRULY IS A WONDERFUL OFFERING.

ACCOLADES:

TASTING PANEL MAGAZINE 2018 – 91 POINTS

WHISKIES OF THE WORLD 2018 – GOLD MEDAL

On the banks of the Salt River, nestled in the quiet Kentucky countryside near Lawrenceburg, Four Roses Distillery is a testament to American ingenuity and perseverance. Built in 1910 to resemble the architecture of California wineries, the distillery now listed on the National Register of Historic Places was one of six distilleries that was granted permission to operate during Prohibition in order to produce medicinal bourbon. Following Prohibition, Four Roses Kentucky Straight Bourbon became the top-selling bourbon in the United States. In 1943, Seagram's bought the distillery and a decade later, discontinued the sale of Four Roses Kentucky Straight Bourbon. In 2002, the distillery changed hands again, and the new owner brought a renewed sense of purpose and vigor to Four Roses. Four Roses Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is made from a blend of four different Kentucky bourbons, each distilled at the Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg. Two of the bourbons are comprised of a mash of 60% corn, 35% rye and 5% malted barley, while the other two bourbons are comprised of a mash of 75% corn, 20% rye and 5% malted barley. Each of the bourbons is fermented with a unique, proprietary yeast culture used to bring about a specific flavor in the bourbon. "We do things differently," said Jim Rutledge, Four Roses' former master distiller - Whisky Magazine's Hall of Famer. After distillation, each bourbon is aged for a minimum of four years at a one-story rickhouse maintained near the distillery. While most distilleries age bourbon in warehouses that are many stories high, Four Roses ages its bourbon in a one-story warehouse to ensure that each barrel is aged in a similar environment. After aging, the barrels are hand-selected and then blended together in order to create Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon. The high rye content in two of the bourbons results in a rich, spicy flavor and contributes notes of nutmeg and cinnamon. In addition, the high corn content in the remaining two bourbons results in a lighter, fruitier flavor that balances out the spiciness with notes of maple syrup and caramel.

For nearly 220 years, the Tuthilltown Gristmill located off Albany Post Road in Gardiner, New York used waterpower to mill local grains into flour. In 2001, Ralph Erenzo acquired the property and, together with a partner, converted one of the mill's granaries into a distillery. At the time, Erenzo had little experience distilling spirits. After purchasing a furnace from eBay and a German pot still without instructions, he distilled his first batch of vodka using apple scraps from a nearby orchard in the Hudson Valley. Following the distillation of apples, Erenzo began experimenting with the distillation of whiskey. "Our first aged spirit was an experiment that turned out quite well indeed," he says. "And since we are a small batch shop, we can change direction overnight. We also realized early that whiskey was coming back, in particular the interest in straightforward aged spirits; people are just tired of the same old thing. And we copied no one." Hudson Maple Cask Rye Whiskey is a limited-edition rye whiskey distilled from locally-sourced New York rye. Once the grains have been harvested, they are milled and mashed at the distillery before being twice distilled through a copper pot-still. Following distillation, the rye is aged in charred American oak casks for under four years. The walls of the warehouse in which the casks are laid to rest are lined with heaters that are powered by water from the distillery's stills. As a result, when the stills are running, the warehouse becomes incredibly warm, causing the oak casks to expand and interact with the whiskey. Each night, when the stills are dormant and the temperature cooler, bass speakers, which have been placed throughout the warehouse, play very deep bass music. The bass vibrates the barrels, agitating the whiskey and creating micro-expansions and contractions in the barrels themselves. This sonic aging process unique in the industry adds to the interaction of the wood and whiskey and results in a more robust flavor profile. After its initial beauty rest in American oak casks, the rye whiskey is double-barreled, or finished, in maple syrup-cured whiskey barrels from a local Hudson Valley partner. This finishing process contributes rounded notes of maple syrup to the whiskey, and complements its notes of black tea, vanilla, rye toast and vanilla cream. "We're not making whiskey the 'traditional' way, as defined for 80 years by the big whiskey producers," says Erenzo. "We are making it the way their grandfathers made it. We do all the work, hands-on, from scratch. All of our product is hand-made."

