Rum, Japan

Proudly bearing the family crest adorned with nine bamboo leaves, the Nine Leaves distillery was founded in 2013 by Yoshiharu Takeuchi. Located in Ōtsu, in Japan’s Shiga prefecture, it sits near an underground spring renowned for the softness and purity of its water, which flows from Mount Ishiyama. This small batch, composed of two 400-litre casks previously filled with sherry made from the Pedro Ximénez grape, reveals a chromatic interplay of luminous copper, orange, and yellow hues. Both heady and radiant, its aromatic and flavour profile unfolds in fresh, fruit-laden, infusion-like sequences.

Nose: Refined and profound. Powdery (cocoa, grated ginger), apricot-forward, and toasty (grilled bread), the initial aromas evoke sun-drenched Andalusia. With aeration, beeswax, oak stave, and varnish notes call to mind a woodworker’s atelier.

Appearance: Sustained orange-coloured copper.

Palate: Generous and distinguished. Juicy (orange, peach, nectarine), the flavour profile is also enriched by expressive notes of dried fruits (fig, date). Gradually, noble spices (cardamom, saffron, ginger), Bourbon vanilla, and coconut milk delicately weave their way through the tasting.

Overall: Velvety and elegant. Heady (sugarcane flower), honeyed (lavender), herbal (Havana leaf), indulgent (gingerbread), and fruity (kumquat) notes blend harmoniously, gradually lifted by infusions of verbena and chamomile. A fine layer of intertwined liquorice and vanilla brings a silky sweetness to the retro-olfaction, glowing with maturity.