Matsui

Matsui Whisky is produced by Matsui Shuzo at the Kurayoshi Distillery in Tottori Prefecture, Japan — known for unique Japanese cask finishing including Sakura (cherry blossom wood), Mizunara (Japanese oak), and Sherry. The lineup includes The San-In Blended, Sakura Cask Single Malt, Mizunara Cask Single Malt, and the rare Kurayoshi 25 Year.

Browse all Japanese whisky at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sakura cask finishing and what does it produce?

Sakura (cherry blossom wood, Prunus serrulata) is a Japanese hardwood that has been used in traditional Japanese woodworking for centuries but is extremely rare in whisky production — the wood is scarce, difficult to work, and requires specialized cooperage skills. Matsui is one of the very few distilleries using Sakura casks for finishing. The wood imparts floral sweetness, a distinctive cherry blossom character, and a delicate perfumed quality that cannot be replicated with American or European oak. It produces a lighter, more aromatic profile than Mizunara and lacks the sandalwood and oriental spice of Japanese oak.

What is Mizunara oak and why is it significant in Japanese whisky?

Mizunara (Quercus mongolica) is a Japanese oak species that grows slowly in cold climates, producing extremely dense wood with a high moisture content that makes it technically difficult to cooperage — the casks are prone to leaking and the staves require longer drying times than American or European oak. The flavor contribution is unlike any other oak: sandalwood, oriental spice, incense, and coconut, with a distinctly Japanese aromatic profile that no other cask species can replicate. Japanese distilleries used Mizunara heavily during WWII when European oak was unavailable, inadvertently discovering its unique properties. Mizunara-finished Matsui is a substantive expression of what the wood actually does rather than a novelty.