Kujira 12 Year Old Ryukyu Whisky
40% ABV (80 proof) | 700mL | Aged 12+ years in sherry casks | 100% Indica rice, black koji — Kujira 12 Year Old is "Ryukyu whisky": not malt whisky at all, but Okinawan awamori heritage in a whisky bottle — single-grain spirit distilled from 100% long-grain Indica rice fermented with indigenous black koji, then aged more than 12 years in sherry casks. Per the US importer (CNS Imports) and The Spirits Business, it is made by Masahiro Distillery (est. 1883), one of Okinawa's oldest awamori producers. No caramel color added. Kujira means "whale" — a symbol of peace and liberty. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
Twelve Okinawan years in sherry wood — subtropical heat accelerates maturation — give a pour unlike any Scotch: dried fig, raisin, and honey on the nose; a palate of sherry-soaked fruit, toasted rice, cocoa, and gentle spice; and a soft, rounded finish. Among whiskies of every stripe, this is the conversation bottle — a rice "whisky" with real age. Neat, with a few drops of water.
Tasting notes
Nose: dried fig, raisin, honey. Palate: sherry-soaked fruit, toasted rice, cocoa, gentle spice. Finish: soft and rounded. (Per importer and retailer tasting notes.)
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- 40% ABV (80 proof) — 700mL
- Aged 12+ years in sherry casks — single grain, 100% long-grain Indica rice with black koji
- Made by Masahiro Distillery, Okinawa, Japan (est. 1883) — awamori heritage
- No caramel color added
- Okinawa's subtropical climate accelerates maturation — 12 years drinks older
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Neat at room temperature, or with a few drops of water to open the sherry fruit. Not a mixing whisky.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kujira actually whisky?
It's classified as single-grain whisky, but it's made from rice (not barley or corn) with black koji — the Okinawan awamori tradition, barrel-aged like whisky. Hence "Ryukyu whisky."
Where is it made?
Okinawa, Japan — per the US importer and spirits press, by Masahiro Distillery, founded 1883. (Some community databases list Kumesen — unverified.)
What does "Kujira" mean?
"Whale" in Japanese — a symbol of peace and liberty.