Hatozaki 12 Year Old Umeshu Cask Finish Japanese Whisky
Hatozaki 12 Year Old Umeshu Cask Finish Japanese Whisky is a 46% ABV (92 proof), 750mL Japanese blended malt whisky, available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA. An assemblage of single malts each aged a minimum of 12 years in American oak casks, it is then married and finished for a further six months in bespoke barrels that previously held umeshu — the traditional Japanese plum liqueur — layering sweet-sour yellow plum over a classic malt base.
- ABV: 46% (92 proof), non-chill filtered, naturally colored
- Size: 750mL
- Age: Minimum 12 years in American oak; 6-month umeshu cask finish
- Style: Blended malt whisky (assemblage of single malts)
- Distillery: The Kaikyo Distillery, Akashi, Hyogo, Japan
- Umeshu: Japanese plum liqueur — ume plums macerated in ginjo sake
Akashi's Lighthouse Whisky, Finished in Plum-Liqueur Casks
Hatozaki takes its name from Japan's oldest working lighthouse, which stands in Akashi harbor — a fitting emblem for the Kaikyo Distillery's coastal character. The distillery belongs to the Yonezawa family of the Akashi Sake Brewery, brewers since 1856 and distillers since 1917, who built the modern Kaikyo Distillery in 2017 around traditional Forsyths copper stills. The Umeshu Cask Finish is one of the brand's most distinctive expressions: after twelve years in American oak, the malt whisky rests half a year in casks seasoned with umeshu, and the Hyogo plum liqueur leaves a signature of sweet, jammy yellow plum that sets it apart from any sherry or wine finish. Compare with other Japanese whisky on our shelves, or see everything bottled under the Hatozaki name.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Cereal and light iodine with honeyed malt, fresh pear, and apricot, touched with yellow plum. Palate: Rich yet delicate — orchard fruit, malt loaf, and honey with a soft coastal salinity and sweet-sour ume depth. Finish: Long and sweet, with jammy yellow plum lingering over toasted oak.
How to Enjoy
Neat or with a splash of water to open the fruit — the non-chill-filtered texture rewards slow sipping. Over a single large cube it turns into an easy after-dinner pour, and its orchard-fruit profile pairs beautifully with sushi, roasted nuts, or creamy desserts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is umeshu? A traditional Japanese liqueur made by macerating small ume plums — here in ginjo sake — giving a distinctive sweet-and-sour plum character. Is Hatozaki 12 Year Umeshu Cask Finish a single malt? No — it is a blended malt, an assemblage of single malts all carrying the 12-year age statement. Is it chill-filtered or colored? Neither. It is bottled non-chill filtered with no added color at 46% ABV.
If plum-finished Japanese whisky is your lane, add this to your cart from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.