In February 2011, Marko became intrigued by Bear Republic's Big Bear Stout.

"Single malts only use a single malt—this Stout has over five different malts, as well as adjuncts and several different hop varieties. All of these qualities come through into an extremely complex whiskey," explains Marko.

With a backbone of Stout, double distilled then aged for 29 months in French oak, Marko expertly entices aromas of dried apricot & honeysuckle, a rich palate of roasted coffee, chocolate malt freshened with orange zest, and a perfect finish of brown spice, dark malt and lingering traces of dry oak.

"Mind-boggingly good". - Clay Risen, New York Times

90 Points - "Deliciously layered palate...no hint of the 49.5% ABV heat. A finish that's sweet, light and quite refreshing and inviting. Lives up to the Charbay hype". - Whisky Advocate

Over a century ago, Fidencio Jimenez moved his family to Oaxaca, Mexico known as El Capital Mundial Del Mezcal and began distilling mezcal. Before his death, Fidencio passed the trade on to his son, Enrique, who, in turn, passed the trade onto his son, Isaac. Today, Enrique Jimenez Jr., a fourth-generation mezcalaro, oversees the entire Jimenez estate, located in Santiago Matatln (a small pueblo in Oaxaca). On the estate, espadin agave plants that are at least a decade old and have reached the peak of maturity are harvested by the hands of expert jimadors. In tribute to their Zapotec heritage, the jimadors harvest agave only under a new moon, believing that the lunar phases have a profound influence on the flavor of the agave. After harvesting, the jimadors remove the long, sharp leaves of the agave using a machete, leaving only the heart of the agave, or pias, behind. At the palenque (or distillery), the pias are split by hand with an axe into four to eight pieces. In order to craft Fidencio Clsico mezcal, the split pias are roasted underground over a fire made from the embers of encino (or black oak) for five days, giving the mezcal its signature, smoky flavor. Once the pias have been roasted, they are crushed under a tahona (or stone wheel) made from rose quartz and the resulting pulp is then fermented using wild yeast for six to twelve days, depending on the weather. Fidencio Clsico is distilled twice through a traditional, wood-fired, alembic still. As a result, it has an aroma of herbs, earthy minerals and raw pineapple. The aroma gives way to notes of warming smoke, pepper and cinnamon, and leads to a smooth yet spicy finish. Fidencio Clsico earned the Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Peated to a heavyweight 40ppm, Port Charlotte Scottish Barley is a cuvee crafted from cask profiles originally selected by master distiller Jim McEwan. It showcases the supreme elegance of this remarkable single malt – a union of the classic floral elegance of Bruichladdich and heavy peat. Trickle distilled from 100% Scottish Barley the spirit gently matures in the lochside village of Port Charlotte before being bottled here at the distillery using Islay spring water.

TASTING NOTES

Character: The texture is extraordinarily rich with a huge depth of character. The smouldering heat of peat fires pulls you into a whirlpool of islay flavours and aromas but with such finesse that you welcome the storm.

Colour: Gilded lily.

Nose: Opening with assertive waves of peat smoke and Atlantic squall, the olfactory system is on high alert in anticipation of some major sensory excitement. A swell of aromatics flood the senses with notes of iodine, salty canvas, crushed sea shells, charred oak staves, black pepper, paprika and leather tobacco pouches. The second wave brings vanilla, figs and soft plump dates, marinated pear, freshly milled malt, dark sweet toffee and cracked walnuts. It’s smoky. It’s smouldering. It’s sensuous. Just close your eyes and inhale long and deep. This is aromatic awesomeness.

