Maen 8 Year Old Japanese Whisky
Maen 8 Year Old Japanese Whisky is a blended pure malt whisky aged eight years in ex-bourbon barrels and bottled at 43% ABV (86 proof). Launched in the U.S. in 2024 by Shaw-Ross International Importers, Maen takes its name from the Japanese word for "the perfect circle" — the Zen symbol of perfection — and the 8-year expression is the brand's middle release, a bourbon-cask-matured pure malt in a 700mL bottle. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 43% (86 proof)
- Size: 700mL
- Age: 8 years — blended pure malt (malt whiskies)
- Origin: Japan
- Production: aged in ex-bourbon barrels; U.S. imported by Shaw-Ross International, Miramar, Florida
The Perfect Circle of Japanese Whisky
The name Maen translates to "the perfect circle," and the brand builds on the Zen principle behind it — once the circle is drawn, it does not change. The 8 Year Old sits between Maen's younger malt-and-grain blend and its limited 12-year pure malt: a straight bourbon-cask play, with no finishing wood, letting eight years of American oak do all the talking. VinePair rated it 92 points, praising its unctuous profile and appeal to American whiskey drinkers. Browse the Maen collection, more Japanese whisky, and Del Mesa's malt whisky shelf.
Tasting Notes
Expect rich wafts of vanilla, cedar, and winter spices on the nose, opening to peach and apple cobbler, per VinePair's review. The palate is generous and unctuous, looping earthy, charred oak notes through the bourbon-cask sweetness — a whisky with real weight at 43%, showing striking polish for its years.
How to Enjoy
Neat in a nosing glass to take in the full bourbon-cask character, or over a single large cube. This is a contemplative pour built for Japanese whisky fans — give it time to open and the vanilla-and-cedar profile keeps deepening.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Maen" mean?
Maen translates to "the perfect circle" — the Zen symbol of perfection, in which a drawn circle is final and unchanging.
Is Maen 8 Year Old a blended whisky?
It is a blended pure malt — a blend of malt whiskies (no grain whisky in the mix), aged 8 years in ex-bourbon barrels.
What is Maen 8 Year Old's ABV?
43% ABV (86 proof).
A perfect circle of bourbon-cask Japanese whisky — order Maen 8 Year Old Japanese Whisky online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.