Kujira 15 Year Old Ryukyu Whisky
Kujira 15 Year Old Ryukyu Whisky is the flagship of Okinawan rice whisky: an 86-proof (43% ABV), 750mL whisky aged over fifteen years in oak casks at Masahiro Distillery. Fifteen subtropical years turn 100% Indica rice distillate into something profound — dried plums, chocolate, honey, and spice, finished remarkably smooth. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 43% (86 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: aged over 15 years in oak casks
- Distillery: Masahiro Shuzo (Masahiro Distillery), Okinawa, Japan
- Production: 100% Indica rice; black koji; subtropical Okinawa maturation; non chill-filtered, no added color
- Recognition: Gold, International Spirits Challenge 2021
Fifteen Years of Ryukyu Patience
Fifteen years is a serious commitment anywhere; in Okinawa's subtropical heat it is a transformation. The angel's share is brutal and the wood interaction relentless, and Masahiro's rice distillate emerges with a profile no Scotch or bourbon can imitate: dried plums and candied fruit, mint, chocolate, a whisper of smoke, toasted bread. The ISC Gold in 2021 put it on the international map. For the Japanese whisky collector, this is the top of the Kujira range — and the most distinctive fifteen-year on the shelf.
Tasting Notes
The nose offers dried plums, candied fruits, mint, and chocolate. The palate unfolds chocolate, vanilla, honey, and spices with a slight smoke and toasted bread; the finish is remarkably smooth, with sweet licorice and pepper, clean and long.
How to Enjoy
Neat, always — at 86 proof and fifteen years, nothing should come between you and the glass. A Glencairn, a quiet room, time. Pair with dark chocolate (85%+), dried figs, or a fine cigar if that is your ritual.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Kujira 15 Year Old?
Aged over 15 years in oak casks at Masahiro Distillery in Okinawa.
What is it made from?
One hundred percent Indica rice — an Okinawan single-grain rice whisky.
Has Kujira 15 Year Old won awards?
Yes — Gold at the 2021 International Spirits Challenge.
What does it taste like?
Dried plums, candied fruit, chocolate, vanilla, honey, and spice with a slight smoke; a remarkably smooth, long finish.
The full Kujira range lives in our Japanese whisky collection. Flagship bottlings this decorated sell through — order Kujira 15 Year Old online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.