Bourbon and Japanese whisky are two of the hottest spirit categories on the planet, with select bottles fetching sky-high prices as demand outpaces supply. One group that benefits from the popularity of both spirits is Beam Suntory, which counts the Beam Distilling Co. and House of Suntory under its purview.
The two distilleries collaborated on Legent Bourbon back in 2019. It’s a Kentucky straight bourbon that was distilled by Beam Master Distiller Fred Noe, aged in wine and sherry casks, and then blended with additional Kentucky straight bourbon under the watchful eye of Suntory Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo. Now, the distilleries are back at it, this time with Legent Yamazaki Cask Finish Blend.
The whiskey starts as Kentucky straight bourbon, aged for eight years in Kentucky. Then it travels to the outskirts of Kyoto for finishing and blending at the Yamazaki Distillery.
For this release, Fukuyo put some of that Kentucky bourbon in French oak wine casks and Spanish oak sherry casks, which impart rich notes and a spiced finish. Bourbon also goes into former Yamazaki Spanish oak casks to imbue the liquid with full-bodied, malty depth and extra complexity. Finally, the three uniquely finished selections are blended with more eight-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon.
The Yamazaki Distillery dates back to 1923 and lies in the birthplace of Japanese whisky. Its location was identified by Suntory as the ideal environment for spirit maturation because of its distinct seasons and warm, humid climate.
Mr. Fukuyo said that Yamazaki’s climate contributes to this Legent release’s unique, matured aroma. “The result is a first-of-its-kind whiskey with new layers of rounded and complex flavors.”
Legent Yamazaki Cask Finish Blend is bottled at 57% ABV (114 Proof) and is available for a limited time only online and at select locations in the U.S., Canada, Germany, and global travel retail shops. It carries a suggested retail price of $199 USD. If you see one in the wild, snatch it up because this east-meets-west expression won’t last long.
