A flavorful peated Single Malt from Kurayoshi that will stand up to any from Islay.

The Matsui Shuzou Distillery was founded in 1910 northwest of Kyoto the facing the Sea of Japan in Tottori Prefecture. Importantly, the distillery is within sight of Mount Daisen — a volcanic peak rising more than a mile above the surrounding fertile plains. The spring water used to distill their Sake, Shōchū, and Whisky and bring it to proof has filtered through volcanic stone for eons — resulting in significant purity and a unique, soft mineral composition.

The Matsui Shuzou Distillery keeps a low profile with no visitor center or direct sales. But the Whiskies that comes out of their warehouses are highly regarded — including Single Malts under the Kurayoshi brand and five grain Whiskies under their Tottori nameplate.

The Matsui The Peated is a bit of a delicious enigma. It is a peated Single Malt from Japan — which is odd enough. But it is also named for the parent company Matsui, but is marketed under the Kurayoshi brand and made in the new Kurayoshi Distillery which is owned by Matsui.

But what’s most important is the taste, and at 48% ABV this peated Single Malt from Japan can stand toe-to-toe with the best Single Malts coming from Islay — and the folks at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge agree, awarding it 87 points and a Strong Recommendation.

Smartass Corner:
The word for peated malt in Japanese is "Pītomoruto."