One of the most anticipated projects we have worked on in the past couple of years is finally here. It's already got us anxious because as our first of many collaborations to come with this peerless, truly original producer, we don't know how we will top this.
Made from a riff on their already inimitable aperitivo amaro, this one-off batch was then aged on site in the natural cellar at the distillery for over two years in an ex-Chichibu single cask that aged single malt from that nearby cult producer for five years.
Many of the ingredients for this amaro were farmed naturally by Moto san and his team on the distillery farm in town as well as a meticulous selection of ingredients mostly from Japan as well including 20 domestic, natural botanicals ranging from Lemon balm, Golden Berry sprouts, sage, ginseng, Japanese pampas grass, sorrel, cinnamon, yuzu, blood orange and more to make a deeply aromatic and flavorful version of this classic red bitter. Colored naturally with cochineal, a reference to the brands name.
Bottled at 30% abv. as a single cask one-off never to be replicated. The notes are sustained, deep, complex but harmonious with flavors that touch on dried flowers, sweet exotic spices and umami laced woodsy earth. Enjoy neat, with an ice cube or a splash of club soda and lemon twist.