Collection
Japan
In the Japan collection you will find whisky with a Japanese signature: the editions from Sakhrani in Okinawa. Sakhrani is an independent, women-led whisky house from Ogimi, in the forested Yanbaru area in the north of Okinawa. The whiskies first mature in Scotland and then receive a finish in Okinawa in Japanese woods: Mizunara oak, cherry wood and chestnut wood.
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Each of the three editions has its own quadrant on the M4W Flavour Compass. The Sakura Edition is floral and light and falls under Smooth & Fruity, the Kuri Edition with chestnut and roasted nuts under Rich & Sweet, and the Mizunara Edition with incense and sandalwood under Smoky & Powerful. All three are bottled at 47% ABV, without chill filtration and without added colouring. Read more about the brand on the Sakhrani page.
Is Sakhrani Japanese whisky according to the official definition?
No. Since 2021 the Japanese drinks industry has applied a standard under which Japanese whisky must be fermented, distilled, matured for at least three years and bottled in Japan. The base of Sakhrani is blended Scotch that matured in Scotland; the finish in Japanese wood takes place in Okinawa. It is therefore world whisky with a Japanese finish, and that is also how it is described in the specifications on the product pages.
What is Mizunara oak and what does it do to whisky?
Mizunara is a Japanese oak species (Quercus crispula) that is scarce, porous and difficult to work with. Yet the wood is prized for the aromas it gives whisky: sandalwood, incense, coconut and cinnamon, often described as a temple-like scent. In the Sakhrani Mizunara Edition you taste this as warm spice, incense and sandalwood, with an exceptionally long, resinous finish.
How do the Sakura, Kuri and Mizunara editions differ?
They share the same base but differ in the wood used for the finish. Sakura is finished in Japanese cherry wood and is floral and elegant, with cherry blossom and pomegranate. Kuri receives a finish in chestnut wood and is warm and earthy, with roasted nuts, apricot and cinnamon. Mizunara is the deepest of the three, with incense and sandalwood. Taste them side by side to discover how much a single type of wood can change.
How do you drink whisky the Japanese way?
In Japan the highball is popular: whisky with chilled sparkling water and plenty of ice in a tall glass. Mizuwari, whisky diluted with cold water, is another classic. Taste the Sakhrani editions neat first, in a tulip glass at room temperature, so that the subtle wood aromas of the finish come into their own. After that, a highball with the light, floral Sakura Edition is a refreshing option for warm days.
Where does Sakhrani come from?
Sakhrani was founded in 2024 in Ogimi, a village in the Yanbaru area in the north of Okinawa, Japan's southernmost prefecture. The subtropical forests of Yanbaru have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2021. The whisky house is led by women and operates independently. You can read more about the background of the brand and its three types of wood on the Sakhrani brand page.