Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 506: Shizuoka 2018 World Symphony Series Private Cask #324

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, tries something special from Japan! The Shizuoka Distillery started on February 25, 2017, after being founded by Gaia Flow, the importer of brands such as Blackadder, Mackmyra and the Belgian Asta Morris. They bought the distilling material from the legendary Karuizawa distillery, dismantled in 2011. Lovers of the golden nectar rubbed their hands, knowing that these stills would more than likely produce excellent whisky again. Well, yes, stills… in the end only one turned out to be usable, the other two were simply too old and are only set up in the new distillery as a tribute to the lost glory that is Karuizawa. In addition, they also have another still, which is fired with wood. That’s why they’re called Pot Still K and Pot Still W: Karuizawa and Wood fired still. In the meantime, Shizuoka already has a few things on the market, which is very well received, but what we open today is very special. Joseph Wang, my friend from Taiwan and president of the International Connoisseur Society, has also purchased some casks and is releasing them in a very luxurious package with accompanying story under the name World Symphony Series. Distilled on 24 October 2018 and bottled on 30 April 2022, after maturation in an ex-bourbon barrel. It’s a mix of new make from both stills.

https://youtu.be/pgVkRq__Q4U