Palate: Wow! Waves of the sweetest, smoothest, warmest smokiest spirit that you have ever experienced flood onto the palate like the atlantic surf on Saligo Bay. It is potent, focused and the flavours explode brilliantly onto the palate. Full of depth and complexity, the smokey sweetness of the barley contrasts beautifully with the marine freshness of the spirit and the richness of toffee and vanilla. The complexity is enhanced further with a citrus twist and then mellow oak tempers the fire. Once the taste buds adjust to what is happening, they rejoice in the company and pleasure of this young Celt.

Finish: It’s long and heart-warming, arousing feelings of pride and passion. It brings courage and strength, honesty and faith to your very soul.

Mood: It cries “freedom”. You are in a good place and you envy no man. You feel alive and ready for whatever lies ahead, knowing that the true spirit of Islay is with you.

KAH Tequila Blanco is a double distilled, un-aged Tequila made from 100% Blue Agave and bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof).

The design of the KAH Blanco bottle is inspired by the Bolivian tradition of the Day of the Dead celebration in which actual skulls of loved ones are kept and brought out on November 8th of each year. After taking the skull to the cemetery, the skull is symbolically fed and given tequila, sometimes even cigarettes. Bolivians believe that this act immortalizes the dead who, in turn, help to protect the living from evil spirits.

Tasting notes
Initially sweet but quickly followed by peppery spice. Silky and delicate, a sachet of spices fans out on the palate.

KAH Tequila Reposado is made from 100% Blue Agave and aged for more than 2 months in American Oak casks, bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof).

This devilish bottle design takes its cues from Day of the Dead celebrations that take place in parts of Peru. A dance to Satan is performed wearing long, dangling upturned crucifixes, and it is believed that Satan leads this dance Himself! During this ritual to honor the Devil, tequila is poured on the ground as an offering to appease him and keep people safe.

Tasting notes
Full bodied and viscous with intense flavor of agave and hints of vanilla and caramel.

KAH Tequila Añejo is made from 100% Blue Agave and is aged in American Oak casks for at least 12 months, bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof).

The black bottle design is inspired by the Nicaraguan tradition of Day of the Dead. In Nicaragua, in addition to the standard traditions of building a shrine and gift-giving, many people linger and sleep in the graveyard. They believe that this act re-enforces the emotional connection between them and the deceased.

Tasting notes
Powerful agave flavor accompanied by chocolate, tobacco and coffee notes.

In 1895, Masataka Taketsuru the father of Japanese Whisky was born in the small town of Takehara, Japan. At the time, Masataka's family owned a sake brewery, and in preparing to carry on the family trade, Masataka studied chemistry and biology at Osaka Technical High School. After graduating high school, Masataka showed more interest in whisky than in sake and in 1918, he enrolled at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, becoming the first Japanese ever to study the art of whisky-making. While in Scotland, Masataka took chemistry courses during the day while apprenticing at distilleries at night, learning to distill and blend whisky first-hand at some of Scotland's most prestigious distilleries. In 1920, Masataka returned to Japan, and within the decade, had produced the country's first single malt whisky. In 1934, Masataka moved to the town of Yoichi and opened the doors to Nikka Whisky Co. In 1960, as the Yoichi Distillery was reaching capacity, Masataka began searching for another suitable location in Japan to open a second distillery. Following a three-year search, Masataka found a wide forest valley at the junction of the Hirosegawa and Nikkawagawa rivers. The localized humidity from the rivers and surrounding hills, together with the quality of water from Nikkawagawa River, created the perfect location for a second distillery, which he named Miyagikyo. Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky is a whisky meticulously crafted at the Miyagikyo Distillery. Once the grains arrive at the distillery, they are milled and mashed before being distilled through copper-pot stills that were imported from Scotland in 1963. As a result of their age and shape, the stills produce a whisky that is more flavorful and complex than modern column stills. Following distillation, the whisky is matured in traditional oak casks. Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky has an aroma of tropical fruits, bananas and papaya. The aroma gives way to notes of soft vanilla, caramel, wafers and dried fruit on the palate, and leads to a finish accented by notes of citrus. The whisky earned a score of 93 points at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge in 2014, which named it Japanese Whisky of the Year.