Hatozaki Finest Japanese Whisky
Hatozaki Finest Japanese Whisky is a 40% ABV (80 proof) blended Japanese whisky from the Kaikyo Distillery in coastal Akashi, Hyōgo — a blend with a minimum 40% malt content, aged in a combination of ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, and native Mizunara oak casks. Named for the Hatozaki Lighthouse, Japan's oldest stone lighthouse, it is light in style with a rich malt backbone in a 750mL bottle. Order Japanese whisky online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Style: Malt + grain blend (minimum 40% malt), no age statement
- Casks: Ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, and Mizunara oak
- Distillery: Kaikyo Distillery, Akashi, Japan — non-chill-filtered, no added coloring
The Lighthouse Whisky
Akashi's Hatozaki Lighthouse has guided sailors since 1657, and Kaikyo Distillery named its whisky for it — a fitting image for a distillery swept by sea winds on Japan's Seto Inland Sea. The Yonezawa family has distilled here since 1917; Finest blends malt and grain whiskies married and rested in ex-bourbon, sherry, and Mizunara casks, with no chill filtration and no added color. The result is an easy-drinking Japanese whisky: soft cereal and blossom on the nose with light honey and citrus, malt sweetness and stone fruit on the palate, and a clean, elegant finish touched with Mizunara spice. See more Hatozaki whiskies, compare Japanese whiskies, or try the distillery's 135º East gin for a different Akashi pour.
Tasting Notes
Soft cereal, blossom, and light honey with citrus and a whisper of vanilla. The palate leans on malt sweetness — stone fruit and gentle oak over a hint of Mizunara spice — closing clean and elegant. Delicate, balanced, and built for a second pour.
How to Enjoy
Try it Japanese-style: a tall highball over big ice with soda and lemon peel, which lifts the cereal-and-honey character beautifully. Neat in a tulip glass works just as well for quiet sipping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hatozaki a Japanese whisky or Scotch?
A Japanese whisky: distilled and matured by Kaikyo Distillery in Akashi, Hyōgo, Japan.
What is Mizunara oak?
A rare native Japanese oak that imparts distinctive incense-like spice notes — prized and expensive, used here alongside bourbon and sherry casks.
Is Hatozaki Finest chill-filtered?
No — it's non-chill-filtered with no added coloring.
For an elegant introduction to Japanese whisky, buy Hatozaki Finest online from Del Mesa Liquor — ready for pickup or delivery in San Diego, CA.