Kurayoshi is one of those names that generates heated discussion in whisky circles, and frankly, I find that fascinating from an industry perspective. The Matsui Shuzo distillery in Tottori Prefecture has built something genuinely interesting here — a world blended malt that draws from both Japanese and imported Scotch malt stocks, aged for a minimum of twelve years. Whether that bothers you philosophically or not, what matters is what ends up in the glass.
And what ends up in the glass is, I have to say, rather good. The 12 Year Old expression sits at 43% ABV — just a touch above the legal minimum, which gives it slightly more body than your standard 40% bottling without veering into cask-strength territory. It's a deliberate, approachable choice that tells you exactly who Matsui are targeting: the drinker who wants refinement without a fight.
Style & Character
The "world blended malt" designation is worth unpacking. This isn't a single distillery product — it's a marriage of malt whiskies from different origins, blended and matured in Kurayoshi's warehouses in the San'in region of Japan. The coastal Tottori climate, with its humidity and relatively mild temperature swings, imparts its own character during maturation. Think of it as Japanese curation applied to international ingredients — an editorial approach to whisky-making, if you like.
At twelve years old, you're getting genuine age development here. This isn't a young spirit dressed up with finishing casks. There's an inherent smoothness and integration that only time in wood can deliver, and the blending team at Matsui have clearly prioritised harmony over any single dominant flavour.
The Verdict
At £133, the Kurayoshi 12 sits in competitive territory. You're paying a premium over many excellent twelve-year-old Scotch malts, but you're also buying into something different — the Japanese blending philosophy applied to carefully selected aged stocks. In a market where genuine aged Japanese whisky commands astronomical prices, the Kurayoshi 12 actually represents reasonable value for what it delivers.
I'd rate this 8.1 out of 10. It's a well-constructed, genuinely enjoyable whisky that rewards patient drinking. The age shows, the blending is skilled, and it avoids the trap of being merely inoffensive — there's actual character here. My only reservation is that at this price point, competition is fierce, and some drinkers may prefer to spend the same money on a single distillery expression with a clearer identity. But if you're drawn to the Japanese approach to blended malts, this is a solid example of the craft done properly.
Best Served
Pour this neat in a Glencairn and give it a good ten minutes to open up — twelve-year-old blended malts often reveal their complexity gradually. If you're feeling adventurous, try it with a few drops of cool water and a single large ice cube — a nod to the Japanese mizuwari tradition, though not quite as diluted. It works surprisingly well slightly chilled on a warm evening, which is more than I can say for most Scotch malts at this age.
