The name AMAHAGAN is derived from NAGAHAMA spelt backwards. The smallest craft distillery in Japan making headways on the world award stage. Nagahama distillery in the northern part of Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture. Japans smallest class distillery that only started operation in November 2016. The Amahagan Blended World Malt series are unashamedly world malt blends, due to the shortage of local malt in Japan, however the blending, finishing and more all takes place at Nagahama Distillery. The whiskies are filtered using the purest of water in Japan and finished in the finest Quercus crispula wood finish (Mizunara oak) Bitter malt with an oriental scent. The oriental personality of Quercus crispula, also known as Japanese oak, which is native to Japan. After ripening, the oak imparts an unique flavorsome notes unlike any other oak finish in the world. The appearance is pale amber. The sweet malt scent of Nagahama malt that overflows in the glass mixes with warm fruits such as oranges and red apples, making it more mellow. As time goes by, the nuances of the fragrant wood derived from Quercus crispula are further reduced, and at the end, it feels like a sweet caramel woody. Palate has an orange baked confectionery and a fragrant brown sugar flavour. After the sweetness, there is a rich finish that is like slowly melting bitter chocolate in the mouth. This Amahagan World Malt Edition No.3 is a fantastic world blend produced at the Nagata distillery. Its a smooth and mellow creation that brings gentle fruits, fragrant wood imparted by Mizunara oak maturation, subtle peppery spice and sweet caramel. Its a well-accomplished and carefully balanced creation that is further highlights the possibilities in the world blend category.