Matsui Sakura Cask Single Malt Japanese Whisky
Matsui Sakura Cask Single Malt Japanese Whisky is single malt matured in casks of sakura — Japanese cherry wood — distilled at the Kurayoshi Distillery in Tottori and bottled at 48% ABV in a 700mL bottle. The distillery begins maturation in ex-bourbon barrels, then finishes in hybrid casks whose heads are replaced with rare sakura wood, reduced with natural spring water from Mount Daisen. Jim Murray's Whisky Bible awarded it 92.5 points. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Proof / ABV: 96 proof (48% ABV) — 700mL
- Distillery: Kurayoshi Distillery (Matsui Shuzo), Tottori, Japan
- Cask: sakura (Japanese cherry wood) — NAS single malt
- Water: natural spring water from Mount Daisen
- Recognition: 92.5 points, Jim Murray's Whisky Bible
Cherry Wood, Japanese Character
Sakura holds a singular place in Japanese culture — a symbol of beauty's ephemerality — and as a cask wood it gives whisky a personality nothing else quite matches: delicate florals over malt, cherry blossom and white flower on the nose, soft vanilla and honey with a spicier-than-usual intensity on the palate. The bottle itself carries a label painted after a Japanese masterwork, with the pinkish sakura imagery making it one of the most recognizable Japanese whiskies on the shelf. Compare it with its Japanese whisky siblings — including the Mizunara Cask — or browse everything from Matsui at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
Cherry blossom and white flowers with toasted almond and juicy orange on the nose; the palate is straight-lined and rich — baking spice, citrus, malt honey — closing with a long, floral, lightly spiced finish.
How to Enjoy
Neat to appreciate the cherry-wood influence; a few drops of water open the florals further.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does sakura cask mean?
The whisky is finished in casks made with Japanese cherry (sakura) wood, which imparts distinctive floral, cherry blossom, and light spice character.
Is this the pink-bottle Matsui?
Yes — the Sakura Cask is presented in Matsui's recognizable pinkish bottle with cherry-blossom artwork.
How is it rated?
92.5 points in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible, praised for its intense-yet-light floral character.
A floral Japanese single malt like no other — pick up Matsui Sakura Cask at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.