Kujira 10 Year Old Ryukyu Whisky
Kujira 10 Year Old Ryukyu Whisky is Okinawan rice whisky with a decade behind it: an 86-proof (43% ABV), 750mL single-grain whisky aged more than ten years in white oak virgin casks at Masahiro Distillery. Ten subtropical years in virgin oak produce a depth of honey, spice, and butter-caramel that temperate climates take far longer to build — and the Double Gold from the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition says the judges noticed. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 43% (86 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: more than 10 years in white oak virgin casks
- Distillery: Masahiro Shuzo (Masahiro Distillery), Okinawa, Japan
- Production: 100% Indica rice; black koji unique to Okinawa; subtropical maturation; non chill-filtered, non-colored
- Recognition: Double Gold, SFWSC 2021; Silver (91 pts), IWSC 2021; Silver, ISC 2020
A Decade in the Heat
Whisky ages by conversation with wood, and in Okinawa the conversation never stops — warm days and nights keep the spirit moving through the cask year-round. Masahiro gives this rice distillate ten-plus years in white oak virgin casks, and the result is a whisky of genuine gravity: honey and brown sugar, baking spice, soft oak, and a finish with a slight pleasant bitterness to balance the sweetness. Among Japanese whisky age statements, a ten-year at this price with a Double Gold is rare air.
Tasting Notes
The nose shows honey and brown sugar, spices, and soft oak. The palate is soft butter-caramel sauce, licorice, baked bread, clove, and cinnamon; the finish is long and spiced, with a slight pleasant bitterness balancing the sweetness.
How to Enjoy
Neat in a Glencairn — this one deserves the full aromatic arc. A single large cube for slow sipping; water is unnecessary at 86 proof. Pair with crème caramel, aged Manchego, or roasted chestnuts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Kujira 10 Year Old aged?
More than ten years in white oak virgin casks.
What grain is it made from?
One hundred percent Indica rice — a single-grain rice whisky from Okinawa.
What awards has it won?
Double Gold at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Silver (91 points) at the 2021 IWSC, and Silver at the 2020 International Spirits Challenge.
Where is Kujira made?
Masahiro Distillery in Okinawa, Japan, in the Ryukyu Islands.
Compare the whole Kujira lineup on our Japanese whisky page. Ten-year Japanese whisky with a Double Gold doesn't linger on shelves — order Kujira 10 Year Old online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.