Kujira 25 Year Old Ryukyu Whisky
Kujira 25 Year Old Ryukyu Whisky is a 43% ABV (86 proof) Japanese whisky — a 25-year-old rice whisky from Kumesen Shuzo in Okinawa, distilled from 100% Indica rice with Okinawa's native black koji and matured in sherry, bourbon and white oak casks. Deep amber, no caramel added, it drinks like a tropical luxury: dark chocolate, sandalwood, dried fruit and vanilla. Order it online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 43% (86 proof)
- Size: 750mL (per live tag — international listings show 700mL; confirm bottle)
- Age: 25 years in sherry, bourbon and white oak casks
- Grain: 100% Indica rice, fermented with Okinawan black koji
- Distillery: Kumesen Shuzo, Okinawa, Japan (est. 1952) — Double Gold, 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
A Quarter Century in the Subtropics
Kujira — "whale," guardian of peace and nature — is Ryukyu whisky, a category all its own: awamori technique meets long oak aging in Okinawa's tropical heat, where maturation runs fast and deep. Twenty-five years in wood gives this the intensity of a far older Scotch, but the rice base keeps it silky — tropical fruit, sandalwood and aged leather over a warm, harmonious core. Browse more Japanese whisky or explore the Kujira collection at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
Nose: dark chocolate, floral notes, sweet coconut, tropical fruits, aged leather. Palate: rich and multi-layered — dark chocolate, dried fruits, citrus, vanilla, sandalwood, white oak. Finish: warm and gentle, lingering spice, dried fruit, a touch of smokiness.
How to Enjoy
Neat in a tulip glass — this is a contemplative pour for the end of the evening. Water is optional; the 43% bottling is already perfectly poised.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ryukyu whisky? Whisky from Japan's Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa) — distilled from rice using awamori/shochu technique with black koji, then aged in oak, creating a style unlike malt-based Japanese whisky.
How long is it aged? At least 25 years in a combination of sherry, bourbon and white oak casks.
What is the ABV? 43% ABV (86 proof).
A whale of a whisky — order Kujira 25 Year online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.