The spirit industry never ceases to amaze us with its new innovative and interesting offerings. On one hand we are being introduced to mezcal-finished whiskey and on the other, vodka distilled from peas. Amidst all these recent releases and launches, we have the world’s first ocean-infused whisky on our shores!
The Japanese Osaka-based premium spirit distribution company, Yoshino Spirits has blended pure ocean water with the region’s ocean-side malt whiskies and imported grain whiskies to create the oceanic Umiki Whisky. The water is sourced from the Pacific Ocean and is desalinated before being put in the production process. Once the spirit is distilled, it is finished in Japanese pine barrels, which makes it the world’s first whisky to be finished in Japanese pine barrels.
Umiki, which translates to ‘Ocean Tree’ in Japanese, has been created to honour the source and symbol of life by infusing the life-giving ocean and long-living pine into it, as believed by many in the Japanese culture. The whisky has already wowed the enthusiasts in the market, winning double gold at ‘China Wine & Spirits Awards 2020’ and a gold medal at ‘World Spirits Award 2020’.
The spirit packs a rounded floral flavour profile and an aroma of sea breeze, offering a fresh soothing finish to the drinker. It is bottled at 46% ABV, and is all set to release in some Asian and the US markets first. Yoshino Spirits plans to launch the whisky in the global market by the end of the mid-year.
I think that if you can’t take an ocean-side vacation right now, you should definitely sit with a peg of Umiki and feel the soft breeze and waves of the ocean in its every sip. What say?
